The wealthy reduced access to education and increased economic instability for the average person.

They wanted less taxation, so they made taxation evil. Taxation paid for education and could have been used for more. They also made sure things that would stabilize the middle and lower classes were cut or never materialized - free higher education, unions/pensions, and health care. They created an environment that pitted people against each other where you “get yours” and fuck everyone else, crabs in a bucket.