I think it's more subtle now, though, and harder to be aware of.

Back in the day, robber-barons simply exploited the working class through substandard working conditions, and outright theft of money or property [citation needed].

Now, though, you need a deep understanding of global monetary policy, tax law, and labor laws to be able to connect the dots.

So I would argue that now is different from earlier times in history, because those who are exploiting the system have finally figured out how to a) hide it well enough, and b) co-op members of the classes being exploited to fight for those doing the exploiting through misdirection and propaganda.

That's the craziest part of all of this. The exploited actively support the politicians who cause maximum exploitation and vilify those who would actually help them. It's insane.

Isn't that why they are politicians though? Because they were able to promise one thing to the masses and deliver another to their funders? If they were bad at that, they wouldnt get propped up.

Honestly, it just doesn't make sense. And my experience, when you sit down with, and I'm going to say extremely conservative people because they are the ones I would put in this category, and explain it to them using facts, they just dig in their heels and ignore you. Humans. What weird things.

Source: I talk politics with family all the time; I'm vilified as the weirdo, brainwashed, college liberal in a family of conservatives.