In my city, the poor school children in 8th grade are at a 3rd grade reading level. They also frequently go without food, have parents addicted to drugs, and ar

In my city, the poor school children in 8th grade are at a 3rd grade reading level. They also frequently go without food, have parents addicted to drugs, and are in or have friends who are in gangs. There are also no jobs in their neighborhoods and no transportation to areas that have jobs, that they can't get anyway, because they're in 8th grade at a 3rd grade reading level. And miraculously passing their exams every year. Poor people do dumb things because they live in shitty situations and are trying to survive, not thrive. You don't mainline heroin because it's a great idea. You do it because your drug addiction has progressed to the point where this is the only thing you can do. You are addicted to drugs because it's the only thing you can do to escape endless depression from how shitty your life is. And you were born into this life, so "pulling yourself up by your bootstraps" seems less likely than winning the lottery (hence why poor people play the lottery).