Today’s corporation grants a fief to its employees in exchange for loyalty and willingness to participate in the battles to raise consumption above all other values. The fief itself is more than just a paycheck and loyalty is not necessarily directed at one corporation but to the Corporate Fiefdom at large.

Today the Vassal’s Fief includes: the opportunity to advance if you “work hard and do as you’re told”—the Puritan values of America; health care; sometimes child care; and a retirement package. The King and his Court in D.C. aids and abets with social security and the horror of no child left behind. It’s “instant relief from the pain of thought, loneliness, doubt, experience, envy, and old age.”

Someday soon the Vassal’s Fief will include that other great financial insecurity; home ownership. The homes will be owned by the Corporate Fiefdom and come with the jobs. Job jumping and home jumping becomes one and the same.  The vast Investment Banking Community will come to the rescue of the overwhelming majority of corporations that need employee housing but are unwilling to build and own them. This IBC will finance giant housing corporations, other corporations will rent the housing where and as they need. Investors and we Vassals that used to own our own homes invest instead into the giant housing corporations; safer equity I reckon.

“A self-regarding electorate asks of its rulers what the rich ask of their servants: “Comfort us.” “Tell us what to do.” The wish to be cared for replaces the will to act”

Quotes by Lewis H. Lapham