Regulations (one means of artificial restriction on wealth disparity) and taxes (another method of wealth disparity) serve a purpose.
Within our economic system, both knowledge and money itself is power. Capital is powerful in capitalism (go figure). By using an imbalance of information (knowledge), individuals seek to take advantage (not in a bad way, just neutral) and gain profit. This happens on both sides of the equation, buyer and seller.
The problem we are seeing now, at least within the US, is an imbalance of labor and capital. Because many of the labor categories are being shipped elsewhere (manufacturing, tech support) there is an increase of available labor. So much so, that we have individuals not doing what is in their best interests (see prisoner's dilemma). If the system were to work "correctly," when wages are depressed, costs of items would go down, as supply would increase with the difficulty to purchase. However, real estate investors, and large multi-national production companies have the capital in reserve to artificially keep prices high. We can see a great example of this in the housing market in the SanFran bay area.
Some of the wealth distribution ends up being a chicken and egg problem: companies don't pay as much because workers can get help. Workers need help and the government offers help because they don't get paid as much. This allows for a maintained depressing of wages.
Back to flow of information: in the US, education is based on the area you live. Property taxes pay for schools. If you live in a better neighborhood, you can expect a better quality education. if you don't, you can expect a glorified babysitter and to fall through the cracks. The education system perpetuates those without maintaining it generation after generation.
Are there exceptions? There always are. But the system itself is very skewed toward continuing to help those that are already well off. To use the foot race as an example, it's a marathon where many start at the starting line, but a few start at mile 20 and are celebrated for "winning."
It isn't envy, it's wanting to do what's "right" for everyone.
(for the record, I was one of those that started at the starting line and so far have done marginally well, through intelligence and drive).