As a Marxist who works for a social service agency, I have become convinced that the two original sins of civilization are (1) forced labor and (2) the controll

As a Marxist who works for a social service agency, I have become convinced that the two original sins of civilization are (1) forced labor and (2) the controlled fermentation of alcohol. At some point, a local entrepeneur figured out that he could get serfs to stay on the land and give him a cut of their produce if he bashed a few heads in. Probably at the same time, he figured out they would less effective at leading a revolution, and a little more content with their lot in life, if he let them get wasted when the work was done. Hell, said entrepeneur probably sold them the beer itself... Add a spectacle like a gladiator fight, and voila! Fast forward to Coors Light, working at a Target warehouse, and the SF Niners on TV. Plus ca change, plus la meme chose.... (I think of poor people as the originary arbitrage... Yes, I know what micro economics says about the existence of arbitrages, that's the point.) Also interesting that I don't think they mentioned cider (paywall preventing me from re-reading), which was a huge thing in America at least until prohibition.