That's one of the most interesting questions I've read on HN; thanks; I've really had to think about it. To refine the question, I think it is, 'to what degree

That's one of the most interesting questions I've read on HN; thanks; I've really had to think about it. To refine the question, I think it is, 'to what degree' does each factor - perception or system - cause the other? First, I'd love to read someone who has studied the issue and has expertise in the domain, if anyone has any suggestions. Obviously, I don't know the answer. I'd wildly guess that the economic system creates inequality which creates social division which creates the perceptual fallacy which reinforces it all. I'd also guess that for some the economic system creates a conscious desire to control the underprivileged; Thiel might be a leading example: "I no longer believe that freedom and democracy are compatible."[0] Also, any system gains the self-reinforcing phenomena of normalizing itself (perhaps defined by the perceptual fallacy that the system is inevitable or the best of all possible worlds) and of vested interests who act, consciously and unconsciously, to protect the system that benefits them. [0] https://www.cato-unbound.org/2009/04/13/peter-thiel/education-libertarian https://www.cato-unbound.org/2009/04/13/peter-thiel/educatio...