Thanks, hadn't re-read this PG essay in a while. It makes some good and important points, but if the theme is don't hate on the wealthy.. I don't think you can ignore the fact that many people don't believe the 100x productive/add value idea.. Although I think many of us technologists and/or capitalists know first hand that it is true, that is, it is possible..

But, all the wealth accumulation is not the result of a pure capitalism/reward system. 100x wealth does not necessarily equal a 100x contribution of value to society.

There does exist undeserved rewards. That perception, sometimes true, sometimes not, is at the core of the wealth haters and quite a bit of outrage.

Much wealth is controlled by entities that have quasi-governmental status, special protection and privileges (ie.. the entire banking system). Interestingly enough a more pure capitalist system may be more effective at leveling the field instead of a socialist system.

Based on this, and other essays, I am beginning to suspect Paul Graham is the technological equivalent of David Brooks (the NYT columnist). I'm a well educated middle middle class white American and after reading this essay, I immediately groked how the non-white Other groups (gays, black, etc) in society get offended by the ignorant and simplistic assumptions or stereotypical thinking of the In groups (the politically correct brigade being outrageously sensitive to even mere nuances or surface details, of course, in a needless fashion). I am beginning to understand the various criticisms of the HN community... then again, my life has been much more varied than the average middle class American and I'd like to think I have a more comprehensive understanding of life (yeah, arrogant). Or I just think and read too much.

Or maybe it is more a matter of values, and the values of rich white guys in Silicon Valley are hardly those of most of humanity. One's values are factors in the blinders you were while interpreting reality, along with whatever unconscious crap you're not dealing with (or maybe those feed into the values) and from that arises your attitudes, etc.

Anyway, my immediate emotional reaction on reading this was WTF? I wasn't impressed.