This is why when faced with Sankara's dilemma of 'water for all or champagne for a few', smart nations always choose water for all.
Because when everyone has a solid baseline, the elite can truly thrive and become exceptional. Their "champagne" can be meaningful.
But when most people are dirt poor, the elite become stupid, mediocre bastards who cannot pave their own roads, organise their own garbage collection, and prevent their own Ikoyi from regular flooding, constant foul odour, and mosquito infestation.
Charterhouse my ass.