But when everything is more or less level, the slightest variation is noticed.

I think this reason alone might make it worthwhile to have explicit (if arbitrary) social classes. It would at least limit the envy to the immediately superior class. It would be easier to accept one’s lot in life if one could fail some objective application to a higher lot.

‘in the human heart a depraved taste for equality, which always impels the weak to want to bring the strong down to their level’

Certainly we see this. But is it from democracy or because democracy is a symptom of Sophism? Hypertrophied egalitarianism is very useful to the sophist.

Trusting that the system was fair and just, Americans simply gave up their independence of mind, and put their faith in newspapers and so-called ‘common sense’.

Conservation of supplication to authority. Having rejected classical authorities as per four, others were found. But, not being officially authorities, there was no backpressure against trusting them, it was purely subconscious reflex.