My great worry is we are doing what our educated class always has done. We try to help, get scared off when we get too close, then retreat to our safe enclaves of high pay and social walls -- then close the door behind us. I feel so guilty about this it keeps me up at night. My only hope is that we can somehow continue to thrive, but keep the door open to anyone who wants to be a part of it.
Don't feel guilty; it's not a problem that can be solved overnight or only by a small handful of wealthy people. It's going to require a shift & change of thinking by society in general. It's going to happen very slowly and it starts with people like you showing compassion & understanding; instead of making comments like this[1].
When you have conversations with other wealthy & powerful people, you'll be able to correct them when they make negative stereotypes comments about the poor. Slowly, very slowly, your knowledge of what it _really_ means to be poor and all the corruption around it will help others at your economic level understand what it's like down there. That kind of knowledge has an effect on decision-making and when wealthy & powerful people make decisions, it affects us all. Hopefully some people in your social circle have shown at least a little interest in knowing about your experiences.
Consider writing a book. It sounds like you have enough material to do it.
I'm hoping that new, more effective and cost effective educational methods like Khan Academy and the like at least help keep that door open. Gotta get everyone internet access though.
Maybe that's not your fault. Maybe it was wrong (albeit forgivable, of course) to blame the other people who did that. Maybe they all did it not because they're bad (or weak) people, but because the system is set up in a way that there's really only one possible outcome.
Maybe voting to change the game is the answer, rather than playing with crooked rules.
