I see The Machine is as a metaphor for the intermingling of Government, Family, Religion, Technology, and Business. Those systems are the only things powerful e

I see The Machine is as a metaphor for the intermingling of Government, Family, Religion, Technology, and Business. Those systems are the only things powerful enough to keep the others in check, using each of their specific monopolies. When they stop competing, there is nothing left to prevent individual people from getting steamrolled.