Broken cultures and bad values. If it were really about money then violent crime that has nothing to do with money wouldn’t be higher as well.
Single motherhood is the leading cause and it’s endemic in poor communities. This value is not only tolerated but celebrated somehow by affluent liberals. It’s astonishing.
America is so incredibly boundless with opportunity that people wait years to move their lives here and others risk their life to come here illegally so they can take advantage of the opportunities and send money back home. Many of these people come from places that are actually poor (America doesn’t really have poverty compared to other places) and could probably be justified in stealing bread. But they don’t.
If that’s not clear evidence it’s a choice then I don’t know what is.