I think poverty occurs in the mind, not the pocket book. It is perpetuated like a (not so) positive feedback cycle.

Everyday I deal with two extremes, the extra ordinairily well educated and the welfare subsistence (rural NM). I talk to folks at each end of the spectrum everyday in a wierd little town that is at a remarkable crossroads of science, history, and the middle of nowhere.

Mostly, I observe they are all just folks like anywhere else. But the one dividing line is “the tech”. NMIMT is a strange little small institute of mining and technology in the desert in the middle of NM on the west bank of the rio grande. It’s an intenationally renowned, but tiny and locally unknown school.

Socorro, NM is a crazy little place. Half the town lives on your tax money. The other half will make the future possible. The cool thing is both factions live, get along, and party together. The only difference between the engineers, scientists, and deadbeats is what they think. Attitude is all. I’ve seen both trade places, due to stinkin-thinkin or alternately seein-the-light. After that it’s obvious with what they make of themselves.

Sorry, couldn’t help but plug my alma mater. I got my money’s worth…