>we shouldn't go around simplistically implying that all social ills will be solved by neutering the billionaire class.

Not to put too fine a point on it but this was basically how the Japanese post war economic miracle was achieved.

In this case it was America which ordered the Japanese oligarchy to be stripped of its wealth.

We've had decades of propaganda telling us that this is the worst thing we could do for economic growth though so it's natural to doubt.