Mr Khan said:
This assumes there is a prime mover other than economic conditions, as well as assuming that social mobility is much easier than it actually is (although to be fair, social mobility downward is pretty damn easy) |
There are definitely variables, and some people may well sink as economic conditions worsen or the economy changes in a way for which they are unprepared, but it's usually temporary. Even in tumultuous economic times it's self motivated people who will tend to find a way to adapt to a new economy after they've been thrown for a loop while the less motivated tend to just stay at the bottom even after the economy improves. I'm not saying that if someone is poor right now they must be lazy. Similarly, someone needn't be obese just because they're poor. But the trend is clearly there, and a general lack of desire for self improvement is the only thing that makes sense to me. I'm surprised that it's even a controversial point, to be honest, and I'd be outright astonished if anyone would suggest that people have similar levels of self motivation regardless of economic status. I'm aware there are exacerbating factors, like those HappySqurriel referenced, and I'm totally open to another explanation as long so it doesn't rely on falsehoods like, "It's more expensive to eat healthy!" It isn't, and anyone who's ever set foot in a grocery store or even glanced at a supermarket circular should know better.
