In chapter 3, we get more firsthand details about the life of poor people in 2024, which is just about everyone who isn't swimming in wealth. The news of astronaut Alica Leal's death on the latest Mars mission is publicized, to which the people in Lauren's neighborhood voice their opinions on space travel being a waste of money. As the government throws billions towards it, the majority of society lives in what would be considered poverty today. It has become fashionable to look dirty, and gasoline is cheaper than clean water. The contrast between classes is striking: as the rich are progressing, the rest are regressing.
Good point. Butler is very pointed about this -- the poverty here is vivid and pervasive (though certainly does reflect very real aspects of our own world).
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