[jstx1]

The difference is that your friend has his basic needs more than covered and he’s living a good life either way. That’s when perspective helps. But you can’t say the same thing about a minimum wage worker in the US for example - they’ll struggle and telling them that they’re in the top n % worldwide doesn’t help at all.

[googlryas]

Pretty much all Americans have their basic needs more than covered and are living a good life either way, compared to someone in a favela outside Rio.

[jstx1]

No, that’s my entire point. When we’re talking about covering basic needs you can’t add “compared to” at the end. They’re either covered or they aren’t.

[oh_sigh]

What basic needs aren't covered for Americans?

Our poorest people are also our fattest, so it isn't food.

Less than .2% of our population is homeless, so it isn't shelter. And there are state and privately run shelters for those .2%.

Health care is state-provided and free if you have too low of an income, so it isn't health care.

So...what is it exactly?