Fidelity Investments surveyed over 1,000 millionaires to see how those perched toward the top of the economic ladder are feeling these days.  Nearly half of them said they didn’t feel wealthy.

It’s true, the millionaire crowd has taken a massive whipping in the marketplace.  The stock market nosedive and all of the associated bad economic news has taken a toll on their investment holdings.  It’s never fun to lose money, even when you have some of it.  It’s probably more than a little frustrating to see your portfolio shrink faster than a 400-pounder on The Biggest Loser.

And while some of the dissatisfaction expressed by 46% of the millionaires may have been an attempt not to rub others’ noses in their cash heaps when times are tough, the resounding message coming out of the Fidelity survey could be expressed like this:  46% of millionaires have absolutely no sense of perspective.

Unemployment is around 9%.  Although we’ve slowed the slide toward economic armeggedon and will undoubtedly survive this downturn, things aren’t going to get better tomorrow.  Life is tough out there for many, many people.  It was tough before the downturn for many, many others, too.  While the millionaires are bummed about losing money, they should try to remember that they were fairly lucky to have some money to lose in the first place.

People have lost their homes.  There are over 100,000 people in chronic homeless nationwide–and that’s just “chronic” status, who knows how many people are temporarily in trouble right now?

While millionaires lament the status of their portfolio and the drop in their home’s value over a slightly smaller cut of Kobe beef, someone out there is sucking ketchup packages in the rain.  While the millionaires don’t “feel” wealthy, some kid is not feeling well because of malnutrition.  Who do you think is better-positioned to come out of this downturn in good shape?  I’m thinking the millionaires are.

Forgive me if I don’t weep a crocodile tear for the dissatisfied millionaires of America.

Don’t get me wrong. This isn’t some kind of crazed “eat the rich” populist rant.  I don’t dislike the rich because they have things.  I understand the role those with greater wealth play in the well-being of the overall economy.  I know that they’re people, too, and I want them to be happy.

HOWEVER…  Anyone who can look out over the economic landscape right now with a net worth in the millions and feel anything less than wealthy just doesn’t get it.  Hey, 46%ers, it’s time to recalibrate your perspective!  Maybe you shouldn’t “feel rich”.  Perhaps, instead, you should feel “wildly rich and much, much better off than so many other people that I thank my lucky stars fifty times per day”.

According to Fidelity’s survey:

Asked what made them feel wealthy, most said to “live within means with little or no debt and with spending under control.”

Here’s a solution, based on that response, for the sad millionaires among us.  Spend less and adjust your idea of what “living within means” really means.  That’s what everyone else has been doing for the last year or two.  Welcome to the party.

Let’s get things moving.  A better economy.  Let’s eradicate poverty to the extent possible.  If we can do that in a way that allows millionaires a little more breathing room, so be it.  I’m not just on the side of the poor.  I’m on everyone’s side–even the Thurston Howells of the world.

In the meantime, if you’re toting a net worth of a million dollars or more, develop some perspective.  You might not feel wealthy but you are.  If you’re not sure, ask someone who’s gone from a working class home to a homeless shelter.  Ask a few of the half million people who lost their jobs last month how you’re doing.  I’m sure they’ll let you know.