As much as politicians seem to bash the wealthy in order to appear to be supportive of lower-income people, people in positions of political power have always relied heavily on the rich for a variety of reasons: for donations, for campaign funds, and, especially, for tax revenue. Elizabeth I was well aware of how much she needed her wealthy subjects. She wrote:
“As the destruction and desolation of dominions hinders Kings themselves from founding their power and glory on the opulence of prosperous citizens, and the diminution of public wealth strikes at the basis of the power of those who govern, so is it unworthy of the regal office and dignity to judge harshly those who love and strive for us.”
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