I can’t begin to imagine living in a world this terrifying: in the 21st century, even the poorest amongst us have standards of living that are vastly superior to our forebears. Of Americans living below the poverty line today, 99 per cent have electricity, water, toilets and a fridge, 95 per cent have a TV, 88 per cent have a phone, 71 per cent have a car, and 70 per cent have air conditioning. Even within living memory, some of these basic amenities used to be inconceivable luxuries, out of reach of the world's richest men and women.
