[higgmeister]

Poverty is a mental disease. Barring mental or physical disaster, the so-called "poor" in this country are right where they are because of the combined affect of the decisions they have made in their lives. The decision to pay attention or not to pay attention to their education. The decision to work, or not to work. The decision to spend their weekends flopped on the couch or to get out there and work a second job in an attempt to get ahead. The decision to get pregnant with a child you can't afford to raise, or the decision to practice some sexual and reproductive responsibility. Drugs, or no drugs? Cigarettes, or no cigarettes? They make the decisions in their lives, and I'm damned tired of living the consequences. - Boortz.com

[grey_whiskers]

To a large extent that's true--I think it was Walter Williams (or was it Thomas Sowell) who said the way to get out of poverty in the US was to finish high school, wait until you are finished school and married to have kids, and keep a job.

Not too high of a barrier.

But there are car wrecks, hurricanes, catastrophic illnesses, lawsuits, divorces, etc.; not all of which are foreseeable or preventable to the degree you imply.

Cheers!