All the elite needs is fewer people taking up resources. Otherwise, everything is perfect for them. The status quo could last from now to eternity. This is k

All the elite needs is fewer people taking up resources. Otherwise, everything is perfect for them. The status quo could last from now to eternity. This is kind of how the Egyptian civilization worked. They went 2000 years without a lot of change. Just an endless "sustainable" cycle. I like the comparison between the Canaanite religion and Judaism. The elites are Canaanites and dealt with their not being enough for everyone by having the lower classes sacrifice their children to Mammon. This is the equivalent of the endless complaining about useless eaters and overpopulation by extremely wealthy people. The Jews, and the rest of the Abrahamic religions on the other hand, let the people who properly prepared survive (e.g Noah), with a few carveouts, such as the gleanings for those that didn't. The king could never take your property without just compensation. The priest could never ask you to sacrifice your children. This individualistic struggle to survive is what culturally has led to the huge technological innovations in the west.