As I write over and over: Poverty is an institution based on racism, sexism (including LGBTQ), ageism and classism. It is kept in place because all upper classes benefit from this class due to the cheap labor it produces and the extra costs it takes to BE poor, including taxes which are much higher proportionately than any other class in all states, which keeps taxes down for the upper classes. Poverty is *not* about "choice" because you can be a drug addict and Paris Hilton yet nobody is going to blame her for it as they do with those in poverty.

Yet Paris Hilton is one of the biggest welfare queens around living off the taxes that low income families pay at a far greater sacrifice. On their dime she can fly around in her private jet, live in her mansions, and drink bottles of wine that would pay an entire month's rent for a low income family, and she uses the Commons far more than any poor person. Even a welfare mother pays more taxes from her meager income than Paris Hilton. But Hilton would never be blamed for "making the wrong choices" if she were a drunk or drug addict even though she is living off far greater taxes than any street addict could ever dream to spend on their drug of choice.

Also "classism" is the new racism, ageism, and sexism because it is not illegal to discriminate against someone because they are poor. That the highest population among the poor are women, people of color, the aged, and LGBTQ is pretended to be ignored. You can deny a person a job, home, and any facilities (such as heat and lights to survive) based solely on poverty and nobody is going to do or say a thing. Yet more often than not, these are the people the rest of society "blames" for being poor, for "making the wrong choices".

Hope this helps

Cat in Seattle