> The cause of the current economic malaise is a factual issue, not a matter of public opinion.
It also has to do with the popular feeling that the rich got rich at the expense of their labor and sweat (and hey, it's the truth - it's this way thanks to modern day rentier capitalism). I have this theory that if equality in wealth and income got slightly more even across the board - even if there was no marked improvement in quality of life, people would feel better -- they wouldn't feel powerless, they wouldn't feel they lost the game because it was rigged.
>"if equality in wealth and income got slightly more even throughout the board - even if there was no marked improvement in quality of life, people would feel better"
It has been demonstrated that people feel better if they are closer to the top, even if it means impoverishing everyone.[1][2] I do not think this is the type of base urge which people should use the power of the government to indulge in.
It also has to do with the popular feeling that the rich got rich at the expense of their labor and sweat (and hey, it's the truth - it's this way thanks to modern day rentier capitalism). I have this theory that if equality in wealth and income got slightly more even across the board - even if there was no marked improvement in quality of life, people would feel better -- they wouldn't feel powerless, they wouldn't feel they lost the game because it was rigged.