Question: Is poverty an economic or cultural problem?It is easy to say, as Reeves does, the answer is both. Changing the culture so economic assistance becomes more a hand up than a hand out is nearly impossible while maintaining the individual rights of the poor. Poor young people are more influenced by the peer group than by their often absent elders.
Answer: Yes.
Bad attitudes are at the core of the problem. Attitudes which say, explicitly or otherwise, whatever you want me to do is exactly what I won't do. You are the enemy, defeating you is my goal, collaborating is anathema.
In one sense the inner city youth who fill our courts and prisons resemble suicide bombers. They destroy themselves to keep from pleasing a society they hate and envy.
Normally, such behavior makes the actor far more miserable than the intended audience. The result of their sacrifice - Pyrrhic victory, minus the 72 virgins.
