Ben Carson: Poverty Is a 'State of Mind'

[Mason66]

There are indeed lots of facets to consider.

I think we are all individuals and there is no guarantees that any one person will make the right choices regardless. I too know of several instances where all the kids of a large family were rock solid, responsible, and went on to good things except the one 'black sheep, who just couldn't get it together and wound in prison or whatever.

But I look at so many of the kids in the really poor neighborhoods, the projects, the ghettos, and most don't really have positive role models. It is reinforced in them almost every day of their lives that life has dealt them a crappy hand and they are disadvantaged, victims of an unjust society, and they are justified in being angry and retaliatory. This is reinforced by the ideology of their teachers, what limited parenting they might receive, their peers etc., and in the whole mindset that they are owed something by a society that isn't delivering. So you see each generation recreating itself in that same mold. Nobody seems to be showing them the way out.

So IMO that is both culture and mindset. If you are told over and over what a crappy hand you've been dealt you are unlikely to look for a way to improve on it. That is culture. And if you are convinced there is no way out and it's somebody else's fault, that is mindset.

I think the bolded has more to do with the relationships between the siblings and not so much with the parents.

If that one kid had everything done for him, then he never learned anything about responsibility. That is very common in big families. I mean if there are other siblings to always take care of things, then why would he need to do anything for himself?

 

[Mason66]

My opinion : Carson often doesn't think through what he says carefully enough, and the people that are objecting to those statements he made in this instance aren't listening to the totality of what he said closely enough.

Carson has a valid point, but mindset is not the only variable.

Who said mindset is the only variable?

 

[AlbqOwl]

I think the bolded has more to do with the relationships between the siblings and not so much with the parents.

If that one kid had everything done for him, then he never learned anything about responsibility. That is very common in big families. I mean if there are other siblings to always take care of things, then why would he need to do anything for himself?

Maybe but why would that one be so privileged and others not? So while you might find such a dynamic as you describe--it happens in families with only child too--I still think it comes down to choices. Regardless of the circumstances we are born into, it is up to us to either use the advantages we have productively, or choose the right way to gain advantages for ourselves.

Culture and environment is part of it. But mindset I believe is a huge factor even for those born into luxury.

 

[<alt>doxygen]

Who said mindset is the only variable?

No one, really. If you remove some of what Carson said from it's entire context, it appears that Carson was saying that - see the title of the thread.

This is an unfortunate tactic that's used by both sides.

Carson is not a seasoned politician. I have no real issues with his statement. He may think that anyone who has the drive can rise from the slums to be a brain surgeon like he did. I would disagree. But that isn't what he said.

 

[Moon]

Sort of, the first step is the realization that you should make a change. That step does not always come from within.

Perhaps not, but the desire to change your life has to.