The current situation reminds me of feudalism, specifically those monarch-vassal dynamics. There is a complete disregard for the state and the needs of the masses, who are treated as just another expendable resource like wood or ore.
This model is returning because the current level of technological progress makes it viable again. We enjoyed 100 beautiful years not due to the inherent virtues of democracy and capitalism, but because the technology of the time favored them. It required an educated working class and a consumer society, which ultimately generated more wealth and power for the elites.
In the post-AI era, they simply won't need that many "peasants." The average citizen will merely consume resources, effectively becoming a burden. Why would the elites bother teaching them multiplication tables, providing healthcare, or paying unemployment benefits?
ihagen · · focus · HN ↗