Name:   architect - Subject:   You obviously are not well traveled Lifer! Date:   3/23/2016 8:54:56 PM (updated 3/23/2016 8:58:49 PM)

I looked at it.  It is headlined the "poor" in America are better off than most of the "rest of humanity".  Remember, "the rest of humanity" includes Bangledesh, Haite, sub-Sahara Africa and more than a billion rural residents of India...yes I dare say if you include ALL of humanity our poor are better off.  The essay also basically compares "poor" Americans with "poor" Europeans, not as you said poor Americans vs middle class Europeans.  There is a world of difference!!  Switzerland, 4 of the 5 Scandinavian countries, and Holland have a standard of living slightly above the US, Germany is about equal and the UK, France, austria and Italy are marginally below.  Spain, Portugal, Greece and the old Soviet block countries are still lagging, but even there the emerging middle class is better off than our very poor.  Did you notice in the article that the spread between the poorest 10% and the richest 10% is gerater than any of the other nations being used for comparison?  In Europe the relative income for the poorest is higher than the same in the US while CEO salaries are much lower than in the US...not saying that is good or bad, just pointing out an interesting fact.

You demonstrate you may not be the brightest porch light on the block if you turn down offers of a trip to Europe with your sister.  Go, it might be very enlightening!  Now, how do you know there are "many other places I like better" than Europe if you have never been to Europe.  You sound like my wife insisting she doesn't like oysters even though she has never tried them in her entire life.