Government complacency

The constituency of contentment is made up of those who have been made rich and secure, who need nothing but lower taxes, less state activity and the opportunity to make short-term profits. It was produced by the economic and social reforms of the 1950s and 60s. In the USA under Reagan and the UK under Thatcher, this class hijacked the political process and promoted the ideology of laissez-faire economics to secure its objectives. The contented and economically comfortable have a very discriminating view of government. Nobody is ever indignant about bailing out failed banks and savings and loans associations, but when taxes must be paid for the lower middle class and poor, the government assumes an aspect of wickedness.