I didn't say everyone who is poor is that way due to lack of ability. Some of them are, some aren't. But your wording seems to indicate that you think poor people don't work or support themselves at all. I hope that's not the case. Many poor people do work and support themselves. What I'm saying is not everyone has the ability to get themselves of poverty.
First, lets quit trying to boil everything down to absolutes. I think we're both smart enough to realize, anything you say about a group doesn't apply 100% to everyone in that group. I had tried to make that clear.
And by "support themselves" I mean being self sufficient, without the need for welfare of some type. And I do know many poor people who don't accept welfare... most are single, when a child is involved, I'd rather that poor person take the help, to help the kids, while also working to improve their situation to get to a point they don't need welfare.
I think the problem is that you're not reading or hearing it correctly. It's not that I'm saying the poor don't have the ability to not be poor. I'm saying some of them just aren't cut out to get themselves out of poverty.
How is that not the same thing? "Not cut out for" is a colloquialism for doesn't posses the ability.
That's why I compared them to me. It's possible I wouldn't have what it takes to get myself out of poverty. I'd like to think I do, but I can't say for sure. Growing up in a different culture without all of my current advantages, who knows where I would have ended up? I'm not where I am because I'm better than poor people. I'm here mostly because of the advantages I've had. I've only had one job that I didn't get through someone I know.
I don't think your abilities are something given to you by the culture you grow up in. Your born with your abilities. Desire and will to use those abilities to improve your life, on the other hand, I think, is more related to culture. Culture can be overcome much more easily than lack of ability.
An analogy would be climbing up a mountain, where the mountaintop is a good, comfortable life involving working a good job. I started near the top of the mountain, and only had to climb 100 feet. Many poor people would have to climb 1,000 feet. Some of them are capable of doing that, while others aren't. Now, if the same group of people started where I did, most of them would be capable of getting to the top.
I don't think thats a good analogy, but lets go with it. You both would posses the necessary abilities, walking up hill. For you, the walk was a bit shorter. So, for someone who has to walk further, they don't require some ability you already posses (walking up hill) just the desire to keep walking further than you had to.
I know. This is my point. Of course life isn't fair, but I'm not saying everyone should be well off. I'm saying everyone should at least have a decent standard of living. Some people will have to work harder than others, which is fine. But working hard should entitle you to at least a decent home in a decent neighborhood with plenty of food and clothing.
It does. Someone who dropped out of school and wasted early opportunities can still have a decent life. They might only be able to get a lower paying job, meaning they have to work some more hours, but its still possible, with hard work. And if they are actively try to improve their life, make the right decisions, and are patient they can move up to higher paying positions.
Regardless you illustrate my point. One person has to work harder to achieve the exact same thing as someone else. Some people are capable of doing that extra work, and some aren't. That doesn't mean the ones who aren't should have a nice house, nice clothes, etc. all on the taxpayers dime. It does, however, mean that that person should get some help.
This is where I think our disagreement comes from... you seem to think that there is some missing skill or ability that allows someone to do that extra amount of work... I don't. Work is work, the amount you do depends on your desire. Take your walking up a mountain analogy again. Walking is walking, if you posses the ability to walk 100' you also posses the ability to walk 200' if you really want to. There is no new skill or ability you have to learn to walk that extra 100', you just have to walk a bit longer.
I think many stuck in generations of poverty and welfare aren't there because they lack the ability to walk... they lack the desire to keep walking until they get to a better place. They see the top as too far away, they can stay at their current location and be somewhat comfortable (in large part thanks to welfare) so don't bother taking that long walk.