You could not possibly have it more wrong in terms of politics and religion - I'm a socialist and an atheist. Either way, 'comparing poverty' is essential - it tells us who is a fake and who isn't. Only those who literally don't give a damn (preferring to just throw money blindly and hope the problem goes away) fail to discriminate .. and in so doing, waste resources sorely needed by the genuinely poor. It's not about shaming - though shaming is a very important social tool and survival mechanism - it's about recognising that resources are limited, and ensuring they go to the right place.
1) The refugees I speak of came from far worse conditions and history than anything the poorest Americans can even imagine. Generations of peasantry and often significant persecution/war, etc. It's all about culture. The poor in the West are cursed with the greatest cultural obstacle to success ... laziness. That's what all of it comes back to. Not traumatic history, not intergenerationl poverty, etc. Just plain old laziness. 2) I don't blame children. I blame their parents - 100%. 3) I don't think a good dose of hunger could make today's 'poor' worse.
But the issue is unearned income is it not? If a poor person is undeserving because they did not earn income, then an heir commits the exact same sin.