Mharman

Yes, everyone could theoretically make it. But many have terrible education systems, extremely negative role models, only one parent at home, barely any food, and a quick path to riches that is literred with risks, violence, and drugs.

On a macro level, poverty repeats itself. Thinking that poor people could come out of poverty and encouraging them to is one thing. Expecting it to happen is another. I guarantee you that if you were born to the circumstances that the average poverty-stricken man/woman is in America, your chance of making it out would be extremely low. 

But the mentality you have, where we look at those in poverty and tell them to "do better" won't change the statistics.