Am I really poor?

How is it possible that the richest country in the world has poor people? For this webquest we will research and try to uncover what factors lead people to poverty. Is it possible for these people to escape poverty or is this a cycle that continues for generations. What role does education have in the prevention of poverty? Are there common factors that determine if you will be poor or not? These questions along with others that arise in your serach is your foundation for this quest.