I wasn't trying to be a jerk. I really think that inflation is a big part of it, and that the way we currently measure inflation can be misleading, especially s

I wasn't trying to be a jerk. I really think that inflation is a big part of it, and that the way we currently measure inflation can be misleading, especially since CPI is measured sans energy/food costs. A large part of the Arab Spring had to do with climbing food prices. It's true that conditions around the world are getting better as people gain more access to clean water, energy, education, etc, but using a benchmark "$1.25" to measure poverty misses the point. I should have explained my comment with more depth.