[andrewcooke]

but only for people poorer than you.

for rich people like us, the comparison works. for poorer people, they're poorer anyway. it doesn't change anything. you can't avoid the conclusion that you're still horrendously privileged (which i suspect is what you want to do, but maybe i am just a cynic).

[leeoniya]

i disagree. you cannot survive in the US on 0.08/hr. i think it would be most appropriate to establish a relative baseline at the lowest survivable wage in each country. and that includes raising kids.

i feel privilaged to have access to good health care, healthy food, clean water, relative freedom and an environment where i dont have to worry about surviving on a daily basis. having only these things, i could be just as happy without everything a high hourly wage affords me beyond this.