>Precisely. Because they have the bucks to take care of their needs and that's not a sin AFAIAC.

It's not, unless it pushes someone else back which in your example it does.

> That's just the way it is in a free society.

Free society <> unfair heathcare. You're making a huge, logically flawed leap.

> OTOH, there has to be a better way to protect the poor that doesn't involve taxing the wealthy to death

This is a mistake made by the right wing all of the time, which simply ignores the facts. The bulk of income tax is collected from the middle class, since they are the most numerous. The rich have means to reduce their tax burdens to levels much lower than their tax bracket indicates.

> just because they seem to be good at what they do.

There are many ways to become wealthy, only one of which is being good at what you do.

>No. The rich meet their own needs. It's everyone else who seems to think they've earned a ride on the coattails.

You make about as much money as I do, solidly middle class, why do want to protect the wealthy so much. All things even, the poor are much more in need of our protect. By your own words above "The rich meet their own needs".