> Progress has often been stunningly rapid. The vast majority of poor Americans enjoy luxuries unavailable to the Vanderbilts and Astors of 150 years ago, such as electricity, air-conditioning and colour televisions.

Yes, things are better, but only when they're not terrible.

I think the Vanderbilts and Astors, and their current cousins, inbred and not, still have a profound advantage over the rest of us, poor or not, in that they enjoy existential security within the current frame of reference, and can reasonably live their lives with that assumption.

In other words, the rich experience little to no risk in losing what security they have, or falling below the security level of the poor, while constant security risk could be the practical definition of being poor.

So what if you have a phone, if that and all else can disappear in the wink of a bureaucratic or natural systems eye.