Don’t you just hate the 1 percent? You know . . . all those fat cats who have way more than they need. Meanwhile, the rest of us…the 99 percent…are struggling for survival and getting screwed by the system.

Sound familiar? It’s the anthem of the Occupy Movement, a mantra that can be traced back through civilization, but was not talked about much before the US economy tanked in 2008.

Take from the rich and give to the poor. It’s the stuff of fairy tales, fables and it makes for easy and convenient talking points, centered upon a powerful emotional message of righteous indignation.

But do you really loathe or even hate the 1 percent?

Well, maybe you should look in the mirror because you are part of the 1 percent.

Make no mistake, millions of Americans remain unemployed, and they are genuinely struggling to put food on the table and to stay warm in their homes during these difficult economic times.

But a bit of perspective is in order, especially when considering that the United States remains as one of the wealthiest countries in the world.

I hate to tell you this, but we – you and me—are the 1 percent.

Ask a 12-year-old boy in Tanzania about poverty. But before you do, give him some data about how we define poverty here in the United States. Each year, the U.S. Census Bureau reports that as many as 40 million Americans live in poverty.

The Census Bureau calculates the poverty level each year. In 2009, a typical family of four with a household income of $22,000 was considered living in poverty.

Meanwhile, the United Nations reported that more than 925 million people in the world are hungry. Roughly 2 percent of them live in developed nations such as the United States, Japan, Canada, Britain, France, etc.

More disturbing are findings of the Heritage Foundation’s research report that used data from U.S. Government reports and surveys, including those by the U.S. Energy Department and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

For example, in 2005, the typical U.S. household defined as poor had a car and air conditioning. For entertainment, the household had two color televisions, cable or satellite TV, a DVD player, and a VCR. If there were children, especially boys, in the home, the family had a game system, such as an Xbox or a PlayStation.  In the kitchen, the household had a refrigerator, an oven and stove, and a microwave. Other household conveniences included a washing machine, clothes dryer, ceiling fans, a cordless phone, and a coffee maker.

I am not attempting to diminish the struggles of those who live in poverty, rather I am hoping to illustrate that we too often ignore or dismiss how very fortunate we are in the United States. Even the poorest among us is far wealthier than most of the world.

If you or someone you know thinks you are poor, ask yourself the following questions:

Do you own or have access to a computer?

Do you have a cell phone? A refrigerator? Indoor plumbing? A change of clothes? A television? A stereo? A car or truck? A microwave oven? An air conditioner?

Despite the current bump in the economy, the vast and overwhelming majority of Americans are living in greater prosperity than has any other generation before.

We are the 1 percent.