Thx Magenta, the only 'Straw Man' I had an inkling about was Worzel Gummidge, but I have now looked it up, and it seems to be YOU that's getting muddled, clutching AT straws.
My argument is EXACTLY correct, the OP is attacking freedom of choice (& the wretched inequality), and though it was Ascot in the spotlight, the same argument could be applied to Henley, Wimbledon, Glyndebourne, Glasto, and a mass of entertainments that could be classed as 'needless frippery'. Let's do away with the lot, shall we?
And just HOW do YOU know if those attending in their finery are not already donating vast sums to charity -- more that you for example?
OR, is the attempted argument that Ascot, W'don, etc are all OK as events, but absolutely nobody should get specially dressed up to go, save the money, give it to charity?
IN WHICH CASE, EXACTLY the same argument could be applied in this way, let UsedtoBeBlonde, Magenta, and anyone else who thinks the same make a mid-year resolution, give up buying brand leaders in baked beans, corn flakes, Scotch, frozen veg (whatever), and instead get s'market own varieties, donating the difference to charity. Precisely the same principle -- just differing amounts.
It's quite logical, but if you still disagree, here's an idea :- stand for election at the next MP by-election, on just that principle. Come back and tell us how you got on?
(Oh, and as many comments have said, inequality has always been with us, and thrives even in Communist regimes).
brilliant!