People were living in squalor up to and right after the second world war. I might not like the rentier economy but I try and remember some of the alternatives are worse.
Rentier economy is actually only possible after productivity gains. You go back to after WWII and try and take a big wedge of their wages. They'd string you up. Only when the wolves are from the door can one siphon off wages through obfuscated means.
