Too many people think that poverty is the fault of the poor, ignoring the effects of the environment. They think "Hey, I did it myself - they just have to pull themselves up by their bootstraps!" while ignoring the fact that they themselves grew up in a middle-class neighborhood with a good school, adequate food and shelter, educated parents, and an all-around nurturing environment.

You just have to look at some European countries to see that poverty does not have to exist to the extent that it does in the U.S.