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Take Matson's point about wealth, for example. I wonder how many Americans realize that 18 families alone control $185 billion dollars in assets (e.g. WalMart, M&Ms, Cox Cable) and that in 2006 (?) this group quietly (secretly?) hired a lobbying group to get rid of estate taxes. (I recall this story appeared on OpenLeft but don't remember details.)
It would seem to me that, while Wall Street and wealth are coupled, there is plenty of room to educate the average American about these huge distortions in wealth. And to do it in constructive ways that lead to progressive results.
For example, I think few people would argue that first generation wealth is bad per se, especially if it is the result of creating companies and jobs. And giving that money to a spouse on your death also most people would agree is okay. At most, if first generation wealth comes from creating companies and jobs, there might be upper limits on how much you could earn in a year. (First generation wealth for corporate apparatchiks probably deserves to be taxed heavily because their work mostly involves sustaining existing companies, something many people can do that may or may not result in new jobs.)
However, my guess is that much of the excessive wealth is second, third, and beyond generation wealth. Reasonable people could see limits on second generation wealth (to your kids), perhaps limiting the amount to $10 million (at 5%/year return that's $500k/year for breathing). Maybe the kids inspired the parent(s) to their wealth. But grandchildren and great grandchildren are another story. I don't think most people realize how much wealth is concentrated in the hands of people who did nothing to earn that wealth. As Warren Buffett put it, they're simply members of the lucky sperm club.
My guess is that, if most Americans were educated about how much wealth so few people control, people would clamor for changes to limit that wealth. Especially if the deficit scolds insist we don't have money. Surely progressives could connect the dots for people: tax the trust fund babies, at least, to get universal healthcare. But we've heard nothing on this score in decades.
In fact, messaging to the public seems to be a critical weakness for progressives, educating the public loudly and often to drive action. We mostly focus instead on messaging to our community and to elected officials.