Remember that one time at school when you got a bad grade and you felt a bit more awful when someone else did better? We cannot help it but compare ourselves to one another. Evolution has crafted us in such way that we have to measure ourselves in respect to others. We create this imaginary game in our brains about how better or worse we are when compared to our peers and we place ourselves somewhere along that line.
The jobs we seek, the partners we date, everyone is placed along this imaginary scale. One would say that we do not wish harm or misfortune to others but life counters this quite easy. We like to believe and promote around us that we wish the best for all since this will promote well being and prosperity for everyone. Nonetheless, this is mathematically impossible. For great fortune to happen to few a lot have to suffer. There has to be disparity and unevenness so that the gap will reward those at top and punish those at the bottom. And, inescapably, we feel good when others fail or suffer because we get to advance one level on top.
It could be argued that it is our advancement that we cherish. It would be unthinkable to put others down and be happy about it. That would go against everything we stand and preach. History though, has an interesting way in reminding us about how much we enjoy watching others suffer, to justify our own beliefs and perceptions.
Take for example the drawings across the religious spectrum where infidels are tortured in the most gruesome way. Public hangings where another spectacle of watching others suffer because we believe that our common moral laws are superior to those who go astray. We are happy to protect that which makes us human. Our values, or at least those that have been bestowed upon us by others.
This is also the reason we where able to explain all this torture and suffering whether some wish it for opposing political parties, nations or ex lovers. Punishment is another way for us to level the field. Someone in our perception has cheated and tipped the scales and for that they have to suffer.
And who is more easy to convince for such inequality other than the masses. No wonder many wish for an economic collapse or for the rich to lose money. It is the only way most can catch up. And here lies the hypocrisy of the human existence. In one hand, we like to praise ourselves as good people that wish the best for others. In the other hand, the only way for us to objectively advance in anything , is for someone else to fail. Not everyone can be managers, not everyone can be wealthy and at the same time enjoy the same privileges.
A millionaire in a neighborhood where everyone earns less is happier than a millionaire in a neighborhood of billionaires. Always. Unless, of-course, the millionaire wants to appeal and measure themselves outside of that community, which, in that case, won't be living among billionaires for much longer.