They don't want status like the smart and productive people, they want status like the rich.
Propaganda equating these two groups is a very popular thing for the rich to do with their money. Some would say that's unproductive, others would say it's smart (as long as they're the only smart person doing it, once a bunch of the smart people start playing unproductive games to work the system things get worse for everyone).
Propaganda equating these two groups is a very popular thing for the rich to do with their money. Some would say that's unproductive, others would say it's smart (as long as they're the only smart person doing it, once a bunch of the smart people start playing unproductive games to work the system things get worse for everyone).