"Poll: Does An Annual Income of $250K Make You Rich?
* 5470 responses
Yes: 38%
No: 58%
Not sure: 3.7%"
Together with poverty lines in much of the developed world defined as a certain percentage of the median income, it is no surprise that the poor, like the discriminated against, will always be with us.
Those of a more ascetic bent claim that the quest for neverending economic growth is unsustainable and that we cannot afford to continue down this road, but the evidence from human nature is that we cannot afford *not* to pursue economic growth.
It is impossible for everybody to be the richest person in town (positional goods), but it is possible for everybody to have, at least, an improving quality of life.
(This is the same reason why seniority-based pay makes everyone happy in the long run - everybody likes a rising income profile)