4 ms·

> Americans are almost universally wealthy. I would beg to differ. Sure, the average standard of living and "lifestyle" in the US is above many countries, but

> Americans are almost universally wealthy. I would beg to differ. Sure, the average standard of living and "lifestyle" in the US is above many countries, but to say that everyone is wealthy is a flat out lie.

dang 6y ago
"Lie" implies intent to deceive. Since it's hard to accurately read intent on the internet, it's better to find a different word to express disagreement. https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html
- 2rsf 6y ago
  Thank you! the usage of "lie" is becoming common while people actually mean "wrong"
teatree 6y ago
I don't know where you are from, but for people in developing countries even a lower middle class American life is far better than being relatively rich and fighting the daily hassle of living in their home country.
- soldehierro 6y ago
  I am distinctly aware of the many differences between life in America and other countries, especially less developed ones. As an American myself, I'm greatful for the prosperity that many of my compatriots tend to take for granted, but I absolutely believe it's a mischaracterization to call Americans universally wealthy. There are definitely places in America where conditions mirror those in developing countries. (Native American reservations especially)
GoldenMonkey 6y ago
Americans pets are wealthier and better fed than 99% of the world’s people. Ask me how I know.
- dragonwriter 6y ago
  > Americans pets are wealthier and better fed than 99% of the world’s people. If so, that would, mathematically, also include a minimum of about 75% of the US population, and that assumes the entire global top 1% is American, which it isn’t.
  - mettamage 6y ago
    328 million/7.9 billion ~= 4.15% The poorest Americans are definitely much poorer than the poorest western europeans [1]. Western Europe has 196 million people (about 2.4% of the world population) [2]. I'd estimate that 10% of the world population (790 million people) has a comfortable modern middle class life. It's just an intuition. Northen Europe as 106 million people. [1] https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/western-europe-population/#:~:text=Countries%20in%20Western%20Europe&text=The%20current%20population%20of%20Western,of%20the%20total%20world%20population https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/western-europ....

dang 6y ago

"Lie" implies intent to deceive. Since it's hard to accurately read intent on the internet, it's better to find a different word to express disagreement. https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html

2rsf 6y ago
Thank you! the usage of "lie" is becoming common while people actually mean "wrong"

teatree 6y ago

I don't know where you are from, but for people in developing countries even a lower middle class American life is far better than being relatively rich and fighting the daily hassle of living in their home country.

soldehierro 6y ago
I am distinctly aware of the many differences between life in America and other countries, especially less developed ones. As an American myself, I'm greatful for the prosperity that many of my compatriots tend to take for granted, but I absolutely believe it's a mischaracterization to call Americans universally wealthy. There are definitely places in America where conditions mirror those in developing countries. (Native American reservations especially)

GoldenMonkey 6y ago

Americans pets are wealthier and better fed than 99% of the world’s people. Ask me how I know.

dragonwriter 6y ago
> Americans pets are wealthier and better fed than 99% of the world’s people. If so, that would, mathematically, also include a minimum of about 75% of the US population, and that assumes the entire global top 1% is American, which it isn’t.
- mettamage 6y ago
  328 million/7.9 billion ~= 4.15% The poorest Americans are definitely much poorer than the poorest western europeans [1]. Western Europe has 196 million people (about 2.4% of the world population) [2]. I'd estimate that 10% of the world population (790 million people) has a comfortable modern middle class life. It's just an intuition. Northen Europe as 106 million people. [1] https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/western-europe-population/#:~:text=Countries%20in%20Western%20Europe&text=The%20current%20population%20of%20Western,of%20the%20total%20world%20population https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/western-europ....