Yascha Mounk • 5855 implied HN points • 25 Jul 24
- Luxury beliefs are ideas that rich people can support because they don't face the negative effects, while poorer people may suffer from those very beliefs. It's like having opinions that sound good but aren't thought through.
- These beliefs have become popular as rich people can't show off their status with expensive things anymore, so they use opinions instead. But not all people with luxury beliefs are trying to signal status; some might just be naive.
- The idea of luxury beliefs applies across different groups, not just to one side of the political spectrum. Many beliefs held by both the rich left and right can have serious consequences for people who actually experience those issues.