[RBroadfoot]

Socialism thrives on envy. Envy is one of the strongest motivators of human behavior.

I have always found it interesting that the Decalogue has four commandments that govern the relationship between God and man, five commandments that forbid certain behaviors, and a final commandment that forbids envy ("thou shalt not covet"), which is a habit of thought rather than an action.

Envy is the organizing principle of socialism and of most political parties. Envy, I think, is a far more potent force in democratic politics than rational thought. For one thing, it takes effort to exercise rational thought, and it takes effort to suppress the natural impulse of envy. Conversely, it takes no effort to indulge one's natural inclination to envy and rationalize it as an altruistic concern for the welfare of others.

[RKV]

Well put. I strongly agree.

[Question_Assumptions]

Envy is hardcoded into the psychology of humans and some other primates. See this article for a summary. That's why game theorists keep arguing that people should accept deals that are not fair but which still benefit them but in practice, people not only don't accept unfair deals but are willing to lose even more to get revenge.