That's a very intersting quote article you quote there. Just one thing : the article seems to claim that not caring to solve one's problems stems from the impossibility to solve them all in a forseeable future. Hence the problems create a "why bother ?" attitude, which in turn creates more problems. This pretty much nails the issue to me. But then the author goes on "The core of the problem has not been self-discipline or a lack of opportunity, my argument is that the cause of poverty has been poverty."

This is where I'm lost - isnt a "why bother?" attitute a textbook definition of lack of self-discipline?

I do agree with everything else in the article, especially with the idea of removing problems and roadblocks instead of simply throwing money at the issue.

So In my opinion there is a self discipline issue. Trouble is, the more you assist people in solving their problems, the more incline they will be to let their problems rot until you come and solve them again. The ultimate goal theere is to find a way to reliably restart the problem-solving circuit, once the people have been pulled back up to the surface.

AFAIK, no one has found a reliable way yet and unfortunately there is not much of a proposal in the article either.