The fact that some people *don't* comprehend how going from 20k to 50-70k/ year makes a huge change in lifestyle is incomprehensible to me. Well, ok, I take that back - it's comprehensible to me, but clearly some people are out of touch with reality for those on low incomes and the choices available as a result.
Heck, even an extra 200/month post-tax can make insane amounts of difference - and that's only.... a little over 2K more after-tax a year.
Big difference in flexibility going from 20k/year to 25k, 30k, up to 60k or so. Going from pure survival and penny pinching to having the ability to make investments or choices that enable for a better life going forward with a compounding, cumulative effect that can build upon itself is huge. Beyond that X amount where survival needs are met, savings can be accomplished, and there's extra for fun/meaningful/experiential things, any 'extra' doesn't add a significant amount of difference in terms of how life-altering it is.