I suspect they are not miserable at all.  Their world view is that there is a "natural" pyramid/hierarchy and that they are on top because they deserve it.  All those below, in this worldview, are  lower down on the wealth scale because they don't merit more.  If you add to this the idea that wealth is a zero sum game, then any benefit to those lower down on the socio-economic scale means less for them.  Obviously, you can't have that. (/s)  So, they are ensuring that their privilege is not infringed upon, and the simplest way is to buy the lawmakers so that their "privilege" is all legal.