Is poverty a choice?

There isn't one standard for poverty. It differs across the world. And as it differs, so do the opportunities for getting out of poverty. It is easier to get out of poverty in a country like the United States where 15% of the population lives under the poverty line versus in a country such as Haiti where the poverty rate is 77% and about 80% of the country lives on less than $2 per day. In the United States, we have several welfare programs to help those in need. This greatly increases one's chances of getting out of poverty. But that doesn't mean poverty is a choice. I'm certain that no one is choosing to live in poverty. The choice one does have is whether they take advantage of their opportunities. Of course, not every country will have these opportunities and taking advantage of these opportunities doesn't necessarily mean one will get out of poverty anyways. Even after working hard, one may still not get out of poverty. And not working at all doesn't mean one will live in poverty. It's not like one single decision can place someone in poverty. We have no choice on the first "decision," which is the family one is born into. If someone is born into a rich family, they probably won't ever get to poverty.
So poverty isn't exactly a choice. There isn't one clear path to avoid poverty. Sometimes there isn't even a path to get out. But there are steps to take that can help one improve his or her situation and make getting out of poverty a reality.