I hear people bring up this example to scoff at every now and then, but it’s always some unstated rationale. The progression of technology mostly allows us to live like royalty compared to people 300 years ago, minus the terrible indignity of having to work.
I’ve yet to hear an explicitly stated argument for why I’m supposed to think someone who has access to a refrigerator, internet, food, etc. is impoverished, except for, “Somesuch CEO earns 100000000x more than they do.”
That said, sure, “welfare royalty” seems like a misnomer. I assume they typically live like regular, “middle-class” people without the job part.
I’ve yet to hear an explicitly stated argument for why I’m supposed to think someone who has access to a refrigerator, internet, food, etc. is impoverished, except for, “Somesuch CEO earns 100000000x more than they do.”
That said, sure, “welfare royalty” seems like a misnomer. I assume they typically live like regular, “middle-class” people without the job part.