“If you work for the masses, you are from the classes. If you work for the classes, you are from the masses.” This told me, more than 20 years ago, an Austrian guy, sharing a family name w/ a Palais on Josefsplatz. The problem w/ the very rich is that they did not become very rich by sitting in the salon of their inherited Schloss and sipping champagne. They became very rich by working for the masses, by selling a lot of something to many. And by skimming, through the systemic power the current economic system gives people in their situation, a tiny bit from each of the many. Making themselves endlessly rich and many of the many, through the multiplying effect of removing wealth from the society, endlessly poor. The problem w/ such an accumulated wealth is that it gives the owners disproportionate power for a democratic society. The problem w/ the disproportionate power is that it is used. Disproportionate power has very large effect w/ very little intention. A word from a very rich person can change the course of a country. And the very rich are mere humans, subject to all human weaknesses. So we have a mere human w/ huge power. Bad. This is the reason the very rich should be taxed very much. Because they are, more often, than not, bad for everybody else. And the very rich should be happy w/ such a deal. Because the alternative is the guillotine. The masses have become a little more civilised since the French revolution. But if the very rich bring back the Darwinian way, this might change.
By the way to “if we tax the very rich, they will leave”, I say “good riddance!” For the true potential in our societies are the small and medium size businesses and the working people. We are not a dumb bunch, which hasn’t gone to waste because of Jeff Bezos or Elon Musk. Just the opposite. By removing the oppression of the very rich, of the Amazons, who destroy everything in order to rule, many, many small and medium sized businesses and individuals will thrive and blossom.