Welp. I suppose I grew up in trailer parks, single alcoholic mom, food stamps, HUD paid rent, absent dad.... end up working my way through college without debt

Welp. I suppose I grew up in trailer parks, single alcoholic mom, food stamps, HUD paid rent, absent dad.... end up working my way through college without debt (FT job + FT course load).... what's your story? Because I know a lot of poor people and their psychology pretty well. My quoted "struggle" is because there is a distinction between real poor and bottom, in my mind. Bottom is just that and can be quite functional and the struggle comes from perception and comparing to other things/people. Sacrifice is necessary at this level. You can not get every new Apple product, etc. But that's been normalized and they feel they are struggling when they can't get the shiny things. They typically can afford housing but have to sacrifice on location, commute, schools, etc. The "$15 federal minimum wage" topic is a good example of the bottom. It's billed as a "living wage" because it's compared to current prices. However, if implemented, just moves the bottom upwards. Their position on the ladder does not change, rents go up and they still have the same affordability issues they do right now.