"...'Is the bottom getting out of poverty?' Going from
  next-to-nothing to twice that is so much huger than going
  from being a one-billionaire to a two-billionaire," Brand
  said. And, thanks to the sharing and social revolution,
  "that’s going on like mad now."

I can't subscribe that this notion is happening. Really, I think the opposite is happening. With the evaporation of the middle class in the USA and personal anecdotal experiences I think the above statement is false. If there is any evidence or arguments to support the claim that the social revolution is decreasing poverty I'd really be interested in hearing them.

To that, I'd also like the to see sources and arguments that the crowds are truly wiser than an expert.