“The counterterrorism measures of the past were set up in a vain attempt to thwart a phantom or at best, a scattered enemy. The proverbial terrorist threat that was supposed to threaten our way of life dissipated as the global economic downturn let loose a different breed of bedlam and carnage.
Political terrorism never works; it only serves to galvanize your opponents to behave even worse.
Economical terrorism has proved different. It actually works. It has rendered anti-terrorism laws ineffectual and has frightened off even the most unscrupulous of media moguls. No one talks about it. No one dares do anything about it.”
‘At which point will Meganat declare itself a sovereign state?’ – Goonsville
‘At a point when international competition laws make it impossible for Meganat to operate, the company will ultimately declare itself a sovereign state.’ – CYFERON
‘How would they claim legitimacy?’ – Goonsville
‘They’ll start by lobbying as many nations as they can. Small ones at first, the ones that would benefit from such a deal, get them to recognize them as an autonomous nation.’ – CYFERON
“Which system? Legal slavery? The Government!” – Diktator_J
“There is no such thing. International law is clear, No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.” – Shadowbark
“Dude, human trafficking is the largest industry in the world today. Figures vary, but around 620 million people worldwide are officially classed as economic slaves.” Diktator_J
“It is still outlawed by every single government in the international community.” Shadowbark
“In Arctica, debt bondage is legal. A person becomes a slave to work off a debt, in which the length and nature of work is never defined, so it becomes a never-ending cycle with the debt being passed down to the children thereby enslaving offspring. That’s 80% of the world’s population.” – Diktator_J
“That does not define slavery. Free will is at play here.” – Shadowbark
“Contract slavery! A homeless, starving person these days can sell themselves into slavery. You work for some bastard corporation without pay, and in return, you get food and shelter. Where is the choice in that?” – Diktator_J
“Having one human being working for another in order to live is slavery. Shouldn’t basic necessities in life be free?” – Bubblehead43
“We have to work in order to get money in order to buy shelter and food to live. If we don’t work, we don’t get any money to buy food and we die.” Shadowbark
“We have the technology, if we really wanted to.” – Bubblehead43
As we envision the future of our society, it is crucial to recognize and address the potential challenges that lie ahead. One concerning aspect is the emergence and perpetuation of economic slavery. This essay delves into the concept of economic slavery in the future and highlights the profound impact it could have on individuals and society as a whole.
Economic slavery refers to a state in which individuals are trapped in oppressive economic systems that exploit their labor and limit their freedom. While not a traditional form of slavery, it shares similarities, as individuals find themselves trapped in cycles of poverty, dependence, and limited upward mobility.
In a future marked by economic slavery, structural inequalities become deeply entrenched. A small elite class controls and monopolizes resources, capital, and means of production, while the majority struggles to access basic necessities and economic opportunities. Exploitative labor practices, such as long hours, low wages, and limited workers’ rights, become normalized, perpetuating a system of economic subjugation.
As technology continues to advance, automation and artificial intelligence may replace a significant portion of the workforce, leading to widespread job displacement. In this scenario, economic slavery could arise when individuals are forced into exploitative labor arrangements due to limited employment options. They may find themselves trapped in precarious, low-paying jobs, lacking autonomy and the ability to improve their circumstances.
Another manifestation of economic slavery in the future could be through debt bondage and financial manipulation. Individuals burdened with crippling debt are beholden to lenders, perpetually trapped in a cycle of repayment, unable to escape their economic obligations. This form of modern-day indentured servitude restricts personal freedom and perpetuates economic inequality.
The consequences of economic slavery extend beyond the individual. A society plagued by widespread economic subjugation experiences a range of adverse effects. Social mobility stagnates, perpetuating generational poverty and limited opportunities for upward advancement. Economic disparities deepen, leading to social unrest, increased crime rates, and a loss of social cohesion. The overall well-being of society suffers as a result.
“The modern trend towards city states during the past fifty years is mostly due to the demand for a simpler and broader trading system. It originated with the formation of an economic model that bypassed the hindrances of a myriad free trade agreements.”
“Conventional economics is like rolling a boulder up a hill. Every time you stop to rest, it rolls back onto you. Binary economics is about rolling the damn boulder downhill.”
“Having the government against you is a bad thing. It all boils down to a matter of trust. How can you trust these short-term, career bureaucrats whose only goal is advancing into a position of influence, use this influence to benefit, and then retire handsomely? They promise the world but forget you the minute your usefulness as a political pawn ceases. They don’t really care about the individual. It isn’t their job to care.”
