This is an interesting topic to me. So if it isn't our societal influences that have led to the mass of poor in our country, then what is it? What else is there?
It's basic nature vs. nurture argument. If you don't think our society is what has led to our current state, then it has to be intrinsic in people right? It has to be genetic, hard-wired into us. But I know that the huge majority of us on here and in our society in general don't actually believe that our poor are genetically inferior.
On top of that, no other wealthy countries have the amount of poor we do. Are they genetically superior to us? Is there something about Scandinavia, Germany, Australasia, Japan, S. Korea, etc. that makes all of those people superior in their genetics? Of course not. So you're left with nothing else but that it is the nurture aspect, our society.
We know that these other nations have less poor, better educated populace, longer lifespans, less income disparity, lower crime, etc. Why?
It can not be anything but our environment. It just can't.