We’re told, with a sense of horror, that sanitation workers in developing countries have pretty crappy jobs in terms of conditions and pay. The only surprise there, for the informed among us, is the horror with which this is regarded. This is what poverty means, having to wade through crap to gain that bowl of rice a day.

That is, this is what actual poverty means, not the kind complained about in this country, where it seems to mean having only one pair of Air Jordans.