This is true, it's a vicious cycle but it's not only about poverty. It's about human life in general. When something goes wrong other things follow it. Having

This is true, it's a vicious cycle but it's not only about poverty. It's about human life in general. When something goes wrong other things follow it. Having health problems directly implies that your career will suffer that your dating life will suffer that your finances will suffer. It's all connected. The good news is that it's not as bleak as improving one area improves the others as well and people just don't need as much money as is advertised to lead happy lives. When I had very little money I was much happier. I've been utterly depressed in a 4 star hotels and happy as a clam in a single room crap-hole with very poor heat isolation. What I've learned is that if you aren't happy living modestly you are compensating for some deeper issue by throwing money at cars and things. Whenever I see a Westerner concerned about money I realise they have much bigger problems that aren't being addressed. Yes, US is a place where it's really bad to be poor but all you need to get out of the cycle is for a single time to get lucky. And that's it suddenly you are on an upward trajectory with compounding success. I think everyone should experience at least once in their lives how it is to be poor. If they don't get traumatised by the experience and become misers constantly scared of losing their wealth then they win if not then it's really sad. Rich people who are petrified of losing their wealth look utterly miserable.