I was comparing the US to first world countries, not Europe as a whole. And no first world country is exceptionally poor compared to the US. Yes, the point in

I was comparing the US to first world countries, not Europe as a whole. And no first world country is exceptionally poor compared to the US. Yes, the point in this case is actually to have fewer poor people - specifically a strong middle class. As supposed to, say, a vast percentage of poor workers and an exceptionally rich upper class. You'll have to be more specific, or else your post looks like a derailment from what was under discussion, namely US GDP per capita compared to other first world countries.