Because we don't look at our poor people, doesn't mean they don't exist.

[divabeq]

NPR is making me angry (again) talking about Cuba and how oppressed its people are. Talking about how oppressed people living under communism are, in general. And I just keep thinking "I wonder how many destitute homeless they have." In fact, I'd almost bet America has more than 11 million destitute/homeless people living here, which I totally

Comments

[cpxbrex]

I've actually said, too, that the way the US measures wealth is extremely slanted. For instance, part of the measurement of US wealth includes owning an automobile but not needing to own an automobile. Therefore, because many Japanese don't own cars, they're considered "poorer" than an American -- even tho' that Japanese person probably has more electronic gadgets that are literally years ahead of anything you can get in America. Also, because land is cheap in America we own more of it; on the other hand, Japan has one of the best universal coverage medical systems in the world. Doesn't count for them. Stuff like that

[divabeq]

Well, what I was thinking of was that when they're talking about a lack of wealth, the representation we have, on a personal level, of wealth in the US is that they don't show us the poverty in the US, and when they do, it's in a very negative sense. Crime, laziness, things like that. Showing the poor as being that way because of some personal flaw... in other words, our poor aren't seen or don't count. When do we see poverty on television, or in our popular culture? Yes, occasionally we do, but far, far moreso what I am struck with when I watch television or movies is how very much more than me the people in these mediums have. How casually they handle what is, to me, great luxury. Which, to me, says that we in the US have a vastly overestimated idea of our own wealth.

Though, the other stuff is correct, as well. When putting "wealth" on paper, it's also stacked in our favor.