How America's rich betrayed their fellow citizens; Guardian, 4/25/16

Anthony J. Gaughan, Guardian; How America's rich betrayed their fellow citizens:

"History shows it does not have to be this way.

As Harvard’s Memorial church demonstrates, the upper classes once felt a strong sense of obligation to their fellow Americans. Indeed, for much of the 20th century, wealthy families like the Rockefellers and the Carnegies established charitable institutions across the country to promote social mobility.

A few prominent billionaires, such as Warren Buffett and Bill Gates, have continued that noble tradition of socially minded philanthropy. Buffett and Gates serve as inspiring examples of how some people still use great wealth for the benefit of society at large.

But the sad reality is Buffett and Gates do not reflect the general attitude of wealthy Americans. Gordon Gekko does.

It should not come as a surprise, therefore, that middle-class and working-class Americans are so angry at political and economic elites. Until the Buffett and Gates families become the rule and not the exception, it seems likely that populist fury and class conflict will remain the dominant theme of American politics for years to come."