They Want It All

You must bow before your overlords.

I’d like to tell a story.

It’s not a pleasant story with an airy ending.

The protagonist is you and me. The people on your block. The people you pass in the grocery store. The people you see in line at the cinema.

Even, in some cases, the people you see on television at night.

This is the story of Everyman and Everywoman.

Almost every man. Almost every woman.

There are exceptions, of course.

This is a story of instability. Unpredictability. Insecurity.

Desperation and despair.

Depression.

Nihilism.

This story is common throughout history. Through the ages. The story doesn’t change. The particulars of the story change, but not the underlying framework, the backbone of the story, the primary themes — these do not change.

These are themes of greed, avarice; eternal hunger.

Themes of oppression. Un-freedom. Inequality. Injustice.

Shackles and masks and lies and deceit.

My brother-in-law lost his job, after 40 years, working for the same corporation, hired right out of tech school, stayed in the same office and moved up the ranks just like we are all told we should…