Meanwhile in most developed countries, inequality is grotesque and the consequent poverty is on the rise.
*Absolute poverty would decrease much faster if we exploited and expropriated from developing countries a little less.
If I live aboard a ship, I am not in poverty because I do not own a car, because in my society, you do not need a car. But if I live in a city with no public transport where you need a car to get around, but I can't afford one, I absolutely am.
Poverty apologists always bring up TV as an example, as if poverty is about optional extras rather than basic dignity, respect and participation.
It's about feeling inferior, it's about being treated inferior, often violently so.
For instance, what happens when you try and retrieve groceries from a supermarket when you cannot afford to pay for them.
There's a running joke in my country that US poverty is our middle class - only two cars and a small house.