[Houshalter]

First world poverty is bad, but it's nothing compared to the worst of third world poverty. By any measure the poor of the first world are significantly better off than the third world. Income, life expectancy, access to luxuries like clean and running water to artificial lighting, etc.

[eli_gottlieb]

And Third World poverty is kept at bay in the First World only by ever-vigilant effort amongst government and civil society.

[Houshalter]

To some extent yes. I think even without social programs they would still be better off, as there are no social programs in the third world. Wages are just vastly higher in the first world, even for the poorest. Third worlders live on a dollar a day or less. Social programs help a lot of course.