I agree. Common stock has basically become a special currency that by design experiences high, sustained inflation, which wealthy people use to suck wealth out

I agree. Common stock has basically become a special currency that by design experiences high, sustained inflation, which wealthy people use to suck wealth out of the real economy. If the rules were changed such that every stock has to offer a dividend at a fixed percentage of earnings, or some other kind of rules were put in place that would tie the value of common stock to the real economy, the whole system would change overnight.