How can we not compare our poor to those in other countries when the whole point of the conversation is comparing our economic system with other countries — it is absurd. Also, if he had actually read the studies and stats, he would see that our poor are better off than most 1st world countries as well. Indeed, there are only 3 countries in the world where the poor are better off than in America and none of those countries provide as well for the rest of their demographis. More importantly, none of those countries have their poor move out of poverty as well as in America (at least for individuals who are in the work force).