robber baron

If we look at the robber baron era, there was outrage at the degree to which ultrawealthy people were directly engaging in politics and shaping outcomes and backing particular individuals who were winning and then passing policies that defended the wealth of these oligarchic figures.

During the segment, Stewart called Goldstein a “robber baron,” saying that he made his fortune off the high rent he charges at the mobile home parks he owns.

This is, after all, around the time, historian Matthew Josephson later explained, the term “robber baron” was coined.

Robert A. Iger, who leads Disney, publicly pushed back against the striking workers, and found himself jeered on picket lines as a robber baron.

A notorious strikebreaker noted for paying his workers abysmally low wages, the complicated robber baron also publicly supported progressive tax laws, including estate taxes.