There's a lot of talk about the increasing wealth gap between economic classes.
The haves gain money more quickly than the have-nots for a number of reasons.
That's not disputable. However, the reality on the ground tells an interesting story.
I remember when I was a kid, having a big-screen TV a rich person thing. Now the owner of the largest TV I've ever seen in a home is an employee of mine.
We once needed enough money to buy endless volumes of video tapes or DVD's. Now hedgefund owners and their janitors both enjoy Netflix for the cost of a few Blockbuster rentals each month.
Cell phones were once for the wealthy. Now I actually see homeless people charging smartphones and sometimes even laptops in subway stations--often the same MODEL smartphones as my millionaire clients!
Hyundai's and Kia's have rear-view cameras and touch screens.
And while business/first class is most certainly a more pleasant way to fly, you'll get from New York to Denver just as quickly sipping a Coke on Spirit Air for $80 as you will enjoying champagne on a finer airline.
Wealth has absolutely concentrated higher up. But how strongly has that impacted our actual lifestyles?
I'm not sure.