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meatcleaver -> RE: Minimum Rage! opps Wage, dangit Wage... (9/4/2006 4:05:37 PM)
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ORIGINAL: Archer
Forty-six percent of all poor households actually own their own homes. The average home owned by persons classified as poor by the Census Bureau is a three-bedroom house with one-and-a-half baths, a garage, and a porch or patio.
Renting or owning ones home is not seen as a wealth indicator in many parts of Europe. In Germany where the richest Europeans are people with good incomes are just as likely to rent as buy. Many don't see a home as investment because you have to live somewhere.
Seventy-six percent of poor households have air conditioning. By contrast, 30 years ago, only 36 percent of the entire U.S. population enjoyed air conditioning.
I once lived in France where the temp. regularly rose to 100 in the height of summer. There just wasn't a tradition of using air conditioning. People just took a long lunch and siesta and sat the hottest part of the day out dozing in in conversation. A very civilised way to do it.
Only 6 percent of poor households are overcrowded. More than two-thirds have more than two rooms per person.
The average poor American has more living space than the average individual living in Paris, London, Vienna, Athens, and other cities throughout Europe. (These comparisons are to the average citizens in foreign countries, not to those classified as poor.)
America has far more space but here we have supply and demand. Demand is very high in capital cities and space is a premium. I lived in a small apartment in London and I sold it for five times the price I paid for my apartment here which is three times the size.
Nearly three-quarters of poor households own a car; 30 percent own two or more cars.
I don't own a car but I am far from poor, being a middle income taxpayer at 40%. The public transport system in the city I live is second to none and that should go towards the quality of someone's life who lives in this city.
Ninety-seven percent of poor households have a color television; over half own two or more color televisions.
I own a small TV but I'm not poor.
Seventy-eight percent have a VCR or DVD player; 62 percent have cable or satellite TV reception.
Seventy-three percent own microwave ovens, more than half have a stereo, and a third have an automatic dishwasher.
I know many people who aren't poor but don't own a microwave, particularly in France. Lack of a microwave could be cultural rather than a wealth thing. I don't own one myself.
By comparison using "Stuff" and housing conditions, they have a higher standard of living that the average european.
http://www.heritage.org/Research/Welfare/bg1713.cfm
Now of course I know that being the source is the Heritage Foundation the study will be discounted entirely, but at least I post sources.
There are cultural differences at play here. I'm not sure how good a comparison comparing material goods is.
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