There is a documentary on inherited wealth called 'Born Rich' (it can be viewed online here
http://www.documentarytube.com/born-rich-documentary).
The young heiresses all of whom will one day inherit billions of dollars are interviewed on their relationship to money and how the money alters their relationship to all those who do not have money.
Now I found this interesting because its obvious that growing up with money is like growing up in an alternate universe, they're experience in the world isolates them but what I found more intriguing was the response to the documentary.
Almost anyone who had anything to say about the subjects descended into character assassination. The subject incurred an almost rabid hatred for anyone who had access to wealth they themselves didn't earn. Why is this? Why the resentment? The children of the wealthy are no more to blame for their wealth than the children of the poor for the poverty they are destined to experience. So why the hate?
Another interesting response was the habit to point out that the heirs were not exceptional in any way, that they were somehow wasteful and unenlightened, not very intelligent, without wisdom, a mind or a soul. But why should they be any of these things? If affluence is a birthright as in these cases why do we expect the heirs to be any different from the average joe on the ground? Is money supposed to make them more exceptional?
There are enough of the unenlightened, wasteful and stupid among the unwashed masses and we do not expect anything more from them. Why do we expect more from the rich? Does money require responsibility and if so why should the poor be absolved of all responsibility?
Isn't the hatred and urge to dismiss them a simple function of envy born from the fact that you don't have to be special or exceptional, that wealth is simply an outcome of luck? I think thats what annoys people the most, that the lives of ease and privilege these young people represent is a product of nothing more than being born into the right family.
The responses to the documentary which I believe to be a sincere attempt makes the reticence of the heirs understandable. No wonder they make it a rule never to talk about money and isolate themselves in a world of those who are just like them. The mob in their envy would have them stripped and their wealth re-distributed so that no one can claim to be any closer to the sun.
I found the dilemma of the Vanderbilt heir to be quite telling, his awareness that all the accomplishments ascribed to his family had nothing to do with him, that they were built by people he didn't even know, the feeling that they have to justify themselves. But why do they have to justify themselves to anyone?
