It's not nearly impossible to escape in the United States. It requires a few of things those:

1. Do not add dependents while earning the minimum wage.
2. Do not add non-fruitful debt while earning minimum wage.
3. Spend wisely.

If you have a kid at 16 and drop out of high school, have your second at 21 (this goes for both men and women, btw), and have no marketable skills, is that Donald Thompson's fault?