Dear George:

There probably may be something to this. Based on my own experiences in dealing with young, and many times, poorly educated people, I have come to wonder about how to best fight poverty; and even what poverty really is. Much more than a lack of money or opportunities, it seems to be a lack of understanding of how life really works. Like just living strictly for the moment, for a quick pay-off, never investing any time or effort for advancement.

It is really difficult for middle class people --be they conservative or liberal-- to understand the value systems of the people on the lower social stratum. It is radically different from what we, with our middle class outlook, assume it to be. We literally speak different languages and have totally different outlooks about life.

A holistic approach, based on influencing the spiritual core of the individual -- in a religious or secular manner-- may in the long run be the only way to change the culture of poverty into a culture of self-improvement. How is this for a challenge?

Best regards,

Henry Weinschenk (electronic mail, March 29, 2000)