The Last Pulse

Part 2: The Foundation of Control

2. Social Manipulation

Education as Division

The education system, from primary schools to Ivy League universities, played a dual role in reinforcing societal divisions. For the general population, education emphasized skills that met economic demands, often limiting critical thinking and focusing on conformity. This approach subtly discouraged questioning and innovation, molding students to fit into predetermined societal roles. Meanwhile, prestigious institutions like the Ivy League quietly served as gatekeepers for the elite, grooming a select few to uphold established power structures. While publicly promoting meritocracy, these universities reserved the highest levels of access and influence for those already connected to elite circles, perpetuating an exclusive culture that aligned with existing ideologies and values. Together, this two-tiered educational structure maintained the divide: the many were prepared to serve, while the few were groomed to lead, ensuring that true paths to power remained accessible only to those within the elite's orbit.

Consumer Culture

Consumerism became the engine driving modern life, shaping values, aspirations, and even identities. People were conditioned to see consumption not only as a way to meet needs but as a pathway to happiness, success, and self-worth. Advertising, omnipresent and persuasive, painted a world where fulfillment was always one purchase away, instilling a cycle of want that could never truly be satisfied. As new products and trends emerged, so too did the expectation that one's value was reflected in what they owned, how they dressed, and the brands they displayed.

Waste and Obsolescence

This culture of consumption encouraged wastefulness, with goods designed for rapid obsolescence to keep people buying more, always chasing the next new thing. While products promised convenience and status, they came at the expense of sustainability and self-reliance. Inexpensive, mass-produced items flooded markets, prioritizing cost over quality, leaving consumers dependent on an endless stream of replacements rather than durable, lasting goods.

3. Justice and Power

Biased Justice System

The justice system, presented as a pillar of fairness and equality, often functioned as an apparatus of control that disproportionately served the powerful while marginalizing the vulnerable. Behind the noble facade of "justice for all," structural biases favored those with wealth, influence, and connections. High-profile cases involving the elite were frequently swept under the rug, delayed indefinitely, or settled in secret, while those without resources faced swift and often severe punishment for far lesser offenses.

Mass Incarceration

Mandatory minimums and three-strikes laws disproportionately targeted low-income communities, ensuring that minor infractions could lead to decades behind bars. Private prisons incentivized mass incarceration, profiting from the high volume of inmates, and adding economic motivations to a system that should have been driven by rehabilitation and fairness. As a result, prison populations swelled, primarily filled with individuals from disenfranchised backgrounds, with few resources to navigate the complex, costly legal processes.

Inequitable Defense

Public defenders, overworked and underfunded, struggled to provide adequate representation, while those with means could afford teams of skilled attorneys to navigate legal loopholes and bargain down sentences. Meanwhile, fines, court fees, and bail systems imposed a cycle of financial burden on those already struggling, entrenching inequality even further. Rather than serving as an impartial arbiter of justice, the system became a gatekeeper that protected the interests of the powerful and kept the less fortunate perpetually ensnared in its grip.