This isn't the right way to view it -- it's not necessarily about a dollar amount. People making 6 figures and people making 5 figures are not enemies. The segmentation is between those tho provide work and those who perform it, with the former profiting off the surplus value provided by the latter

Who do you think owns public companies?

Are you insinuating that the workers (or the public) have the ability to self-determine through share ownership? You are aware that Alphabet stock is split, with the class B shares being owned by the founders, right?

Public company stocks need to go up because that's how millions of people with economic profiles not dissimilar to Google SWEs fund their retirement.

The top 10% of americans own ~90% of stocks. I think the top 1% owns somewhere around 45% of those stocks.

Do you think FAANG SWEs aren't in the top 10% of Americans?

Investors aren't some distinct class, we're mainly talking about pension funds and the 401ks of similarly well-compensated professional-managerial workers.

The "little man" is the line employee, vs the machinations of the boardroom and the demands of the stock market. The salary level isn't that relevant.

No they’re not, we’re talking about major shareholders. They’re the ones driving these layoffs to eke out a few more dollars that they don’t need.