These rules do not apply to our enlightened political royalty making millions. They have a right to decide these things on our behalf based on their superior intellect, wisdom and caring.
And they have a right to live lavishly because they work so hard caring about us peasants. When John Edwards is talking about two Americas, he is really talking about the enlightened goal of the managerial class. There is supposed to be two Americas-- the enlightened leadership and the sheeple. It's the damn independent middle class which keeps getting in the way, you know the one Marx called the Bourgeoisie?
You're right, I don't understand and what's more...I don't want to understand Edwards' secular utopian vision :)