re: If Britain were a US state it would be second poorest ahead of only Mississippi.

I've lived in the UK for 10 years now after growing up and living in SE Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi, and I can tell you there is A LOT less poverty in the UK than in any of those states. But at the same time there are a lot less people with high-middle class money than in those places as well. I guess that's socialism for you.