It's extraordinary to me how so many Americans voice a belief that they live in a society replete of freedom, opportunity and choice. Those are the words of propaganda, reiterated through grade schools, churches, advertising, public events and the more shallow journalistic outlets. The nation in fact is a very controlled oligarchy, with the upper crust living like kings and the next 10-15% as their comfortable courtiers, while the general populace lives precariously under threat of violence or infection and serves as their war fodder and exploited workforce.