But the western definition of poverty has been incapable of distinguishing "poverty" as a conscious lifestyle, a culture that would thrive perfectly fine, were it not that it is under pressure exactly because it is not allowed to exist in the western paradigm.

Well, we abuse ourselves with that as much as we abuse anyone else.

Without writing out a long narrative, it was interesting while traveling to see money as simply one of many variables in people's quality of life, and the ability to see it that way wasn't so much from being absorbed into another culture as it was not being completely levered into my own.

you are the media you consume.