People fear that taxing the rich will slow the economy. That's a reason why it's politically hard to accomplish.

Taxing the rich can affect the consuming habits of consumers when ripple effects are passed down through the economy.

If ordinary people were more willing to accept change, these ripple effects could be seen as short term negatives bringing long term positives. A changed economy could emerge with other benefits. Long term benefits; such as a greener economy, a fairer economy or even a slower economy that is less of a rat race could emerge.

People fear that taxing the rich will slow the economy. Yes, a slower economy is totally feared, but it could have some benefits of its own in preserving the environment and giving people more time for other quality of life things.

These changes wouldn't necessarily all be about a slower economy as higher taxes can lead to many other long term benefits as well. For instance a more educated and healthier workforce. These changes can lead to better infrastructure for things like public transportation. Investing in scientific research can lead to new forms of technology and wealth as well. A higher GDP could still be a result.

Fear of change is one of the things that keeps the current configuration of our mostly capitalist system in power. Without tossing out capitalism altogether, we could have a different society, probably more like life in the Nordic countries; such as Denmark, I guess. Ordinary people would have to be willing to accept the change as well. Lots of ordinary people seem to be holding tightly onto our current consumeristic society.

Just taxing the top and expecting life to remain the same at the bottom doesn't work. Life at the lower levels has to be part of the change as well.