[techsupporter]

The problem with saying that just because you observed it makes it a widespread pattern is that the opposite can also be true at the same time. Which small-scale observation is correct? Just because something is "a recurring theme in news" does not make it a widespread thing. By definition, a thing is "newsworthy" when it is notable and unusual; not something that's commonplace.

And the someone who can come along and ague the opposite is me. Growing up, my family was on every form of welfare our state and the federal government offered. I've eaten more off-brand cereal and helped my mother figure out what's WIC-approved and what isn't over many, many grocery trips. I helped push the car home on more than one occasion when we ran out of gas two days before payday. Yet none of us--neither my two parents nor any of their five children--has a criminal record at all. Not even a parking ticket. Same goes for several of my friends from high school (since we all went to the "poor" high school in the "poor" neighborhood). It was easy to tell which of my friends got some form of social assistance because, until my junior year of high school, the free-school-lunch program cards were green instead of white for paid cards. The worst criminal thing any of my several friends has done is a hot check charge.

On the other hand, I also know several financially successful people through work and organizations I'm a member of. Quite a few of them have a range of minor-to-medium charges and convictions. DUIs, drug possession, credit card fraud, petty theft. Most of them grew up with money yet have a criminal record.

So my assertion is that growing up with money causes crime because everyone I know who was on social assistance is as pure as the driven snow and everyone I know who grew up with money has committed crimes. Heck, my assertion is even backed up by being a recurring theme in news. Just watch CNBC for 10 minutes.