Used to gain mass formation - control at scale
Making a great masse of people a willing instrument of authority
"the hand, not the brain"
Can range from small local groups to an entire nation of willing participants
Taxation being the tool used to gain the obedience
Through peer acceptance within the social hierarchy
And fear of exile for anyone who resists
Ancient, tribal, primordial, social - used to be effective
Today it is moot, due to the staggering amount of wealth available
But we have yet to shed the obedience network of the aeons
So civilisation is truly at risk until we can do that
Yes, take us to Mars please and beyond
But while this network persists, the risk remains