by
Jaron Lanier
The prominence of middle classes in the last century actually made the rich richer than would have a quest to concentrate wealth absolutely. Broad economic expansion is more lucrative than the winner taking all. Some of the very rich occasionally express doubts, but even from the most elite perspective, widespread affluence is best nurtured, rather than sapped into oblivion. Henry Ford, for instance, made a point of pricing his earliest mass-produced cars so that his own factory workers could afford to buy them. It is that balance that creates economic growth, and thus opportunity for more wealth.
Even the ultrarich are best served by a bell curve distribution of wealth in a society with a healthy middle class.
this passage is basically a plea to rich people to convince them that middle classes are good for them. this is such an obvious economic fact that it's hilarious he even has to include it at all (not a joke at his expense; he is absolutely right to include this, because a lot of fiscal conservatives don't seem to realise it)
it's just funny for someone like me to read this, because my immediate conclusion is not "ah yes, cool, let's keep the middle class then" but rather "abolish classes"