Spending just one day in a U.S. suburb is enough to realize how rich and prosperous most Americans are. While this is an obvious fact to those living in the slums of Mumbai or to the struggling mother of three in Detroit, most Americans do not see this. While the rest of the world’s bereavements are overlooked, our own first world problems ignite coffee table buzz and intellectual pomp. However, for such talk, little is actually done. Despite our wealth of blessings, affluent Americans fail to give back to the people most in need. 

One trend of affluent American culture too oft overlooked is how little we give to the poor. According to a 2012 report by the National Center for Charitable Statistics, the amount of donations given by individuals to charitable organizations averages out to three percent of their adjusted gross income. The U.S. has the fourth highest standard of living in the world yet does not rank amongst the top 15 most charitable countries.  Our materialism has blinded us to the meaning of opulence: to help people by disseminating wealth. By merely complaining, we do not help anyone, at home or abroad.

The most egregious complaint made comes from those in the upper middle class.  Their critique of affluence inspired the Occupy Wall Street movement , in which “the 99%” belittled the “wealthy.” The effort was undermined by the fact that those involved were overwhelmingly highly educated and employed, according to a report from the Joseph F. Murphy Institute for Worker Education and Labor Studies at the City University of New York. 

The ignorance of this movement became even more apparent when protesters were interviewed. Most did not even know why they were protesting, nor did they have any specific demands.  

Another reason the movement failed was because stereotyping the richest one percent and labeling them the axis of evil misses the point. Real injustice lies in the unprecedentedly high wealth gap that persists in America that creates socio-economic castes and prevents GDP growth, not in the fact that rich people exist. Inherent problems in our economic system are underscored when Americans scream out a window that rich people are bad. All this does is scare the pigeons.  

Furthermore, it is important to take a step back when considering wealth. First world problems become much less scary when fathoming those in the developing world. Three billion people on the planet live on less than two dollars a day, according to a 2013 report by the World Bank. Rather than be seen as a depressing fact, this should be an enticing incentive: all Americans can be opportunists and charitable donors, if they please. 

We also take for granted other important luxuries. Our education system, for instance, is a pillar of equal opportunity. Programs such as Headstart and other government-funded organizations ensure that every American citizen has the opportunity to receive an education, from preschool to postgraduate studies. Rather than appreciate this fundamental advantage, many Americans ignore it altogether.   

The Annie E. Casey Foundation’s annual Kids Count report shows that 53 percent of U.S. children who were three and four year old did not participate in preschool in the three years spanning 2008-2010. This is one reason that America ranks average (and below average in math) in test scores compared to the rest of the world. Receiving early education is proven to be a determining factor in whether or not students attend postsecondary schools. The freedoms we are afforded are not embarked upon, leading to detrimental effects. 

American children have the dream of becoming anyone. They believe they can become rock stars, professional sports players or even president of the United States. However, this idealism is combated throughout adolescence when American culture influences our attitudes. Once capitalism is understood, money becomes the prime motivator of our youth rather than personal knowledge. If only the system taught the value of an education; in places like Pakistan, you can be denied schooling purely because of your gender, an issue recently brought to our attention by Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai. Maybe then free education would be appreciated more.

Another system that is criticized without legitimacy is healthcare. In America, if a car hits you, an ambulance will rush through traffic to be by your side. A paramedic team consisting of five qualified medical personnel will come to your rescue, assessing your injuries and providing the necessary care to save your life. This interaction occurs daily without red tape, questioning or exploitation. Your immediate life preservation is valued, whether you are homeless or the richest person in the world.  

This life sparing blessing is one that enrages the political right. Politicians and conservative Americans complain about expensive health care bills and tax increases for this cause. In fact, taxing is such a hot button issue that prior to the November 2012 election, Americans for Tax Reform convinced 95% of all Republican members of Congress to sign a petition vowing that under no circumstance may they increase taxes. This act of partisanship was crude and misguided.  Curbing healthcare in a prosperous country such as the United States when other, less fortunate countries leave dying people on in the street is at least unpatriotic and at most downright offensive. 

We like to think we are poor when in actuality we are rich. The right to life, an education and a solidified opportunity for success are granted to every American citizen. Though serious challenges confront us, it is the task of our brightest, most innovative minds to tackle them. However, in a culture that does not appreciate or spread its most basic blessings, this progression is deterred. Those who inevitably suffer from such callousness are those who stand to benefit most from a helping American hand.