“How a person thinks” is just one component of being poor, says official
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson has clarified his controversial comments on poverty, a few weeks after describing the economic condition as one that “to a large extent is also a state of mind.” Anti-poverty advocates said the comment puts the blame on poor Americans for their situation.
In an interview with NPR on Monday, the Carson explained he meant to say that poverty “is a factor” – “A part of poverty can be the state of mind. Poor in spirit. And people tend to approach things differently, based on their frame of mind."
The official “totally” disagrees with the notion that one’s mind-set is influenced by poverty. “I think you can have a lot of people who are in poverty who are not adversely affected by that at all, who have a winning attitude and who will do whatever they need to do to be successful.”
He said the government’s role is to pave the way for Americans to rise from poverty through programs and opportunities that would create the “can-do attitude” he believes has been a long-time part of the nation’s mindset.
“You know Americans are industrious people,” he said. “That's how America got to be a great place. We're not a little feeble people who have to be spoon-fed.”
Carson is due Thursday to defend the president’s 2018 HUD budget proposal before a House appropriations subcommittee. The proposal aims to cut more than $6bn (13%) off of the agency’s budget, which will directly hit housing programs such as public housing and community development block grants.
Related stories:
New HUD budget draft deals blow to affordable housing
HUD wants new era of homeownership
In an interview with NPR on Monday, the Carson explained he meant to say that poverty “is a factor” – “A part of poverty can be the state of mind. Poor in spirit. And people tend to approach things differently, based on their frame of mind."
The official “totally” disagrees with the notion that one’s mind-set is influenced by poverty. “I think you can have a lot of people who are in poverty who are not adversely affected by that at all, who have a winning attitude and who will do whatever they need to do to be successful.”
He said the government’s role is to pave the way for Americans to rise from poverty through programs and opportunities that would create the “can-do attitude” he believes has been a long-time part of the nation’s mindset.
“You know Americans are industrious people,” he said. “That's how America got to be a great place. We're not a little feeble people who have to be spoon-fed.”
Carson is due Thursday to defend the president’s 2018 HUD budget proposal before a House appropriations subcommittee. The proposal aims to cut more than $6bn (13%) off of the agency’s budget, which will directly hit housing programs such as public housing and community development block grants.
Related stories:
New HUD budget draft deals blow to affordable housing
HUD wants new era of homeownership
