All of it is always about killing competition. Anyone who could naturally rise up are a threat, and they use these methods to keep them squashed. Look at all the "regulation" laws, which are basically tools the corporations who can remain compliant use for keeping new businesses from starting. Income tax hits the hardest workers the most. It benefits the lazy welfare recipients and the upper elites while keeping the middle-class worker burdened. Minimum wage laws keep people on welfare and prevent anyone from becoming an apprentice. They would rather have them sit on their ass at home than get paid for what they are able to do. All these abhorrent mechanisms keep everyone suspended right where they want them, basically a class system.