[sp332]

Rich people already have power. Trying to minimize their political power, in favor of a more "democratic" system, is just denying the reality that the rich are powerful. If the government antagonizes rich people, the rich will fight back economically until they get what they want anyway (with lots of collateral damage). On the other hand, if you give the rich political power to begin with, you are merely acknowledging that they have power. Then they can wield it more effectively, and (Ayn Rand hopes) society will be better off.

Edit: Also, income inequality is no big deal if the rich aren't stepping all over the poor. As the article points out, the super-elite in Shanghai haven't stopped the middle class in China from exploding, and average income is growing strongly despite the financial crisis. The super-elite aren't hurting anything.

[forensic]

That's a fair point but I don't think it is obvious from Atlas Shrugged.

You can read that book in many ways.

[brc]

You know I've wanted to read Atlas Shrugged for a long time but I can't find a copy that isn't in microscopic brain-hurting print and crappy paper. Any ideas?

[tomjen3]

Atlas Shrugged for the kindle: [http://www.amazon.com/Atlas-Shrugged-ebook/dp/B003SWZ8JA/ref...]

You can get a kindle app for Android, iPhone, Mac and Windows for no charge.

[Eliezer]

Read Heinlein instead.

[forensic]

I only read e-books and audiobooks. So don't ask me.

(Actually, sometimes I am forced to read dead trees because there is no alternative.)

[joubert]

You can also wait for the movie http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0480239/

[tomjen3]

When I clicked that link I though you were making a clever joke.

But they did actually film it - and it only took them 35 years to get it done.

[GrooveStomp]

The super-elite aren't hurting anything - in China. In that article the author draws a connection between the faster-than-expected recovery in wealth of the American-super-elite vs. the still struggling middle and lower classes. This connection suggests (but certainly doesn't prove - not by a longshot) that the super-elite are affecting the economic recovery of the non-super-elite.

[huherto]

Ok, Just for kicks I propose a variation of the bicameral system:

You can vote for one seat at the lords chamber. The weight of your vote is proportional to the taxes you have paid.

You can vote for one seat at the commons chamber. Everybody's vote weights the same.