miami_thomas
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- Jan 20, 2011
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- #41
Most of my traveling has been to the developed world or has been in the company of wealthier folks than you are referring to. Cars and TVs aren't that rare in the middle class, and it's difficult to agree on the size of their homes as a rule. In Brazil, Mexico and the Caribbean, where I have hung out the most with developing world middle class in their homes, I saw that their land was larger than most Americans making similar money. They owned all the equity in their home. They had more service in their home, and didn't watch much TV.
There were things which did not seem like American 'wealth', but not the stuff you call out. Try air conditioning, ice and paved driveways, fencing and underground utilities. Gas was in tanks, rather than piped in, etc. They clearly lacked a humane society to clean up the dogs and cats or an HOA telling them not to paint their house pink...
Here are your poor and I can guarantee you they have more than the middle class you are referring to.
Strange Facts about America
"The average poor American has more living space than the average non-poor individual living in Sweden, France, Germany or the United Kingdom."
Now you're comparing house sizes between the US and Europe? I have been in lots of American's homes. You'd probably call these people poor. Nobody wants all that stuff they have. They don't own boats or their houses or get to travel or retain earnings like some of the foreigners I'm acquainted with.
Nobody's refuting our prosperity here, but I think you're mistaking lifestyle differences with wealth. I've visited the humble home of a chic I went to university with. They were foreign (Philipino) middle class and had a decent house... nothing that would awe an American like me. I'd even say I had my 3rd world goggles on. They paid for private university cash every year - some $30k.
I know but we are hearing that we are not doing enough for the poor. We need to do more and more and more when honestly we are doing too much for the poor because we are making so they dont have to do anything at all to survive. It is one thing for the poor to have a way out and resources to help them eat. It is another to provide for their life as if they are children that are incapable of taking care of themselves.