God rewards his followers ie if you're poor you are not godly. Nevermind the riches are in heaven and that being rewarded on earth is Not The Point, or that Jesus preached compassion. That's their belief system so yeah, a lot of the religious right apply that to helping the people in our community who need help the most- must have done something to deserve it. "I don't have to bother having sympathy because I am a smart good Christian so this would never be something to happen to me"