NPR/Kaiser/Kennedy School Poll Poverty in America

Some Highlights:

4. How would you rate your own financial situation today? Would you say it is excellent, good, only fair, or poor?

Excellent7%
Good 43%
only Fair 38%
Poor 11%
Don't know *

6. Would you say you are not doing so well financially because of something you yourself have done or failed to do, because of bad luck, or because of things other people have done to you?
(Results for respondents who rate their own financial situation as only fair or poor)

Something I have failed to do 43%
Bad luck 22%
Things other people have done to me 20&
Don't know 15%
        
        
I draw from this that there are some people classified as poor (12%+) who don't think they are poor.

And I conclude that many of those who think they are poor, blame on themselves.