Studies by such radical publications as the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and The Economist have shown that the wealth gap is increasing and social mobility is declining. They've revealed that it's tied to factors like class, education and skin privilege. The billionaires agree.
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Even so, people see themselves as middle class (even the poor working class self-report being middle class), socially mobile, and most think they will be rich one day, despite the data. The ultra-wealthy -- with the help of politicians hand picked from their ranks -- inculcate this myth on the masses. It's important that the masses maintain faith in meritocracy. If the playing field were revealed to be a sheer cliff, there would be revolt.