[chickenmonkey]

I had the same impression, it's not like there are a limited number of rungs of wealth. Furthermore, I doubt that rich people believe that supporting higher taxes will have an immediate effect in ensuring 'usurpers' don't get rich - it will probably take a few years to come into play.

The most confusing aspect of this is the fact that taxes are often progressive. Increasing taxes would then definitely hurt the wealthy more than the usurpers. This aspect of Hoffman's argument didn't make much sense to me.