now compare them with the top 10% in, say, Kenya
The top 10% in Kenya live better than the middle class here, their help is practically free. All in all, it is way better to be middle class in the developing world than in the U.S. Look how few middle class Mexicans come here.
Also, most poor people in the world’s shanty towns (where my in laws are from originally) have cell phones and TV - I’m sorry to disabuse your notion of how the global working class live. Cell phones are not exotic anymore. And most have a small amount of family land in the country they can return to if the city doesn’t work out. Not so for Americans.
It is true people in shantytowns mostly wash clothes hand , but that is changing fast to.
All in all, the gap between the US and the rest of the World is closing.
We are having to compare ourselves with Haiti to feel superior, whereas 50 years ago we were mocking the Koreans.
Also, most people in squatter’s areas or shantytown’s don’t pay rent. That’s why it is called a squatter’s area. In the U.S. if you try that you are called homeless. Everything costs money in America.
My wife is from a hard core shanty town in an extremely poor developing country, and she says in many many ways American life is harder, and the people more inhumane. There is less time for family and friends and you literally work until you die.
This was true in the Depression. Much was made of Americans driving to the Poor House in their automobiles.
It’s still true.