The tax collectors of old hit the villages at the bottom of the hill where the feudal Lord's castle oversaw their mini-empire. The peasants were bludgeoned if necessary to maintain the way of life of their masters and support their greedy desires for imperial expansion.
Times have changed a bit. Now even working people can own (mortgage) their home and have their tiny lawn in front - a postage stamp-sized pasture but psychologically important to those hoping to climb the ladder and break all ties to their hard past. Corporate media helps even more to erase those memories of the toiling class.
But social progress is outmoded as the new ruling oligarchies of our age set their sights on taking control of the universe thanks to space technology advances. Earth is now just a jump off spot for this very expensive desire to colonize the heavens. It's a god-like vision.
Few of the 'modern peasants' have any notion what is in store for them. A collapsing environment, due to human misunderstanding of our relationship to nature, and a failing economy mean that hard times are here. There is no Plan B for the public - you are on your own.
The aerospace industry has long claimed that 'Star Wars' will be the largest industrial project in human history. This means social programs that tried to level out society - to give the peasants a chance - are now needed to pay for the current imperial project - Pyramids to the Heavens.
One example of this corporate capital accumulation period we are currently in was the recent effort by General Dynamics to steal $60 million from the poor state of Maine. They eventually got $45 million and are demanding $100 million from Connecticut and about $40 million from Rhode Island. The people are told that if they don't give the corporate masters what they want the company just might have to cut jobs or even move.
The public is kept in check with public charades like the recent royal wedding in England. Prince Harry (dressed ready for war) unveiled his new chic American wife making the multi-cultural unification between the US and its former colonial master relevant in the modern era. The show (a theater production really) drew raves and hours of wasted attention as the royals drain the public purse and revive the dark periods of the past.
The message to the vast majority of humanity is either get on your knees and submit to corporate authority (enjoy the wedding) or face the harsh club that will keep you in place.
It seems appropriate to re-think the meaning of words like slavery, freedom, justice, liberty and connection to nature.
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