Good graphic. I've said similar when having discussions about politics and wealth. Many think we are better than feudal system and so the graphic asks the question - Just How are we doing better???
From Serfs to Debtors: Is Modern Capitalism Just Feudalism Rebranded? In medieval Europe, peasants worked the land for lords in exchange for protection—no freedom, no ownership, no mobility. Today, the castles are gone, but the power dynamics remain strikingly familiar.
Under U.S. capitalism, the working class is trapped in a cycle of wage dependency, debt, and systemic inequality. Millions work full-time yet can’t afford healthcare, housing, or education.
🔹 Healthcare: Then, illness meant death. Now, it means bankruptcy. The U.S. is the only wealthy nation without universal healthcare, and medical costs ruin lives daily.
🔹 Education: Once reserved for nobles, now technically open to all—but skyrocketing tuition and predatory interest rates turn students into lifelong debtors. Monthly payments feel more like ransom than repayment.
🔹 Housing: Serfs didn’t own land. Today, rising rents and stagnant wages push families into homelessness, while real estate becomes a luxury asset for the wealthy.
🔹 Labor: Then, you worked the land. Now, you work the clock. But the result is the same: wealth flows upward, while the majority struggle to survive.
This isn’t just economic—it’s political. A bipartisan government that sends billions abroad refuses to guarantee its own people basic dignity. The result? A society that’s overworked, undereducated, increasingly sick, and disposable.
We don’t need to revisit history to see feudalism. We’re living it.
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Thank you. I will now emulate my pet ferrets and steal that for my own collection!
ReplyDeleteDavid-
ReplyDeleteYou aren't going to use this blog to spread lies and misinformation about Wendy Davis that you found at restate.com.
Good graphic. I've said similar when having discussions about politics and wealth. Many think we are better than feudal system and so the graphic asks the question - Just How are we doing better???
ReplyDeleteFrom Serfs to Debtors: Is Modern Capitalism Just Feudalism Rebranded?
ReplyDeleteIn medieval Europe, peasants worked the land for lords in exchange for protection—no freedom, no ownership, no mobility. Today, the castles are gone, but the power dynamics remain strikingly familiar.
Under U.S. capitalism, the working class is trapped in a cycle of wage dependency, debt, and systemic inequality. Millions work full-time yet can’t afford healthcare, housing, or education.
🔹 Healthcare: Then, illness meant death. Now, it means bankruptcy. The U.S. is the only wealthy nation without universal healthcare, and medical costs ruin lives daily.
🔹 Education: Once reserved for nobles, now technically open to all—but skyrocketing tuition and predatory interest rates turn students into lifelong debtors. Monthly payments feel more like ransom than repayment.
🔹 Housing: Serfs didn’t own land. Today, rising rents and stagnant wages push families into homelessness, while real estate becomes a luxury asset for the wealthy.
🔹 Labor: Then, you worked the land. Now, you work the clock. But the result is the same: wealth flows upward, while the majority struggle to survive.
This isn’t just economic—it’s political. A bipartisan government that sends billions abroad refuses to guarantee its own people basic dignity. The result? A society that’s overworked, undereducated, increasingly sick, and disposable.
We don’t need to revisit history to see feudalism. We’re living it.