Most US adults think individual choices keep people in poverty, new polls finds

Wake up and smell the coffee people, it's by design! It's unsurprising what's happening in America unfortunately. They've been made to believe the lie of trickle down economics.

My family's income rose by about 300 dollars per month a few months ago. We then immediately lost about 250 dollars per month in rental assistance and SNAP benefits directly because of that income change. Yep, totally personal responsibility. Definitely our fault we're in poverty and definitely has nothing to do with the Democrats means testing every assistance program without any regard to what other assistance programs someone might be on in an effort to seem "fiscally responsible" with these programs.

Oh we also get in trouble for having too much money in savings or other assets. There is basically no "climbing out of poverty," you either stay right where you are or through some miracle immediately rocket out. There is no in-between.

Tricky question. If you are born into poverty then you are at a disadvantage out the gate. Personal responsibility is the key to break a cycle. The government can provide programs to support lower income but how people use it is the question.