It goes without saying, but there is a major wealth inequality problem in the United States. I am not poor by any means, nor do I claim to live daily with the struggle that so many face. I am in the top 22% based on my net worth (note that someone who is a millionaire is in the top 10% and someone who is a billionaire is in the top 1%). I am not even close to being a millionaire, but I am doing fine. I am surrounded daily by the upper middle class who either (a) fear losing their "wealth and power", (b) willfully ignore problems that poor people face, or (c) are ignorant. They believe they have life figured out and have "succeeded" where poor people have failed. As an example, I just had a family member buy a $2 million house. That's the type of people I'm surrounded by.

They want luxury. They believe they deserve luxury. They believe poor people don't try hard enough. They believe poor people want handouts. They believe poor people are lazy. They believe that upward mobility is a matter of pulling up your bootstraps. But most despicable...they want there to be poor people. In conclusion, it's despicable at the top.

I always try to speak up against the ignorance and/or evil, but it's not enough. My question is...as someone who is "comfortable", how can I be a better ally to poor people? How can I help them succeed? What do you need, and what things go unheard from the top?