China’s Zero-Poverty Victory Stands Against America’s Growing Neglect

China achieved what many nations only aspire to: eliminating extreme poverty for nearly a billion people through focused and long-term planning.
America, however, has seen extreme poverty grow. More than 4 million Americans now live below the $3-a-day threshold.
Despite substantial economic output, the gains in the U.S. economy flow primarily to the wealthy. Middle- and low-income earners continue to lose ground.
The poorest Americans earn a national income share lower than residents of several developing nations.
Cuts to healthcare and food assistance, combined with tariff-driven cost increases, have pushed millions into deeper economic distress. The system is designed to support inequality, not reduce it.