Why is it that the rich get richer and the poor stay poor?

The main reason to why the rich get richer and the poor stay poor is because of our human nature of selfishness. Ever since historic times, there have been the 'superior' population and then the 'inferior' population, the colonizers and the colonized respectively. The colonizers had power over the others and could do whatever they want to exploit the locals. Having to experience the ability of power, the superiors are not able to give up what they have, even if this means helping to make the others' life better; they feel no obligation in anyway to do so, because the others are 'inferior'. From this, disparity is created.

Contemporarily, the rich such as the owners of big multinational corporations may own more than double of that of the poor, they still are not willing to forgo their success. We may see powerful and wealthy people like Bill Gates as philanthropists,donating to the needies, but it still does not help the poor to rack up their statuses. The money isn't enough to provide a perfect environment like they themselves grew up in, education, food, shelter, family and more. Furthermore, the money that these wealthy people donate may be just a small portion of their total wealth because they want to keep their luxurious life.

It is impossible for one to be truly altruistic and forgo all their wealth because it is true that some had worked harder than others. It is also that people were born into families, and if the family doesn't have the required resources, it is extremely hard for one to climb up the social status. Such as that if I were born into a family without any access to education, I wouldn't be able to get a decent job in the future, which leads me back to the same life of lacking necessities because I don't earn enough to go further.

Disaster Reflection

How does the devastation brought from Typhoon Haiyan make you feel?
Seeing the devastation resulted from Typhoon Haiyan, I was very shocked. Knowing that not long ago, there was also a typhoon that had affected a lot of families, and without being fully recovered, they are hit again by Typhoon Haiyan. I think it was also very selfish of me when all I wanted was the cancelation of school, I was not mindful of the homes destroyed and the calamities that are created from this typhoon. However, despite the tragedies, it is also heart-warming to see that the Filipino spirit is once again being recognized around the world. 

How should people prepare for and respond to disasters like Typhoon Haiyan?
In my opinion, the most important action to take to prepare for disasters is to be informed about when and where the natural hazard will happen. From there, people should find a safe location and make sure to have enough stocks of food and necessities. For people that are not as affected, we should do as much as we can through relief efforts. We can donate canned goods, bottled water and other necessities to help the families involved to recover faster. 


Why do people live in vulnerable areas?
People live in vulnerable areas due to their lack of ability to afford stable housing. Some of the most stable housings that can survive disasters such as the Typhoon Haiyan usually cost a decent amount of money, but the people that are most affected in this incidence have a relatively low income, thus live in a more disaster prone environment.