That's asking for a lot of sources and a compilation of research as to how I came to my inference on an internet comment. I don't have the time to accommodate all of that, but this article touches on the corporate greed aspect somewhat concisely: https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/finance/price-of-food

https://www.macrotrends.net/stocks/charts/COST/costco/revenue - is a good way to look at profits at a high level for the 4 major grocers (Walmart, Kroger, Costco, Albertsons) - https://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/IB_2111_FoodMonoSeries1-SUPERMARKETS-V2FINAL.pdf. This touches more on the aspect of food monopolies specifically: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/ng-interactive/2021/jul/14/food-monopoly-meals-profits-data-investigation - the monopolies go beyond just food.

Songs regarding what I'm talking about... off the top of my head the one I think of first is Propaghandi - "A People’s History of the World." The last lyrics:

*"Yeah, you can vote however the fuck you want But power still calls all the shots And believe it or not

Even if democracy broke loose They'll just make the economy scream Until we vote responsibly"*

I also think of Fugazi - "Merchandise" * "Merchandise, it keeps us in line Common sense says it's by design What could a businessman ever want more Than to have us sucking in his store"*