Stlhd,

I did not say there should be no poverty I said in the majority of cases it was a choice. Quitting school, teen pregnacy, substance abuse ,immegration etc are all choices. My point is that we have all the tools at our disposal for free or little effort in this country. things like education, Scholarships , Job training,a multitude of state and local and federal programs to help people out.
I have first hand knowledge as a kid of a single mom who quit school in the 7th grade and had 3 kids before her 18th birthday and divorced and alone at 19. I grew up as 4salt mentioned. There is a way out and its up to the individual 100% the resources are there. Now this of course excludes people with handicaps , mental illness etc.