[kbutler]

Yes - real cost (cost in hours worked) of necessities, and even former luxuries, has declined dramatically, and standard of living for the poor has increased dramatically. That's the point.

If you go to Mexico, you'll see people living in much hotter conditions without air conditioning (but they still have satellite TV).

Cable TV and air conditioning show the shifting standard of living that represents "poor" in the united states, and illustrate that a large percentage of "poor" definitely have the necessities (shelter in particular), as opposed to the "absolute poverty" who lack basic necessities of food/shelter/access to health care.

Quality of life is a different question, and very difficult to measure.