leaving human beings as little more than bar-coded profit centers.

I am open to the possibility that this is primarily a USA-based issue, and other parts of the world may have better ways of dealing with things.

Oh no! unfortunately it is not just an USA-based issue. The financial attack comes from all sides and hits us from all flanks. The dirty tactics, techniques, and strategies of corporations, banks, and governments around the world against us, they all seem to be very well orchestrated and tuned under the direction of a single and the same digital baton.