Good post, old pal. But as important as it is to note how we can be made dependent on the state, let's not forget that nowadays, we are equally dependent upon the corporations to provide us with jobs, degrees of medical insurance, pensions, etc. People can be cajoled into accepting many tyrannical conditions if faced with the prospect of losing their jobs during bad economic times if they speak out with the "wrong" opinion. Or of agreeing to sign contracts that they know are not in their best interests.

And I see that you are now also referring to the state authorities as "bears"? It's nice to know that I'm not the only person around here who Trucker has rubbed off on! Thanks to seeing him use it frequently, I have often been using "bear" in that context lately; I'm so used to seeing him use it that I sort of unconsciously adopted it into my personal slang lexicon.