Observing

in others nearer the poverty line
than one's self  'those poor people,
they must be gluttons for punishment
for living on so much less, voluntarily',
makes it seem that everybody has choices
and anyone choosing rightly chooses comfort.

But this insight always tightens the focus
around the individual, applying falsely
the choice/wealth of the richer observer
onto the situation of the observed.

Though through thrift and application,
and the ideal of a trickle down effect
that works,  relieves the worry with debt,
the relatively poor may well be content,
rather than projecting jealousy,
with a sense of  'I never have enough',
in some state of self perpetuating grievance.