I saw a one star review of a soup kitchen.

The existence of such a review says so much before I even read the content.

I didn’t question why the review existed, because of course it did. It is everything late capitalism promises in a nutshell. If everything is dialog between provider and consumer then naturally you can leave a review of a place like a soup kitchen.

My coworker, reading over my shoulder, chuckled and scoffed, “Can you believe that?”

I knew at once that he wasn’t laughing at the absurdity that you can leave a review of a soup kitchen, because (again) of course you can. He wasn’t remarking at the rating service, rather his incredulity was at the one star rating.

More capitalist thinking at play.

In context, the logic even seems sound. They’re poor, therefore they have nothing. They are availing themselves of social program, therefore my taxes are paying for it. They are eating on my dime, therefore they should be grateful for what they get.

My kneejerk reaction was to agree. Afterall, if you are in need of a soup kitchen to feed yourself or your family, surely it is better than the alternative by default.

This too is rooted in a capitalist line of thought.

If you can’t afford quality, you don’t deserve it.

The whole thing, from service to rating to my reaction, was within this tiny cross space in the Venn diagram of late stage capitalist thinking.

The modern American worldview in microcosm: a one star review of a soup kitchen.

I clicked on the review.

“My whole family got food poisoning. Go someplace else.”