President Trump last night said you need photo id when you go to the grocery store. His people have defended the statement two ways: if you're paying by check, you need the id or if you're buying alcohol you need the id. His opponents find these lame rationalizations--few people pay by check anymore and he didn't mention beer and wine.
As an opponent, I agree. But there's a danger here of accepting and reinforcing the assumption--all Americans go to the supermarket, all Americans have checking accounts, and all Americans live in single-family homes. All, of course, are false. Many Americans go to the local grocery, where their family may have shopped for years, and where the owner knows them and needs no id. Many Americans have no checking account. Many Americans never go to the store, being essentially confined to their homes and dependent on others to buy their groceries for them. And many Americans live in group settings where food is served. And some Americans live on the street and depend on food kitchens, etc.
[updated: Vann Newkirk at the Atlantic agrees.]
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