A K-shaped economy becomes dangerous not just from the wealth gap, but when the bottom half is actively regressing—falling behind the rising cost of living. This violation of the human need for progress is the primary trigger for instability, not the mere existence of billionaires.

As AI automates entry-level white-collar jobs, a growing number of college graduates will face unemployment. This creates what historian Peter Turchin calls 'elite overproduction'—people educated for elite roles with no positions to fill. This disenfranchised group is a prime demographic for socialist movements.

Contrary to romanticized views, violent uprisings historically hurt the working and middle classes most. The French Revolution's Reign of Terror executed thousands of middle-class citizens—lawyers, merchants, and farmers—not just aristocrats. The elite often have the resources to escape, while the masses bear the brunt of the chaos.

History, particularly the French Revolution, shows that when a society reaches a point where the working class cannot afford basic necessities despite their labor, the risk of violent upheaval skyrockets. This reflects a simmering rage against a perceived obscene wealth gap.

History shows that social stability is threatened not by the long-suffering poor, but by a disgruntled, overeducated middle class. AI's displacement of junior roles in tech and law creates a cohort of indebted graduates who played by the rules but now face unemployment. This group is far more likely to cause political and social unrest.

The emotional core of modern socialist and communist appeal is resentment. The satisfaction is derived more from the act of confiscating wealth from the successful than from redistributing it to help others. This explains its persistence despite consistent historical and economic failures.

When society pushes more people into higher education for roles the market doesn't demand, it creates "overproduced elites." This leads to a class of resentful, highly-educated but under-employed people—a historical precursor to social and political instability like the French Revolution.

When society produces more highly-educated graduates than there are suitable jobs, a large group emerges whose high expectations are unmet. This "elite overproduction" creates a sense of grievance and entitlement, making them receptive to socialist ideas that promise to rectify perceived injustices.

Throughout history, a large gap between the 'haves' and 'have-nots' is a recipe for revolution. This economic disparity fuels populism and social unrest more profoundly and consistently than external shocks like pandemics, technological disruption like AI, or even war.