American style late-stage capitalism really just boils down to feudalism with extra steps.
The state ultimately acts a king, and hands out large amounts of money to corporate fiefdoms who control production and ultimately the fates of their workers due to low wages and high rent.
It seems appropriate to be referencing the medieval state of being for the vast majority of people. We work more and have longer hours and less leisure time than any filthy dirt-farmer peasant in Europe did back then. In some respects they were better off even. They often had the ability to survive independently of the lord or king who’s land they were on, until tax time came.
