I don't envy the rich. Pragmatically, I am the rich. I could comfortably live on half my retirement. I worry about the kids and grandkids.
Obama says people with $250K income (5 times my income) are middle class. In the Seattle area I guess that families with 2 professional adults and a half million income are no uncommon. They are working for their money and I never "believed in" work. I don't envy them. Most of them are probably spending 80% or more of their net income, helping the economy, making payments like the rest of us. When they die, they will leave the kids with a house and funeral expenses, just like most of the rest of us.
Most people have trouble with large numbers. Let's consider some BIG numbers. Most money managers say that one can safely cash in 4% of savings a year and keep up with inflation. One million dollars (in most years <G>) in invested assets would produce only $40,000 a year. This person would pay 15% capital gains on his living money. A person who was paid $40,000 for his work would pay about 8% non deductible
payroll tax and have at least a 25% marginal tax rate. The first guy leaves his kids $1 million cash and a house or two. The second guy, a house and funeral bills.
The person with $100 million in invested assets. If he pulls out his $400K a year he pays 15% capital gains and leaves his kids $100 million, several houses, and a couple of boats.
The guy with $Billion in invested assets could pull out $40 million a year and pay 15% capital gains. How many people could spend $40 million a year if they worked at it? When he dies most of his money is probably in tax exempt 401c3 charities. It gives him power, not spending money. One can crush lots of people by controlling a billion dollars.
The guy with $40 billion annual draw????? Boggles my mind. He could buy small countries and all the people in them.