While I don't doubt that has an impact in regards to overall 'equality' I think the root problem is that others have gotten poorer, not that some people are making out like bandits. If the banking sector was working for Main St in the Midwest and elsewhere, the problems wouldn't be anywhere as acute.

I do think the banking rules and practices are a much larger influence, but I also maintain that a primary driver of, and the best metric for measuring real inequality is the price of money. It is also not a marginal fact that the price of money represents not just the existing state of financial affairs, but also opportunity. Simply put, people who get a better price on money have much more opportunity. 'Bootstrapping' is pretty easy if you have a letter of credit for 10 million at 2%

For who could be free when every other man's humour might domineer over him? - John Locke (2nd Treatise, sect 57)