Rich people are not necessarily bad

I don’t like the assumption by some people that rich people are generally bad. I seem to fail to see how that can be the case in a developed society with a working justice system and no government privileges granted to particular companies or individuals.

If there’s nothing but the market between you and your customers, I don’t see how bad people could succeed by cheating and lying their way to wealth. The justice system is there to enforce agreements and contracts, and well, justice. Misdeeds do not go unchecked. We sort of have this already. There are other cases where our current state of affairs is far from desirable, but these are generally due to some sort of special privilege or waiver extended from the government to certain groups. Look at intellectual property, for example, or import taxes. They benefit the few while hurting the many. But further from that I seriously doubt someone could get by selling poisoned toothpaste or a similar product in modern Europe or the US.

If you abide by market rules, and receive no government grant, privilege or waiver, and become rich, it can be assumed that your wealth have been rightfully earned. You have participated in voluntary exchange of goods, or services, you have probably provided jobs and paid salaries, while treating your employees properly in a way that they’ve decided to stay working for you voluntarily. You probably had to compete against other market players in terms of quality, or price. If you succeeded, well, I can only wish you enjoy your wealth.

If on the other side, you cheat, lie, and somewhat have strong ties with the authorities, so you find a way to avoid being caught. If you enjoy government-granted privileges, like intellectual property, and you use any means available to enforce it. If you have lobbyists in high government spheres defending your particular interests, working successfully to give privilege to you above others. If you have exclusive concessions or subsidies, then you don’t deserve my respect, you’re a bureaucrat, you’re a manipulator, and you don’t deserve any of your wealth. Damn you and all those like you.