Funny post by David Brooks about the irritation that DC policy wonks have with the Wall Street richies.
Nonetheless, many people in Ward Three do have certain resentments
toward those with means, which those of you in the
decamillionaire-to-billionaire wealth brackets should be aware of.
In the first place, many people in Ward Three suffer from Sublimated
Liquidity Rage. As lawyers, TV producers and senior civil servants,
they make decent salaries, but 60 percent of their disposable income
goes to private school tuition and study abroad trips. They have little
left over to spend on themselves, which generates deep and
unacknowledged self-pity.
Second, they suffer from what has been
called Status-Income Disequilibrium. At work they are flattered and
feared. But they still have to go home and clean out the gutters
because they can’t afford full-time household help.
suffer the status rivalries endemic to the upper-middle class. As law
school grads, they resent B-school grads. As Washingtonians, they
resent New Yorkers. As policy wonks, they resent people with good bone
structure.
I have no problem with a little old-fashioned, rich people bashing. I mean I hate them, too. There's nothing more annoying than hearing kids chat with each other about how they spent their winter holidays skiing in France. But, really, Wall Street did cut back this year. People didn't get bonuses this year at my husband's firm. That meant a 50% cut in take home pay. Sure, their base salaries are still quite respectable, but we should have heard more outrage a few years back.
Apt. 11d 