I agree that there is polarization in today’s society. However, I don’t think the rich are the major problem. In “socialist” Sweden, 85% of the wealth is still in private hands with very rich folks indeed. The reason not to worry there is that Sweden has extremely high literacy, good social programs free university education, and no “underclass” living on welfare and not working. And everyone pays taxes.
The US has gradually divide itself into rich, middle class (employed and paying taxes), and the bottom which gets welfare, food stamps, free health care while not working or marginally employed. A so-called democratic government should have as its first mission to get the bottom part educated, trained and gainfully employed. But that’s not happening. Instead we are going the way of the Roman Empire during its decline; the goverment bought off the lower classes with “panum et circensus”, bread and games and brought in grain from the colonies (cheap imports) and slaves (our illegal immigrants) did the hard work.
One of the networks had a documentary on a food caterer in the South who emplyed these “illegals” for nearly all his postions. The network journalist asked why he did not employ locals, since they had seen many idle and able bodies locals hanging around. His response was that he tried but they were not sufficiently motivated to stay on the job and went back to welfare and food stamps.
The Obama administration does not believe in “tough love” or “strong medicine” and the situation will get worse over time. In “socialist” Sweden, the government finds you a job while you are on unemployment benfits. When they call you with a job offer you are supposed to take it. If they can’t reach you after 3 calls, you’re OFF unemployment benefits.
By now you will understand why ambitious immigrants from poor countries do so well; they are actually willing to take any job to get started and are totally focused on success through hard work.