This response to Joel Kotlin is a terrific example of a well-written piece. I know what point Arnold Kling is trying to make, what he is distinguishing from what, and why he thinks it's interesting and important to his issue.

     Joel Kotkin writes,

     "The key is to try to make the system work better for the asset-poor majority and create more wealth to distribute. By contrast, even in our supposedly populist age, the predominant conservative response to capitalism's crises is to offer free-market bromides."

     Kotkin strongly believes that economic inequality is rising and that this phenomenon is destabilizing. I think that what is destabilizing is a widespread sense of loss of status. While economic well-being can be positive-sum, status is zero-sum. If redistribution of wealth would also serve to redistribute status, then this would promote social stability. But I am not sure that perceived loss of status is can be addressed that way.