Final answer:
Americans have mixed feelings about poverty, with some attributing it to a lack of individual effort and others acknowledging systemic issues like racism and sexism.
Step-by-step explanation:
The majority of Americans express concerns that the able-bodied poor do not try hard enough to support themselves if they are offered inadequate assistance or if they receive the wrong kind of assistance. Yet Americans also recognize that poverty may be the product of past denials of opportunity. This dichotomy reflects the tension in American perceptions of poverty: on one hand, there is a belief in self-reliance and individual responsibility, while on the other, there is an understanding that systematic barriers such as racism and sexism, lack of jobs at a living wage, and insufficient educational opportunities contribute to poverty. This complexity in perceptions is mirrored in policy discussions about welfare and public assistance, where arguments oscillate between reducing benefits to incentivize work and increasing support to address poverty's root causes, such as through raising the minimum wage or improving access to education.