To be poor is sometimes associated with powerlessness, for indeed, in much of society, power comes with wealth. It is falsely assumed that poor people are always unmotivated, uneducated, or lazy because those qualities can indeed lead to poverty. Poverty is sometimes a cycle of attitudes and beliefs that are passed from generation to generation. Addictions can contribute to poverty. However, they are not the only causes. Some are poor because of demographics and lack of access to opportunities. Entire nations suffer from hunger, malnutrition, and extreme poverty because of choices others have made. Others are poor because they have committed themselves to a simpler life of service and have chosen values that they consider higher than material wealth. They would not often consider themselves poor, but among those of whom it is said, "blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Those who look down most on the poor are sometimes those who are vested in the advantages of exercising them for their own ends. Sometimes it suits people in positions of power to oppress others and the only way they can deal with the cognitive dissonance of it all is to dehumanize, degrade, and devalue those whom they oppress. Whatever the connotations, there is no shame in ones economic condition - whatever it may be. Besides that, there are poor folks who will one day be wealthy and wealthy folks who will one day be poor.