Is Poverty A Choice?

I would say that poverty is definitely not a choice.  No one can choose who they are born into.  If one is born into a lower socioeconomic family it is very difficult to raise him/herself out of poverty.  This is especially true when public education is poor.  Often times in our society today, those with the most wealth can afford the best private schools for their children.  It is true that there are magnet schools in our city, but the many violent inadequate neighborhood schools greatly out number of magnet schools in Chicago, which makes it almost impossible for people of low income communities to build a better life for themselves.

            I do not agree with the belief that most people are poor, because they refuse to work hard, and rich people have earned all of their wealth.  In my view, it is quite the contrary.  The richest people in America are often times born into their wealth and are not required to work a day in their lives.  Someone who lives paycheck to paycheck to provide for their families can even have two jobs and still struggle to pay the bills.  There are many professions that require a lot of diligence and knowledge as well, but may not pay very well.  Teaching is certainly one of those occupations.  Many teachers I have known slave for hours preparing lesson plans or grading papers.  All in all you cannot assume that someone on welfare is lazy, because it is simply not fair.