Under the Affluence by Tim Wise. Shaming the poor, praising the rich and sacrificing the future of America. In Under the Affluence, Tim Wise discusses economic inequality and the demonization of those in need. He reminds us that there was a time when the hardship of fellow Americans stirred feelings of sympathy, solidarity for struggling families, and support for policies and programs meant to alleviate poverty. Today, however, mainstream discourse blames people with low income for their own situation, and the notion of an intractable "culture of poverty" has pushed our country in an especially ugly direction.