[d4nt]

Something that's been on my mind recently, given the increasing amounts of inequality, is "why aren't the lower and middle classes more effective at taking rich people's money?".

In other words, rather that thinking about protectionist measures or redistribution (not that I'm particularly opposed to such things), why aren't rich people spending more cash on things and thereby allowing the money to flow down?

One possibility is that we really are topping out our hierarchy of needs. Billionaires are driving round in Priuses and wearing $80 jeans. Capitalism relies on demand being practically infinite. Could this growing inequality be a sign that this assumption is faulty?

Or do we just need to invent more drone mounted, blockchain integrated juicers to sell to them?

[lawnchair_larry]

The reason that lower and middle class people are not more effective at taking rich people's money is because if they were effective at taking money, they would not be lower and middle class. They are lower and middle class because they are effective at other things that have nothing to do with taking money.

[d4nt]

Perhaps I should have phrased the question as "why have the lower and middle classes become relatively less effective at taking rich people's money in recent years".

[OnlineCourage]

This is a tautological explination which adds absolutely nothing to the discussion. Yes we all understand that A = A.

[brianwawok]

I found it much more helpful than this reply.