[georgefox]

I don't want to disagree with you, but I suspect there's more to this than just idle time. For example, there are plenty of retirement communities where idle time is the norm, and the social problems of poor urban American neighborhoods aren't really found there.

[jacques_chester]

Good counterexample; though those in retirement homes are generally not from multi-generational welfare backgrounds. I'm not sure if I'm undermining my own argument here.

[dwaltrip]

I'm simply spouting my random opinion here, but my guess is that the communities you point to suffer from non-ideal cultural-behavioral traditions that are passed down and ingrained into each new generation. If one is raised in a family/community where money is always an issue/stress point, parents are overworked, alcohol and shallow-content media are the main forms of entertainment, little encouragement for hobbies is provided, etc, then the odds are stacked against pursuing what many people might consider an intellectually-engaging or constructive lifestyle.