Hi tracy,

>I have heard that same statement many times (90/10). Yet the highest percentage of households in the U.S. is in the 30,000.00 to 49,000.000 annual salary range:

I don't see here an argument that refutes my argument here.

>Interestingly, 99.9% of American households have a refrigerator, 99.7% of them a stove and/or oven, and 98.9% have a color television. I guess color television must be a necessity now no matter your income level.
>
>Look at the number of households that have a washer, dryer, stereo, cell phone, vcr(s), and a dishwasher. It is all very interesting. Those living in poverty in the U.S. live pretty well compared to those living in poverty in other countries.

Have you ever been in a third world country? Very interesting is that about ten years ago, I went on a holiday to the dominican republic. I've seen poverty there. People living in houses made of a 2nd hand wood and garbage, washing in the river or in the reain when it fall, eating from the land. I don't recall the exact numbers, but about 20-40% of all babies born won't make it into third year. But no matter how poor they were, they all had a fridge and a TV. Electricity is illigally tapped from the net so that is basically free.

I don't think you can measure poverty by the possesion of certain goods. Basic health care OTOH is certainly a measure. If your son or daughter get sick and can not pay the doctor, this is a serious matter. If you cannot pay the rent, buy food etc it is also a total different matter. Second hand 'luxuries' like a TV, VCR, Fridge Video games are very cheap compared to those costs.

>I'd be interested in seeing the same scales for European countries. Do you have a link by any chance?

I don't have simular link. And if I did, it probably would only per country, not europe as a whole. There is much more poverty in certain areas of europe than others, but I have about no doubt that what you seem to define as luxury goods here are no foreign devices by even the poor people in europe.


Walter,