One advantage you have when you are rich is that you can afford the luxury of being hated. When you are poor, that delight is positively out of your reach. Because, when you are poor, all you can get is compassion. And don't you just love that!
In fact, the whole thing is very puzzling. I have never heard rich people stating categorically, even in their most private conversations, that they hate the poor. Conversely, I hardly meet anybody who doesn't openly wish they could win the lottery. What for? So they can stop being loved and start being hated? The whole thing doesn't make sense to me.
Of course, taxing the rich can make you immensely popular. It is like if you were to establish a tax on opium consumption. As most of the people do not indulge in the habit, you would just be hated by the minority, but loved by the majority. If you became fiery enough about it, you could even get elected to the presidency. If you are not careful, I mean.
I read somewhere that anger is a blocked wish. So I have often wondered whether socialist leaders don't secretly aspire to become Wall Street tycoons. Deep down, that is.
