this is the sadest assertion i've ever seen. if sucking the life out of people is the only way people can remain civilized then we are truely lost.

How else are we going to support public infrastructure and society?

Progressive taxation and more efficient spending.

(And in CA, fixing Prop 13, and knocking out more hurdles to housing development in desirable areas.)

More efficiency in spending? We have newer tools and equipment, technology, automation etc. Do more with less, that is called productivity.

You don’t understand the natural order of things: productivity for you(the worker constantly told to do more), not for me(governments of all sizes, middle management & execs, dumb owners).