Class: Poverty & Welfare

You're having a conversation with a friend and telling them about this class you are taking in school called poverty and welfare. Your friend says: "You learn about that in college? Really?! Aren't most poor people just lazy and on drugs? Aren't they all just mentally ill? C'mon - they could get jobs if they wanted, but they don't want to. They would rather just collect welfare and be a drain on the system. I can't believe you're paying for a class about this when we know this stuff already."

How would you respond?

Yes, this could be a very difficult conversation. Assume your friend is open to changing their mind and willing to learn as you craft your response.