[tbrockman]

It seems like there are a lot of people who are desperate for reality to conform to their cynicism, out of fear that they (and their world view) are part of the problem.

For whatever reason, for some it's more gratifying to see others fail to prosper if it confirms their beliefs than it is to watch others succeed and have their beliefs challenged (even if it's to their own detriment).

In many cases, I imagine those who would see themselves as "good" use their world view as a way of absolving themselves of guilt for their actions. If I believe that there was never enough for most to lead dignified lives and that society rewards only self-interest, I don't have to regret taking more than necessary, and I can justify my apathy to the suffering of others. "It is the way of things," I can think to myself, "anything else would be foolish and naive." In this way I can find satisfaction even in inequality, comforted by its inevitability--and my own cleverness in understanding it.

[tavavex]

This is exactly it, beautifully put. It's very easy and tempting to hide behind an ideology that makes broad-stroke descriptions about the entire world. "It's just how the world works", "it's simply basic economics" (really, nearly all claims about "basic" anything with no further nuance). But for people who are entrenched in their opinions, I don't think there's a lot of absolution or guilt going on. To the most dedicated believers, the belief had become a part of their identity, so vindicating it is almost integral to their being. Of course they'd want anyone who disagrees to suffer - they don't just view that as an inevitability, but also the morally correct thing, the appropriate punishment to the people for not accepting their obvious truth.