July 21, 2005

Webster’s dictionary defines a serf as "a person in feudal servitude, bound to his master's land." The word serf conjures up images of shabbily clothed peasants tilling their master's fields or meandering about a medieval village in the shadow of the master's castle. But is serfdom something left behind in antiquity or did it simply metamorphose, making itself unrecognizable to the non-inquiring mind?

Serfdom has stealthily survived throughout the ages into the "modern" era, even here in The United States, the supposed "home of the free." Starting with what some (unfortunately not many) would consider the obvious, the Income Tax has turned every wage earner in America into a modern day serf. Federal Income Tax (we'll deal with Social Security and Medicare shortly) is automatically deducted from every wage earner's paycheck via sleight of hand known as withholding. This is done to create a reverse Pavlovian response to what he or she has earned. Since the person earning the money never comes into possession of it he or she never misses it. If by chance they have over "contributed," their benevolent master (US Government) returns that portion, without additional interest of course. Serfs (oops I mean US workers) that underpay their master, on the other hand, are subjected to draconian penalties and interest, and in some cases are tossed into prison to atone for their disobedience.

Social Security and Medicare are also withheld from American worker's paychecks and their employers (serfs in their own right) are forced to match those "contributions." Of course, the benevolent master agrees to take care of his serfs in their old age or if they should happen to become ill. Sometimes things don't work out like the master intended (he misspent the money) so most serfs will continue to work in old age despite having "contributed" large sums of money towards their retirement nest egg. But at least they'll get good health care from their master, right? Well, not exactly. The money paid into this system sometimes gets diverted to maintain the masters' more faithful servants (Bureaucrats) leaving the rest of the serfs with substandard and inadequate medical care. There are alternatives though, you are free to go to the house of worship of your choice and pray... real hard (rumor is that spiritual healing is making a comeback).

Home ownership, vaunted as the American Dream, has become a fantasy fit for Michael Jackson's mind. Local property taxes, which are supposed to pay for infrastructure, police and fire protection have become a grab bag for local politicians (lower rung masters). Junkets to Europe and other exotic locations, automobile payments and large inert staffs, are just some of the ways local masters (mis)spend your property tax dollars. Fail to pay those taxes, either due to indigence or principals, and you will be tossed from your "castle" faster than Michael Jackson can moonwalk across a courtroom floor. If that weren't enough, serfs are subjected to intrusive zoning and code "laws" that go well beyond the scope of protecting your neighboring serfs' properties. Just when you think it can't get any worse, the Supreme Court (masters in their own realm) rules that your local government can take your property if they think they have a better use for it (Kelo V. New London Conn.). No longer do your local rulers need to contort reality to justify a public use, now they can, at their "discretion" (or lack thereof), take your property for "private" use as well.

Well, that may all be true, but we modern serfs at least are in control of our bodies, right? No. The FDA, rather than inform you about medications, dictates which ones you can or can't use (no matter how hopeless your condition) and also governs which drugs can be dispensed "over the counter" and which ones require a doctor's prescription. Speaking of Doctors, if you want that prescription filled make sure he's licensed by your state medical board and has a DEA number. Add to this the threat of a military draft still looming over our heads (at the mercy of our masters imperial thirst) and you can argue that the modern day serf probably has less control over his own body than his medieval counterpart.

Planning a vacation outside your masters’ sphere of influence? Better make sure all your identification papers are in order. Where exactly do you plan on going? The master wants to know. There are places he can forbid you to visit. Disobey and you may be fined and imprisoned. Bon Voyage!

For centuries mankind has been led to believe that the struggle for power and influence has been between the rich and the poor. The French and Russian Revolutions (amongst others) are classic examples of this mistaken premise. Even in America today many (too many) believe in the fairy tale of class struggles between the wealthy and the destitute. Most fail to see were the true struggle lies or even how most of their power and money is usurped. The true struggle is between the working (or productive) class and the political (or parasitic) class. Until a majority of serfs realize this (I won't hold my breath) serfdom will be alive and well in America.

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Teach the Children Well

Giving Freedom, Trade and Anarchy A Bad Name

Freedom Hijacked

Let's Be Thankful

Casualties of War

Don't Blame The Immigrants

Cubans in Dire Straights

Conventional Suicide

Voters Deserve “No respect”

The Unbearable Lightness of Being Libertarian

A Testament To Democracy

Living In America 2029, A Workers Paradise

A Tale of Two Cubas?