A politician claiming that aiding the poor is pointless because they reject mainstream practices is using which argument?

The politician's claim that aiding the poor is pointless because they reject mainstream practices aligns with the concept of the "Culture of Poverty." This argument suggests that the poor have developed a subculture with its own values and practices that might be at odds with the mainstream societal norms. These values can perpetuate poverty by creating a cycle where individuals in poverty are less likely to engage with or benefit from the broader socioeconomic systems around them.

This viewpoint can serve to justify inaction or minimal support for poverty alleviation efforts, as it places blame on the cultural attributes of the poor rather than acknowledging structural issues such as economic inequality or lack of access to resources. By framing poverty as a cultural issue, the politician sidesteps the systemic obstacles that contribute to poverty. The Culture of Poverty theory has been critiqued for oversimplifying complex social dynamics and for potentially stigmatizing those in poverty.