Unfortunate Fortune or Fortunately Unfortunate?

Here I am, sitting in sociology class, going over my homework and I start to think. Our homework was to anazlye the two arguments for why poverty exists. One side says it's ultimately the individual's doing, and the other side blames society. I can't say that there's any one reason for why there is poverty, but these two sides invoke thought. Is it really society's fault, or could the individual be the one to blame? Nobody would ever wish poverty upon themselves, but perhaps they just lack incentive and motivation? Is being rich that unattainable? It couldn't be if Gates did it. My father-in-law did it, and plenty others, too. So why is it that some people can work to be rich and others just can't? Why is it that some work sooo hard yet never progress? Then I have to ask if being rich is worth it. Is the phrase "more money, more problems" legit? Are the less wealthy really better off, as they are taught to be less materialistic and dependent on money for happiness? Which of the two is more appreciative? So many questions, so few answers.

That's one thing I love about this class; I never stop thinking.