People are still controlled and exploited…

Even in a relatively free democratic country the rule of man is still pervasive. People are still controlled and exploited by the ruling class as they are in tyrannical nations, albeit at a more subtle level. The pernicious taxation/regulatory policies of modern western governments have resulted in a loss of competitiveness, leading to declining standards of living for many. Such policies are always touted as being for the social good, for example to fund a stream of entitlement programs.
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