Big Food and the illusion of choice

[KansDem]

7. Last summer I drove from southern California to Kansas City...

My routes included I-40 from Barstow (CA) to Tucumcari (NM).

As I passed each of those blue exit signs that list restaurants, it seemed like I saw on each one the same two hamburger places, the same two sandwich places, the same two pizza places, the same two Mexican-food places, and so on. I thought "Not much choice here on I-40!"

But I now drive with an ice chest and prepare meals to take with me, and I nap in my car at rest stops, so the only reason I exit the highway is for gas.