No, this is NOT a “good explanation for the persistence of poverty”
First of all, “poverty” is a completely relative term; what’s “poor” in America is upper middle class in many countries.
Secondly, “The poor will always be with us.”. No matter WHAT you do, someone MUST be on the bottom rung of the ladder ... and they will then be considered “poor”.
Thirdly, “All analogies limp”. This piece is nothing BUT analogies. Like the emperor’s new suit of clothes, it is spun out of thin air.
Finally, the author completely ignores all the data that contradicts his conclusions, saying the results of those studies are “ambiguous”. This is the academic equivalent of “Oh, yeah? Sez you!”
By the way, I about wet my pants when I read his conclusion that “The leading cause of poverty is POVERTY.”
I stand in awe of such brilliance.
Leftists exploit issues such as the poor as cover for what they really want to do: take away more of your wealth and regulate your behavior in an attempt to placate their feelings of envy. No matter the issue, they have only one solution in mind: more government.
Those on the top rung of the economic ladder often become limousine liberals for the purpose of envy deflection. It's an effective strategy for protecting their wealth and enjoying it without being the target of resentment.