You think the government is the driving force that make people rich? Bailouts, subsidies, affect only a very few companies. Most of the wealth in the US is made by entrepreneurs with a good idea, hard work, and the management ability to organize (and grow) a group of people into a large corporation. But make no mistake, you have to be clever and learn things like accounting, learning the tax code, and never give up.
I made $2 million from an engineering firm I started when I was 33 and sold when I was 39. I gave half to my daughter as a irrevocable trust. I put the rest into tax free municipal bonds.
I made $1 million in 4 years by starting a model train store. I bought my partner all the original stuff to stock the shelves. Our deal was he would pay me book value for the stock on the shelves when he was ready to buy me out. The book value was a million dollars - easy money.
I went bust on my 3rd venture - repairing and reselling used computer. Lost $100,000, but great tax write-off.
At age 50 I retired to Bali Indonesia. I bought up some land which jumped up in prices at 30% a year - every year. Now I have $2 million in vacant land. I willed all that land to my son because I don't need the money.
Not one penny of subsidy from the government - but I paid a hunk of taxes along the line.
Oh, yea, and I'm not emasculated either.
Yes, I know that.... But the Left believes every "rich" person (who isn't a radical leftist) got that way by stealing their money from the "poor". The only way that would be legally possible is through government.