~Frank Tucker, Chapter 12 (The Corporatist Manifesto)
The relationship between individuals and their government is often a complex one, influenced by perceptions of trust, accountability, and the role of bureaucracy. This essay explores the notion that having the government against you is a disadvantage, primarily focusing on the matter of trust. It examines concerns regarding short-term, career bureaucrats whose interests may prioritize personal advancement over the welfare of the individual.
Trust is a vital element in any functioning society. It is the foundation upon which individuals rely when interacting with their government. When trust erodes, it undermines the social contract between citizens and the state, leading to disillusionment and skepticism.
Career bureaucrats, whose professional trajectory involves advancing into influential positions, may raise concerns regarding their intentions and motivations. The pursuit of personal gain and influence can create a perception that their actions prioritize self-interest over the well-being of individuals. This can breed skepticism and mistrust in the government’s ability to genuinely address the needs of its citizens.
Individuals may feel that they are treated as political pawns, used to further the agendas of bureaucrats seeking to secure their positions of influence. Promises made during election campaigns or other political processes might be seen as empty gestures, quickly forgotten once their usefulness in gaining political advantage diminishes. This perception reinforces the notion that career bureaucrats may not genuinely care about the individual, as their primary focus is personal gain rather than serving the public interest.
While it is true that bureaucracy serves a crucial function in governing and implementing policies, concerns can arise when bureaucracy becomes detached from the needs of individuals. Bureaucrats are often tasked with complex responsibilities, but it is important for them to maintain a connection to the concerns and aspirations of the people they serve. Without this connection, bureaucracy can be seen as an impersonal and uncaring system, further eroding trust in government.
The erosion of trust between individuals and their government is a matter of significant concern. When individuals perceive that career bureaucrats prioritize personal advancement over the welfare of the people, trust diminishes, and the social contract weakens. However, it is important to recognize that not all government officials or career bureaucrats fit this negative perception. Many individuals enter public service with genuine intentions to serve and make a positive impact.
“Suicide by leaping from a tall office block during times of recession is a myth spawning from the old century. After Octavo A. committed murder suicide when he jumped to his death and skull crashed his former boss, an event he shared with a billion people to date, the practice has become the past time for fatalists, pessimists and miscreants alike.
At one point during deepest part of the depression, around recession nadir seven, a suicide a day was purported to have occurred. Now when you look outside a window and see some poor devil flying down to zeroland, one can’t help but think, are the gangs now disguising their murders as suicides.”
“This is why we have five Internet platforms right now. When hacker/pirates created the Angry Tree Protocol it hamstrung the original Cobweb. Two secure, private networks emerged from the anarchy. One using optical technology, the other satellite based, they tried to monetise information to the point of squeezing the average citizen out of the educational loop. Next thing you know, Episoft’s peer to peer system gives free access back to the people. Not as good as Definition+ as provided by Satnet and Ambercast, but I invested my clients money in them anyway. Look at them now.”
The depression has endured for 22 years; fuelled by ecological wars brought on by extreme climate change, i.e. drought and flooding.
Now, as the nadir of the ninth recession grips the world, the warring parties have finally run out of hard currency.
Officially, all the warring factions are still at war, but technically, their military campaigns have stalled. The arms industry finds it unprofitable to keep supplying weapons to penniless factions as promised resource assets are almost never delivered or hardly secure.
Now, towards the end of the depression, the corporate sector has built up mercenary armies in an effort to secure these resources. This added security has helped ease the depression, by allowing the bankster class to make money again.
The thirty years of economic recession have had profound consequences on businesses and industries, decimating commercial brands, leading to a staggering decline of 96.3 per cent.
During a prolonged economic recession, businesses often struggle to maintain profitability due to reduced consumer spending, tightening credit, and increased operating costs. Many companies were forced to close their doors or declare bankruptcy, unable to sustain their operations in a challenging economic climate. This resulted in a significant reduction in the number of commercial brands, as companies fail to weather the economic storm.
Prolonged economic recessions typically lead to reduced consumer purchasing power, as unemployment rates rise, incomes stagnate, and consumer confidence wanes. As a result, consumer demand for non-essential goods and services diminishes, causing a decline in sales and revenues for businesses. With a shrinking customer base, many brands struggled to generate sufficient demand to sustain their operations, further contributing to their decline and disappearance from the market.
Surviving businesses sought strategies to weather the storm. One common approach was mergers and acquisitions, leading to industry consolidation. Larger, more financially stable companies acquired struggling brands, absorbing their assets and intellectual property. Consequently, the number of commercial brands would decrease as independent entities are absorbed or integrated into larger conglomerates.
Most brands struggled to pivot their business models, update their products or services, or meet changing consumer demands. This inability to adapt could contribute to their downfall and eventual disappearance from the market. Lack of innovation and failure to address evolving consumer conditions led to the inevitable collapse of most brands during an unforeseeable prolonged economic downturn.
