The worst part is that a rich person hears this and thinks about all they’d have to sacrifice to have empathy for these people. But then there’s the part you mentioned: “could have recovered and lived productive lives”. Many aren’t just going to flip burgers at Burger King, they’d be the one inventing a new burger that tastes better, wins the company tons of money, and makes people happy.

Productivity is the tide that lifts all ships, and we’re actively firing at the floor of the boat with a machine gun.