This is a comforting but dangerous illusion for the American left. It leads to failed political tactics like John Kerry's "misery index", where he tried to tell voters how badly off they were.

This stance fools the left into thinking they need to tell the working class that they are losers. People react badly to that; they will happily forgo new welfare programs and regulatory subsidies and will instead rail against the status assertions behind it all.

Which brings us to Trumpism...