In a Nutshell

There are two ways of cutting a deficit: raising taxes or reducing spending. Raising taxes means taking money from the rich. Cutting spending means taking money from the poor. Not in all cases of course: some taxation is regressive; some state spending takes money from ordinary citizens and gives it to banks, arms companies, oil barons and farmers. But in most cases the state transfers wealth from rich to poor, while tax cuts shift it from poor to rich.

So the rich, in a nominal democracy, have a struggle on their hands. Somehow they must persuade the other 99% to vote against their own interests: to shrink the state, supporting spending cuts rather than tax rises. In the US they appear to be succeeding.
~ from A Billionaires' Coup in the US by George Monbiot ~

While Monbiot isn't stating something that would surprise anyone half paying attention, it should spur us to ask why. Why have the rich been so successful at convincing the other 99% continually to vote against our own interests?

I think most of you already know my take on this situation. I want to know what you think.