The Economics of (Whining) Envy

Okay: First off, I live in a 200 square foot cabin, which is roughly the size of one of this behemoth's windows. So when I say I completely disagree with the writer of the screed "Huge Houses are Morally Wrong," even he might think I'm entitled to a point of view. Though I doubt it:

Some people think that if the money is legally made, it is the right of the moneymaker to use that money how they see fit, and it's not anyone else's business. Well, if you believe that you're some sort of Randian libertarian, and you should not be reading this website.

Actually I'd put it differently: If the money was made through consensual and non-coercive trade, it is the right of the moneymaker to use that money how they (sic) see fit no matter whether it was legally made or not. And it's not anyone else's business.

Does that make me 'some sort of Randian libertarian?' I am neither, but I'm familiar enough with both creeds to know that Rand didn't believe such a mishmash was possible. Rand was no libertarian. Rand denounced libertarians. But I suppose the writer is just being poetical. Or something.

Most reasonable people accept the fact that society itself contributes greatly to the ability of rich people to gain and, crucially, hold wealth (that is, the rule of law that society enforces ensures that rich people don't all immediately get robbed and guillotined, as has been the fashion at various points in history); therefore, rich people owe a great debt to society.

Get a load of this. First, does the writer know "most reasonable people?" Has he polled "most reasonable people" for their opinions? What's wrong with just saying "people who agree with me?" It would be more honest. It would not argue from intimidation or authority. But then he goes on to tacitly threaten rich people with being robbed and guillotined, so I guess "reasonable" turns out to be too much to ask in the first place. But because there was this revolution 200+ years ago where some nobles got guillotined, somehow rich people now "owe a great deal to society" - at least, that portion of society that took over the French government way back when and guillotined them.

This is getting less coherent by the moment, and we're only on the second paragraph.

Then he goes on to quote as an authority Peter Singer, one of my very least favorite people in all corporeal existence, and that's when I just sort of lost interest in fisking him further. Do what you will with it.

I'll just end with this: I spent most of my life working for wages. I have never received a single dollar, in my entire life, from a poor person. So I'm kinda glad rich people are around, and I don't care how big their houses are as long as the paychecks don't bounce.

H/T to Robb Allen.