This all sounds like the regular mantra that people are poor because they're lazy. I don't think that's a fair call for the majority of poor people. I think not only does the "human nature" instinct for instant gratification play a part, but also lack of knowledge plays a part. How do you learn to stay on a budget, save your money, and think about the future? You only learn that kind of thing from your family or friends. And if none of them have ever had enough money to do that with, you have no idea about it.

In this country at least, I think health--both physical and mental--plays an important part. I lived out in the country in Maine, and it was very poor. A lot of people were unemployed because of health problems. In many cases they wanted to work and could have worked part time, but there just were no jobs available that fit their limitations. You might say they should move to the city, but if you're living in a trailer, where do you get the money to even rent an apartment? What about when your car breaks down--your old car that you do the bare minimum maintenance on because you've got no money for more? Lots of these people will have signs outside their houses, or tacked up at the corner store, that they'll do yard work or give massages or repair small engines. They're trying, but it's all nickel and dime stuff.

I don't think there's any simple answer to why people are poor, but I do think it's a vicious circle once you get into it, especially if that's the only experience you've ever had.

My question is, if we could pinpoint "why," would it help us solve the problem?

There are no problems only solutions.

If we can space travel we can solve the poor question.

It is said that a tiny levy on all world financial transactions would go a very long way to doing just that.....but guess what..David Cameron here in the UK doesn't agree....why...Because The City Of London Told Him So.

Who has more influence on school age children?

Parents and their immediate peer group or the so called "haves"?

it depends upon the child, but judging by the billions spent in advertising, Id say peers and media do pretty well at 'influencing' the inexperienced and naive,,,

I don't consider myself to be "poor" but if you took a look at my income and resources I would certainly qualify. My father was dirt poor and he had a father who was an alcoholic. The kids didn't know where their next meal was coming from and didn't have shoes to wear to school. My father got work at the steel Mill and worked hard all his life to support his family, and did farming when he was not working. I am grateful I have a roof over my head and food to eat, a car and a computer.

Even the poor of America have so much more than people in third world countries who don't have running water, live in huts with dirt floors, and go up on the hill to poop. For dinner they have to kill a chicken or a goat. So in comparison, I feel very rich indeed.

And I don't have to kill or pluck the chicken for dinner.

I am not a rich man but I do not need for anything.

There are no poor people in most of Europe.

But there are 2 to 3 billion people in the world that are seriously poor ...millions of those people would die if it weren't for ordinary people donating some of their hard earned money.

I say hard earned money as opposed to soft earned money...in fact I would go as far as to say unearned money....and that is where the problem and solution rests.

I am not a rich man but I do not need for anything.

There are no poor people in most of Europe.

But there are 2 to 3 billion people in the world that are seriously poor ...millions of those people would die if it weren't for ordinary people donating some of their hard earned money.

I say hard earned money as opposed to soft earned money...in fact I would go as far as to say unearned money....and that is where the problem and solution rests.

Never heard of Romania and other Eastern European Nations?

I am not a rich man but I do not need for anything.

There are no poor people in most of Europe.

But there are 2 to 3 billion people in the world that are seriously poor ...millions of those people would die if it weren't for ordinary people donating some of their hard earned money.

I say hard earned money as opposed to soft earned money...in fact I would go as far as to say unearned money....and that is where the problem and solution rests.

I am curious about how you are defining 'poor',, I have visited The UK and saw what appeared to be plenty of poverty.

"In very capitalists countries you will find the very rich and the very poor. It is because profit to the rich is what is focused on, not so much helping people to live abundant lives."

There are poor in all countries. Under Communist rule they are better hidden by the system (unless you are in it... and poor).
Monarchy's have their poor also as do dictatorships, theocracies and most forms of government.

We have poor because we measure trade with money.

When money exists one will allways have those that receive a large part and those that do not.

and the things we need in life will be influenced by that measure.

Because we must trade for them.

However when Government becomes the only hope of the poor that Government will colapse over time. (diminishing returns).

Government must Govern.

Each community should raise up its own poor.

Government can only provide for the General Welfare by governing fairly...

Using the EU criteria for poverty Oxfam maintain that there are approx 13 million people in poverty in the UK.

I agree with that criteria and the figures.

I was talking about real poverty in some African Countries for instance.

There are safety nets in the UK for people in bad situations.

There is a difference between impoverished and poor.

You can travel throughout Europe and see plenty of poor people.

I was amazed to see the living conditions in Southern Italy..

Using the EU criteria for poverty Oxfam maintain that there are approx 13 million people in poverty in the UK.

I agree with that criteria and the figures.

I was talking about real poverty in some African Countries for instance.

There are safety nets in the UK for people in bad situations.

oh,,, 'real' poverty,,,

ok