Bobert, if what you say is true, that is, it is virtually impossible to get poor people to make good decisions, then short of handouts there really is no solution to poverty. The topic makes for interesting and sometimes heated discussion, but at the end of the day we must be realistic and accept the fact that poverty is here to stay. Ive offered some potential solutions, being raising minimum wage, tax breaks for those below the poverty line, government assistance for childcare, starting a business, food stamps, all of which are currently available (correct me if Im wrong, please), or in the works. I mean really, what more can we do ? The answer lies with education, not handouts. Give a man a fish, you know the rest. The whole idea of such a rich country having even one poor person makes me bang my head against the wall !!