Perhaps you're reading too much into the literal meaning of that sentence. He's saying that this is the status quo, and the "rulers" are happy with the status q

Perhaps you're reading too much into the literal meaning of that sentence. He's saying that this is the status quo, and the "rulers" are happy with the status quo, not that they're literally conspiring. From the final paragraph: "... Clearly, the system was never consciously designed. It emerged from almost a century of trial and error. But it is the only explanation for why, despite our technological capacities, we are not all working 3–4 hour days."