Why shouldn't he generalize about poorness when others here are generalizing about wealth. If I look at my parents Gen around 1940s, most of them barely manage retirement. I'd say 75% get by, 20% do better and about 5% could be considered rich. Many are trying to hang on to the family home so that they might have an inheritance to leave. My Gen 1960s is similarly stratified although I think we have a slightly higher middle portion. However people are losing their jobs before retirement so that will eat up more of their 'wealth' just to survive. Another thing to consider, if the people who have been saving and building some pocket of wealth for 40+years are condemned for it, why should anyone under 30 be aiming to do that same wealth build? I know that my sons' cohort, who long complained they were never going to get on the ladder, are now in their 30s and marrying, buying homes and having children if they want them. That doesn't seem to be any different than my rural (poorer) cousins except they seem to be having even more children on average.