Most Americans say people’s personal choices play a major role in determining whether they stay in poverty, according to a new poll released Monday.
In the UChicago Harris/AP-NORC poll, 62 percent of respondents say personal choices are a “major factor” in why people stay in poverty, while 31 percent say they’re a “minor factor” and 6 percent say they’re not a factor.
Those who say people’s personal choices play a major role in poverty include 77 percent of Republicans, 56 percent of independents and 49 percent of Democrats.
No other option is deemed significant by a majority of respondents.
A plurality of respondents, at 46 percent, say “systems that are unfair” play a major role in keeping people in poverty — including 66 percent of Democrats, 52 percent of independents and 27 percen