I am new to all this and probably don't understand, but if your saying that the top 20 witnesses get 2 million dollars a year does that mean steemit is building an online society in which the rich get richer and the poor get poorer making it an online clone of a totally rigged society that has existed forever on this planet?

I was hoping that Steemit would build a fairer system such that everyone could prosper and become more free in life, thus enabling everyone to live better happier lives.

What qualifications does a witness have? if they decide what updates are applied, is it just another online popularity contest?