We do not have a preset position on issues but rather try to promote the best scientific research on important topics. If the results of this research support conservative or liberal positions, then so be it. Our goal is to be as objective and informative as possible. Some are but many aren't All welfare recipients are long-term. Again, some are but the average period of receipt for recipients is 3 years.
Most poverty is found in our nation's inner cities.
While poverty problems are often severe in these neighborhoods, many more of our nation's poor live outside of these neighborhoods. Some perceive the poor as an underserving group of people with weak characters. Most people perceive the poor as in need of assistance, but think that the old welfare system as not providing the kind of help that people need the most. Welfare reform is the current set of measures most important for the second part of your question, but each state is implementing its own version of the reforms. The very different rates of poverty over time in the U.S. and between the U.S. and European countries tell us that poverty is not inevitable.