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IDemo

(16,926 posts)
Fri Jun 20, 2014, 09:31 AM Jun 2014

Poll: Fewer Americans Blame Poverty on the Poor

As millions of Americans continue to struggle in a sluggish economy, a growing portion of the country says that poverty is caused by circumstances beyond individual control, according to a new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll.

The poll shows a significant shift in American opinion on the causes of poverty since the last time the question was asked, nearly 20 years ago. In 1995, in the midst of a raging political debate about welfare and poverty, less than a third of poll respondents said people were in poverty because of issues beyond their control. At that time, a majority said that poverty was caused by "people not doing enough." Now, nearly half of respondents, 47 percent, attribute poverty to factors other than individual initiative.

“In hard economic times, people become more sympathetic to the poor,” says Martin Gilens, Ph.D., a political scientist at Princeton University. “In 1995, we were in a period of economic expansion. Even the less well-off benefitted considerably. Now we’re in the most visible period of dire economic circumstances for Americans. If you look around and you see that there’s high unemployment and a generally poor economy, you’re more likely to explain poverty through those factors.”

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Though opinion shifts on the causes of poverty cross demographic lines, major divides remain. More than 60 percent of Democrats said forces outside of an individual’s control are the most significant cause of poverty. The same was true of just 27 percent of Republicans*.

http://www.nbcnews.com/feature/in-plain-sight/poll-fewer-americans-blame-poverty-poor-n136051

* "Are there no poorhouses?"

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Poll: Fewer Americans Blame Poverty on the Poor (Original Post) IDemo Jun 2014 OP
Well, if there weren't any poor, there wouldn't be poverty liberal N proud Jun 2014 #1
The middle class has pretty much always fallen for this lie. Until now when they are under seige. jwirr Jun 2014 #2

liberal N proud

(60,302 posts)
1. Well, if there weren't any poor, there wouldn't be poverty
Fri Jun 20, 2014, 09:43 AM
Jun 2014
off

I am sick of people blaming the poor and claiming they are all frauds and moochers.

jwirr

(39,215 posts)
2. The middle class has pretty much always fallen for this lie. Until now when they are under seige.
Fri Jun 20, 2014, 10:05 AM
Jun 2014

And who said there is nothing good about this recession? Finally I am not to blame for the fact that farm chemicals in the well water caused my daughters severe disability and led to the poverty we have lived in ever since she was born.

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