Final answer:
The core of the debate about poverty in America is the failure of the economic system to provide enough jobs at a living wage, as well as issues of racism and sexism. Lawmakers advocate for policies to address these causes of poverty.
Step-by-step explanation:
At the core of the debate about poverty in America is the failure of the economic system to provide enough jobs at a living wage. In addition, workers suffer from racism and sexism. Lawmakers support policies to alleviate poverty's causes, such as increasing the minimum wage or lengthening the period of unemployment compensation. From this perspective, people are not much to blame for needing public assistance (welfare).