This may be outdated. Some years ago, I read an article or heard an interview with a cognition / psychology / "cultural" expert (my apology, I know longer reca

This may be outdated. Some years ago, I read an article or heard an interview with a cognition / psychology / "cultural" expert (my apology, I know longer recall their exact credentials). That person described how the human mind can be views as a "giant", very powerful comparison engine. We are constantly evaluating our environment, including and especially our social environment, and our standing within it. If you are "doing as well as other people" -- sort of at the mean -- you are more relaxed. You feel secure, a part of the group with an established and respected place. You have social support (and its economic, defensive, etc. supports). If you are not doing that well, you become stressed. You are in a vulnerable position. I don't know whether I should be speaking of "mean" or "average". Nor to what extent media influence our perception of what that is. But I've never lost hold of that description, from years ago, and it continues to prod my thinking. And I think a lot of people in the U.S. feel more threatened than ever. Vast GDP is not reassuring, when you're not a part of it. Instead, it becomes threatening. Because you have no influence nor power compared to those people. And the past some decades have demonstrated, that those people will continue to enrich themselves at your expense. It may have been illusion more than reality, more often than people want to imagine: But the belief that "anyone can make it" in the U.S. has taken a serious blow, now, as well. So, people are happy to see "those privileged, job-exporting SOB's" take a hit. Or, put your own particular thinking to the generalized sentiment. Or, below some of those expressions, perhaps people are just hopeful that if more people are in the same boat, things will improve for them. At least, they won't be so disadvantaged in terms of power and influence. It's a pretty horrible feeling, being marginalized -- if it's not of your own choice and rationale. As well, feeling under constant, chronic stress; one slip, and you will lose what you have.