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I like this quote... "�Today, of Americans officially designated as �poor,� 99 percent have electricity, running water, flush toilets, and a

Posted by Andie Jul 3 '13, 07:40

�Today, of Americans officially designated as �poor,� 99 percent have electricity, running water, flush refrigerator; 95 percent have a television, 88 percent a telephone, 71 percent a car and 70 percent air conditioning. Cornelius Vanderbilt had none of these.�

�Matt Ridley

English journalist, writer and businessman

Responses:

Most of those items were not invented when Vanderbilt was alive - amoxy Jul 3, 08:04 1
- [deleted]
Wait, so even the "poor" part of "I was born a poor black child." was a lie? - Inigo Jul 3, 08:01
comparing today's people with people living hundred of years ago is as stupid as comparing appels to oranges -- nm - DaneDukeNuuk Jul 3, 07:56
I'm pretty surprised at the air conditioning percentage. That seems super high to me. -- nm - Shaun Jul 3, 07:44 5
- If you count single window unit AC that doesn't surprise me. You can get those as low as $80 here -- nm - Bacon Jul 3, 07:55
- Americans really don't like to sweat -- nm - decline Jul 3, 07:45
- not me. -- nm - Andie Jul 3, 07:44 2
  - But then I guess that Florida is kind of hotter than New Brunswick? -- nm - Shaun Jul 3, 07:46 1
    - so is DC. -- nm - loosilu Jul 3, 07:52
(sorry that got a little mangled in the C&P somehow?) -- nm - Andie Jul 3, 07:42
obviously we need to cut unemployment benefits futher, if they can afford all those things... -- nm - znufrii Jul 3, 07:41 13
- i think it was more about rethinking what you 'need.' -- nm - Andie Jul 3, 07:42 12
  - Imagine what he could have done if he had those amenities. - Krusty Jul 3, 07:58 6
    - A/C is really the only one that's not necessary today. Most people can't get to work without a car so I'll count that one as necessary. -- nm - Krusty Jul 3, 07:59 5
      - um, i have never owned a car in my life. we have one now, but i still don't drive to work, i take transit. -- nm - Andie Jul 3, 08:00 4
        
        if you organise your life without a car your need for one is lower :) - DaneDukeNuuk Jul 3, 08:03
        
        (again, not saying you shouldn't drive to work, i am saying it is meant to make you really think about needs.) - Andie Jul 3, 08:02 1
        
        I agree and it has made me think about what is necessary and what isn't. -- nm - Krusty Jul 3, 08:03
        
        I have never had a license so I know it's possible to be fine without one but life in America has changed and jobs aren't as close as they used to be. - Krusty Jul 3, 08:02
  - while you live in a capitalist society it's pritty much impossible for most to rethink what they "need" -- nm - DaneDukeNuuk Jul 3, 07:58 4
    - glad to see everyone is taking this literally. it is meant that to point out that what we consider needs aren't *really*. - Andie Jul 3, 07:59 3
      - thats true but were all bombared with what some producers with an advertising budget feel we shoul think is a need - DaneDukeNuuk Jul 3, 08:01 1
        
        exactly. -- nm - Andie Jul 3, 08:02
      - I think some of those are needs based on how life is today. - Krusty Jul 3, 08:01

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I like this quote... "�Today, of Americans officially designated as �poor,� 99 percent have electricity, running water, flush toilets, and a

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