What is the "Cause" of poverty?

[_Droopy]

I ask this because the answer to this question will determine, to a great extent, the nature and extent of the means and structures devised to engage this problem, as well as the reasons it (welfare) is even considered.

[_just me]

I don't really see an answer up there that is complex enough to encompass the "cause" of poverty.

Lack of resources can happen for lots of reasons. Famine, plague, religious restrictions, legal restrictions, restriction of opportunity, discrimination, disability, poor decision making skills, etc.

Oh wait, are you only talking about America?

[_Droopy]

I don't really see an answer up there that is complex enough to encompass the "cause" of poverty.

Lack of resources can happen for lots of reasons. Famine, plague, religious restrictions, legal restrictions, restriction of opportunity, discrimination, disability, poor decision making skills, etc.

Oh wait, are you only talking about America?

No, but I should make clear I am talking about, for the purposes of this discussion, America and other free, open, market oriented societies in general (not feudal, marcantilist, socialist/communist, tribal, pre-industrial) in which poverty is not institutionally embedded by coercive force and command and control decision making from an authoritarian political class, or the use of/restriction of economic freedom as a weapon against out-groups, minorities etc.

[_just me]

Ah. Thanks for the clarification.

[_bcspace]

Poll doesn't seem to work. I'd vote for the first in the case of a free market economy. The last in the case of a socialist economy.

[_Wisdom Seeker]

I am reminded of the movie "It's a wonderful life" where George Bailey gets to see how the world would be if he had never been born. Oppressors such as Mr. Potter conspired to keep people poor without the checks and balances of some who choose to raise others up. And this sadly appears to be the methods of some who wish to control governments and oppress those who have not already obtained wealth and success. It simply amazes me that the 1% has so much control and influence that a large portion of the 99% will side with them and accept oppression instead of freedom.

[_Droopy]

Poll doesn't seem to work. I'd vote for the first in the case of a free market economy. The last in the case of a socialist economy.

Sorry it doesn't work. I don't think the author of a poll has to "activate" it in some manner, do they? It never came up before.

[_Droopy]

I am reminded of the movie "It's a wonderful life" where George Bailey gets to see how the world would be if he had never been born. Oppressors such as Mr. Potter conspired to keep people poor without the checks and balances of some who choose to raise others up.

Although he was an "oppressor" in some sense, he could not "keep people poor." in a free market context without, in the end, impoverishing himself. This is one of the places where leftist economic concepts always break down and disintegrate entirety when taken out of the purely theoretical/moralist realm and actually nailed into some real world wood.

Indeed, he offfered George Bailey a very nice compensation package to come and work for him. True, it was a trap, and had an alterior motive, but Potter's motives, as evil as he was, was not to "keep people poor," but simply to expand his own personal economic standing. If he needs to enrich others in the process, he'll have no problem doing that.

I also think that the context of the film, a small down at the height of the Depression, is a rare and extreme context, a context in which someone like Potter could exercise much more discretion and control of others than under normal circumstnaces undre free market conditions.

Today and for all the decades since the Depression, people would tell him to stuff his housing developments and go somewhere else. Likewise his bank.

And this sadly appears to be the methods of some who wish to control governments and oppress those who have not already obtained wealth and success. It simply amazes me that the 1% has so much control and influence that a large portion of the 99% will side with them and accept oppression instead of freedom.

Excuse me but, get a grip...

[_Wisdom Seeker]

I am reminded of the movie "It's a wonderful life" where George Bailey gets to see how the world would be if he had never been born. Oppressors such as Mr. Potter conspired to keep people poor without the checks and balances of some who choose to raise others up.

Although he was an "oppressor" in some sense, he could not "keep people poor." in a free market context without, in the end, impoverishing himself. This is one of the places where leftist economic concepts always break down and disintegrate entirety when taken out of the purely theoretical/moralist realm and actually nailed into some real world wood.

Is it your assertion that our free market economy in the USA is not tainted by the acts of some who may want to increase their wealth even if it costs the possibility of others to achieve wealth? You have to remember that these people do have money and they can buy almost anything with it.

I also think that the context of the film, a small down at the height of the Depression, is a rare and extreme context, a context in which someone like Potter could exercise much more discretion and control of others than under normal circumstnaces undre free market conditions.

So during good economic times and under normal free market conditions as found here in the USA, it is impossible for Gadianton robbers to seize any real control that could thwart a persons ability to rise above poverty? ( I used the term Gadianton because it seemed to fit the definition of those who secretly oppress others).

Yes my cynicism about US politics and economics seems quite bleak at times. I simply have a difficult time believing that wealth and power is not the largest motivation for those who want to rule over us.

[_Tarski]

all are factors that can continute to the existence of poverty.

there are many factors not mentioned such as acts of God, lack of oportunity, mental illness in a family, living in a severely depressed economy, being the victum of a scam, being old with an obsolete skill set. Insufficient educational opportunies, drug addiction and boderline personality disorder, racial prejudice still operates and in some cases key lost opportunities frustrate or are fatal to career development or employment at all.........

My oldest son is a drug addict, has a personality disorder and 2 felonies. He will always be poor. If the personlity disorder is at the root of it all then we can't even rightly blame him.
Not everyone is free. Only people with a brain healthy enough to make authentic free action possible. (granted this includes most of us)