:codec-snake:

:codec-otacon: Sadly yes. Corporations under the Patriots have spent the last 50 years dismantling unions across the country through outsourcing. By the early 21st century they have consolidated their holdings through M&A under private equity.

:codec-snake: M&A? You mean Mergers and Acquisitions?

:codec-otacon: Yes, and not just at the grocery store. A handful of companies control over 90% of all media and growing, allowing them to slowly convince Americans to accept the Patriot's changes over time. Arsenal Gear was an early attempt to control narrative by controlling memes. After it's destruction the Patriots changed tactics to memetic cultivation through Parasocial Relationships. Today with the Internet Surveillance they have a far more granular control to manipulate individuals with Algorithms.