Keith Payne

Payne emphasizes the effects of inequality, but he also addresses the importance of comparing ourselves to others in our social contexts. When we find our possessions lacking by comparison, we tend to feel deprived. He points out several studies that purport to show that inequality is more important than poverty, and that inequality must be addressed at the top of the scale as well as at the bottom. He talks about focusing on deep values as a way of feeling less deprived; this is a great idea, but it doesn't put food on the table. His emphasis on inequality over poverty seems to minimize the actual poverty that is experienced by people in America and elsewhere. Perhaps it's true that their feeling poor is affected by what they see around them, but the fact that their children are going hungry is not a matter of perception.… (más)