The Relative Meaning of 'Poor'

To read Brigid Schulte's recent "Class Questions" article about American poverty [The Magazine, Aug. 6], one might think we are going to hell in a handbasket. Not so.

Although concern about poverty is no doubt well-intentioned, it would be more fitting to focus on international poverty, or at least to point out that even the poorest Americans are rich by foreign standards. While "poor" Americans may not seem to have an enviable lot, even poor Americans still have access to goods such as telephones, TVs, cars and computers. These goods were luxuries or nonexistent in America only a couple of generations ago and remain inaccessible to the overwhelming majority of the world's citizens. Even America's poor are rich. The Post would do well to point out how well off America is, despite the challenges we face.

DANIEL LURKER

Fairfax