eah. I mean, simply living in the USA gives us a leg-up from
  many countries generally because of our social support systems
  (if you can get a hold of them and go through the loopholes and
  many cannot) [after all, it only takes $34,000/yr to be in the
  top 1% wage earner in the world] But nevertheless, to be poor
  from even our higher starting standards of living, is difficult.