A generous distribution of the country's wealth among all the country's citizens in the form of fair wages and good social insurance is good for keeping consumption going. When only a few own most, then this rich few cannot consume on the same scale as the great mass can. One person can eat for two but not for 100.
America's financial crisis is partly due to the fact that wages for the average American have not risen in decades. Consumption has been kept going via loans. Now it turns out that it is not sustainable to keep consumption going with loans instead of with a fair distribution of wealth.
A fair distribution of wealth does not have to mean that no one can become rich. It just means that the rich or those who want to become rich have to curb their desire for money a little, so that it becomes possible for the great mass to consume.