It's a valid point that many of those below the poverty line in America have much more in cash or material goods than the poor in most countries. An argument like "Why spend money on poor people in other countries, when we have plenty of poor people here at home" misses this difference of poverty around the world both in terms of quality and quantity. There's even a wide variety of the experience of poor people at the same income level within the US. What many of the poor in the U.S. do not have is opportunities, or the ability or knowledge needed to take advantage of opportunities for whatever reason.
80% of American households have a per capita financial (non-home) wealth of roughly $27,000..less than 1/800 the per capita financial wealth of the top 1% of households. 3 in 4 Americans have no personal financial "safety net."
The vast majority of Americans, therefore, are quite vulnerable to the effects of economic downturns, a job loss, a medical emergency, student loan repayments...
