Relative and absolute poverty

What constitutes poverty? Is it a lack of income, assets, consumption or opportunity? [Leftists will argue it's the first two; real people know that it is the last two.] Do massive differences on levels of income mean that those at the bottom are poor? [Not necessarily, just relatively -- these are two different issues.] Contrast the American assertion from our Declaration of Independence – life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness – with the comparable French motto – liberte, egalite, fraternite – both from the late eighteenth century and the time of their respective revolutions. These simple phrases demonstrate a marked difference in the two cultures and the political system and rights that emerged from this thinking. The American motto emphasizes more individual pursuits, not equal outcomes; the French motto is more collective, socialist. The following video demonstrates some of the issues that arise from profound cultural differences around the world, without clearly demonstrating cause and effect.

This painful yet incomplete analysis of the relationship between income/wealth inequality and health raises more questions than it answers, including, “Does inequality cause health problems, or is it the reverse?” Or, “Are negative health incomes more the result of bad choices or of a lack of health insurance?” Or, “What does the ‘American dream’ promise or imply?” And to start, “Does the French concept of ‘liberty, equality and fraternity’ convey the same sense of values as the American commitment to ‘life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness’?”

NOTE: A 'ventile' is 20 equally divided sections, just as a 'decile' means divide by ten and 'quintile' means divided by five.