I have no idea what Larry F. was trying to imply in his 2:46 post. I certainly did not get that from Larry K.s post. And he is not being one dimensional - I think he pretty much nailed it. In my 35 years of work in this area, 98% of those suffering from poverty or near poverty were a product of a similar situation while growing up or suffer from a lack of education (the number one contributor). Some cannot be changed. My last case (on a pro-bono basis) was trying to get someone to simply work. He was to be picked up at his door every morning, driven to the job site and returned on a daily basis. He had NO income at that time, living with a lady on SS disability. His physical condition was excellent as we observed him doing backflips after several beers. His comment was "I can't read or write"(dyslexia, I think). He did not have to as the driver would fill out his time card for him. The job was in drainage and irrigation and his main task would be carry lightweight plastic pipe, one piece at a time. The hourly rate was 3 times minimum wage to start.

While this tale is antecdotal, it is all too common. His 'partner' was going to apply for Supplemental SS for him. The "Great Society" has done much to create the current situation. Larry K. is correct and I am sure, like me, he has nothing against a legup until the individual can stand on his/her own two legs.

Too many people engaged in working to help those in dire conditions oft wear their heart on their sleeve and simply extend the condition rather than getting some away from it. The answer is somewhere in reaching those young people, say under 6 years of age, and giving them a path to follow.