Why is it just assumed that those who have wealth either inherited it or screwed others over to get it? Why is it so hard to believe that most people with a sizeable net worth just went out and made it happen? Certainly chance plays a huge role in the accumulation of wealth, but one must be in the right position to take advantage of chance happenings.
Those who accumulate large wealth were often flat broke in the past because they were willing to take large risks, and some didn't pan out. But they keep on plugging ahead until something does work.
It all boils down to choice. I'm not a statistic junky (83.6 of statistics are made up on the spot
but I remember seeing an article that tracked former lottery winners - there was a very high percentage that were flat broke and filed BK in just a few years. They made exceedingly bad decisions with their money even though they are started out wealthy.
On the other hand I have several clients who have never made more than $40,000 in a single year and have well over $1 million saved for their retirement.
Life is full of choices, some work some don't. It doesn't make sense to blame others when your choices don't work. There is no rational reason to force others to give up their earned wealth (in the form of taxes) to support long-term welfare recipients.
Short-term rebound-type programs are a wonderful thing but they should be limited to short term.