Power structures evolve, but their playbook stays surprisingly consistent.

Throughout history, those at the top have refined their toolkit for keeping everyone else in line. The methods change with technology—from chains to central banks—but the underlying mechanics? Pretty much the same.

Fear and suffering have always been the go-to levers. They're reliable. Timeless, even.

Sure, money plays a starring role in modern control systems. It's elegant, scalable, and doesn't look like oppression on the surface. But here's the thing: it's just one tool among many.

What really keeps the machine running isn't the carrot. It's the stick—or more precisely, the dread of what happens when you step out of line. The pain that waits on the other side of disobedience.

That's the fuel that's always powered compliance.