From the original article: "If you exclude children from the numbers..., then 36% of poor people work at least 27 weeks/year" The argument that the poor don't w

From the original article: "If you exclude children from the numbers..., then 36% of poor people work at least 27 weeks/year" The argument that the poor don't want to work hinges on this number. This number does not take into account the disabled, retired, or otherwise unable to work who disproportionately fall into poverty. As someone formerly below the poverty line, I take great issue with the statement that the poor do not want to work. To put this back in terms of the updated graph from the CBO: even a menial job offers the potential to possibly move out of the poverty range with time. Between $20k and $30k the Disposable Income line tracks very closely to the Real Earnings line, meaning that the incentive is high. In a more practical sense, the difference between having $20k in disposable income and $28k is actually very palpable. Living in poverty is a hardship that defies the rationality he suggests.