In medieval times, serfs were peasants who were effectively owned by their wealthy landlords. They had to do as they were told and couldn’t even marry without their master’s permission. Freemen were able to move where they chose and to work for who they wanted.
In Western democracies, we’re all meant to be the modern equivalent of freemen, but many of us still act like serfs for the wealthiest members of our societies
In early 2026. the US cabinet has a net worth of $11.8 billion or more. Biden’s cabinet had a net worth of about $118 million. In 2020, more than half the members of congress were millionaires. Meanwhile, most Americans will earn little more than a million dollars across their whole working life. Many will earn much less.
Government is run by the wealthy for the wealthy. The poorest 50% of Americans share just 2.5% of US wealth, while the wealthiest 10% have hoarded 68% of all US wealth. And most of the people just accept that, like the serfs accepted their landlords could do whatever they wanted.
So, when the government advocates trickle down economics, saying it will make the poor wealthier, the serfs cheer, even though it means giving more money to the wealthy.
And when the government privatises public services, the serfs applaud, even though private companies make the services more expensive because they have to make profits for their stockholders.
And when the government say they need to slash big government, the serfs fall over in rapture, even though that cuts services the poor rely on and the wealthy never use.
And when it’s pointed out that government like this, by both Republicans and Democrats, has given the wealthiest 10% of Americans wealth that’s three times greater than the US national debt, while the poorest Americans’ taxes go to cover the interest payments, the serfs cry “encore”.
And the serfs agree completely when the wealthy insist they’ve earned it for doing such a good job of running the country. Even though they used the power of government to give more than two thirds of all American wealth to just one tenth of all Americans.
Serfs think that the wealthy are better than them and they blindly accept whatever the wealthy tell them and gratefully accept the little they’re given. At best, serfs are stooges being pushed around by the wealthy. At worst, they’re appeasers collaborating with their betters.
So, are you a freeman or a serf?
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