Thursday, November 25, 2010

Western world: Then and now

THEN AND NOW


THEN:


"The feudal system was a way of government based on obligations between the lord or king and vassal.


The king gave large estates to his friends and relatives. These estates known as the fief included houses, barns, tools, animals, and serfs or peasants. The king also promised to protect the vassal on the field or in the courts. In return the nobles who were granted the fiefs swore an oath of loyalty to the king. The nobles promised never to fight against the king. They also had to give the king whatever he asked for. The king may ask for men to fight a war, money, or advice. The nobles also gave the king a place to stay when he traveled.


Each of the king's vassals was also a lord or tenant in chief with vassals of his own. Each vassal would be an overlord to those he granted fiefs while remaining a vassal of the king. The subtenants in turn subdivided the land. Sometimes there were many levels of lords who had vassals under them.

The most important promise of the vassal to the lord was the military. The vassal usually served as a knight. This service lasted about 40 to 60 days a year. If they actually had to fight in a war they usually did so for two months. If there was no war the knights did 40 days of training at the castle.


There were only a few nobles. Most people, approximately nine-tenths, were serfs who worked the land for a noble. The serf was bound to the land. If the noble sold the land the serf went with it. This was not much better than being a slave.


A peasant village had between ten to sixty families. Each family lived in a hut made out of wood or straw. The floor was covered with straw or reeds. Beds were made from a pile of dried leaves or straw. Animal skins were used as blankets. A cooking fire burned in the middle of the hut with the smoke escaping through a hole in the roof. Furnishings included a plank table, a few stools, and a chest. Each hut had its own vegetable garden.


About half the serfs time was spent working for the lord. Jobs included working in the fields, cutting wood, hauling water, spinning and weaving, repairing buildings, and waiting on the members of the lord's family. Peasant men were even expected to fight in times of war. Besides all the work peasants had to pay taxes to their lord. This was usually given in wheat, lamb, chicken, and other animals.


There were also some freemen peasants. These people were usually in a trade. These people were not bound to the land. They paid a fixed rent to the lord. The freemen had more legal rights than the serfs and fewer duties to the lord. In actuality there was little real difference between the freemen peasants and the serfs.


By the twelfth century this system was found throughout most of Western Europe."


NOW:


The present corporatocracy system is a way of government based on obligations between the corporatist CEO and high government official.


The CEO gives large campaign contributions to high government officials who, may turn out to be his friends and relatives. These contributions, known as the bribes, include insider stock tips, plane trips and gifts, lucrative jobs for family members, lobbyist servants, high-paying "consulting" jobs in the future, and control over the US taxpayers and their wealth. The highest government officials also promise to protect the CEOs in the press or in the courts. In return the CEOs, who are granted the right to grow huge shell companies, subsidized by taxpayers' money, that provide them with hundreds of millions in bonuses, swear an oath of loyalty to the high government official. The CEOs promise never to fight against the high government officials. They also have to give the high government officials whatever they ask for. The high government officials (the President, Vice President, etc) may ask the CEOs for men to fight a war, money, or advice. The CEOs also give the high government officials a place to stay when they travel.


Each of the high government officials is also a political machine boss with government officials of his own. Each high government official is an overlord to those he grants power, while remaining a taxpayer paid, unofficial employee of the CEOs. Their employees, in turn, subdivide the country's wealth. Sometimes there are many levels of government officials who have government officials under them.


The most important promise of the high government officials to the CEOs is the military. Some government officials serve as military generals. This service lasts about 20 years. If they actually had to fight in a war they usually did so for a 12 to 24 months. If there is no war the generals spend their days in plush headquarters.


There are only a small percentage of powerful CEOs. Most people, approximately nine-tenths, are wage slaves who work the grunt jobs for some CEO underboss. The wage slave is bound to the job. If the CEO sold the company, the wage slave went with it. This was not much better than being a real slave.


A wage slave condominium building usually has between ten to sixty families. Each family lives in a group of rooms made of concrete. The floor is covered with synthetic carpet. Beds are also made from synthetic materials. Machine woven synthetic fibers are used as blankets. A cooking stove and a microwave oven burn in the middle of the kitchen with the smoke escaping through a hood over it and though a hole in the roof. Furnishings include a breakfast bar, a few stools, and chests of drawers. Each condo unit has TV.


“(PART 3)

About half the wage slave's time is spent working for the government or the corporatocracy. Jobs include crunching numbers, pimping products, enforcing regulations, lying and embezzling, controlling underlings, and kissing the arses of those with dominion over them.. Wage slaves are even expected to fight in times of war. Besides all the work, wage slaves have to pay taxes to their high government officials. This is usually given in fiat currency and in future debt.


There are also some independent contractors. These people are usually in a trade. These people are not bound to the CEOs. They pay taxes to, and are regulated by, the high government officials. The independent contractors have more legal rights than the wage slaves and fewer duties to the CEOs. In actuality there is little real difference between the independent contractors and the wage slaves.


By the twenty-first century this system was found throughout most of the


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