[Broken Arrow]

Hmm, I have to be careful here.

Back in Sociology class, we've read several academic papers that studied and even measured being poor, and what causes it.

Of course, this was many many years ago, and that was on hard copies, so I don't have any links handy. But I do recall some of the thesis was that the economic environment is the cause, or is at least a major contributor, to being poor.

Consider a typical case example of "poor". Let's say you're born to a mother who is an alcoholic, or worse drug user. You have no idea who your father is because he's obviously gone. Household income is low, you struggle with school, some of your childhood friends have already been jailed or got shot, and you are both intimidated and tempted by gang recruiting.

Could someone, who is born into this sort of environment, rise above all that and become wealthy and successful? Of course. Is that what generally happens? No. In fact, these studies suggest that only a small percentage of the population ever rise above the economic condition they are born into.

But I did say I have to be careful, because true or not, it's all too easy for us to point our fingers and blame it on anything and everything else except ourselves. I do agree that, in the end, it is indeed up to us to rise above our environment and create our own success.

That said, I also believe that it is harder for some than it is for others, and to simply say that people are poor because they are lazy is rather unfair....