The crux of the issue is mentioned in the article:
"Richard Scheiner, 58, a real-estate investor and hedge-fund manager, said most people on Wall Street don't save.""Michael Sonnenfeldt said...most with a net worth of at least $10 million, have been forced to "reexamine lots of assumptions about how grand their life would be.""That's it. They thought being rich meant a certain level of grandeur, and they're disappointed that isn't the case due to changing factors that are generally beyond the ken of those without millions.
I have to say I'm bothered reading some of these comments. It isn't that I don't understand people being frustrated when they're trying to put food on the table and read a piece where those who can afford lavish comforts are complaining they still don't have enough. I get it. At the same time, I tend to live by the principle that everyone struggles in one way or another and most of the time it's both unkind and inappropriate to weigh and compare logistics in order to invalidate another's sincere struggle.
If it isn't too off topic I'd like to use an example I'm most familiar with: health. I have extremely severe chronic health issues to a level beyond what most people realize is possible. When people begin to understand this, it starts to become very difficult for them to share their own struggles with me because I "have it so much worse" than they do. They also become hesitant to share about all the fun things they get to do as well because I can't relate to it so they feel guilty. Thus in order for me to have healthy relationships with people I've found it necessary to assure and reassure them that their suffering is just as valid as mine, and I honestly am not sitting there making comparisons I'm just listening to their hurt and sharing their burden. And that I want to hear all about the fun things they get to do because rather than resulting in envy it makes me happy to share in their joy and vicariously experience the world through their eyes. If ever I do find myself making comparisons or feeling pity then that's when I withdraw, get the support I need from those who can give it to me, and wait until I'm in a good place to engage with the world at large again. In other words I'm not above experiencing those things; I just manage them in a way that doesn't negatively impact others.
What would our culture look like if we actually applied this concept to financial means? Might those in different tax brackets actually *gasp* get along? I had a friend once whose family was quite wealthy, she was so hesitant to reveal this to me because she had experienced a lot of flak for it from bitter people. It was almost as if she expected me to reject her over it, as from her perspective it felt that our culture considers it acceptable to hate on people with money just because they're rich.
Yes, we can compare incomes and say those earning $350,000 a year have no room to complain because those with a lower income are struggling so much worse. And I could berate people for complaining over having a nasty cold. Instead I take a look at their life and realize that,
for them, it's making a considerable negative impact and as I begin to understand what they're accustomed to it opens the door for empathy. Perhaps empathy is too much to ask in this case, but the mockery just doesn't sit right with me.
