Poverty is a issue that has been around for a long time. There are two categories that the causes can be labeled into. They are out of the persons control, or in the persons control but leads to a situational cause. Some of the causes in the book that are out of a persons control are the following: physical disabilities, emotional problems, high unemployment, downsizing, racial discrimination, divorce, desertion, or death of spouse, mental retardation, and sex discrimination. Now these are to me out of a persons control, because people can not help theses things happening to them, but can still get help. However, there are some causes of poverty that a person can completely control. In the book the cause that stood out to me, as causes that people can control were: alcoholism, drug addiction, large families, lack of employment skills, low educational level, gambling, and being labeled an ex- convict. These in short are in a persons control. If a person chooses to do drugs or drink, and gamble there money away then how are we supposed to help them. Yes I know we offer them help but what if the don't take it, then they will just live in poverty. Some times you can not help some one who doesn't want to be helped. This is the way people choose to live there life. As long as people are still having large families there will always be a lack of money with in those families, However, if those families plan ahead and budget there money and can see that the will be ok to feed there children and clothe them then by all means go ahead ( the only large family I seen that is not in bad shape is a military family which I know dearly, but this does not mean that they wonder how they are going to get through to next month). TO be labeled an ex-convict is solely in the hands of that person. no one wants to be labeled, but if you don't want to be labeled an ex-convict then don't commit a crime. The lack of unemployment skills and low educational...