[pjc50]

> History instead shows a clear path to how Europe ended up with the bottom 50% ending up with a much larger portion of wealth than the top 1%.

I'm convinced that this was mostly due to the war. Indiscriminate destruction and injury is a great leveller. It also triggered the end of colonialism in the 70s, which was critical to egalitarianism.

This almost happened in America, but it's difficult to trace the exact point of failure. Possibly Carter's failed Iran rescue and subsequent non re election?

[msbarnett]

Europe went heavily in on trade unions after the war, partially as an antidote to fascism and occasionally with direct US support for strengthening them (as in post-War Germany). Domestically, however, the US significantly weakened unions first by strongly opposing efforts for unions to receive a seat on corporate board of directors (which they had supported in Germany), and via Red Scare union busting tactics.

The long term hostility toward unions essentially won in the ‘80s when Regan broke the air traffic controllers, and the rapid rise in wealth inequality from the ‘80s onwards seems a very direct result.