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Poverty is indeed relative, but we currently define poverty in either absolute or relative terms.  I am pretty sure the Census Bureau measures poverty in absolute terms however. 

I can agree that priorities are different in Europe for the most part.

I was in Venice actually, and I can agree with what you say...but the underlying point again is that poverty is relative, so why do we try to measure it in absolutes?

I doubt anyone really wants to live in "poverty", but that hardly means people are entitled to the lifestyle they want either.