as so many dynamics in [current year] clownworld, it can be sufficiently explained withthe shortformof clownworld's origin story: > once upon a time the world was peaceful and harmonious, then came along a snakeoil merchant > the snakeoil merchant sent ahead an ostensibly filthy-rich bait to a village > the bait very publically flaunted his shinies and pitched worthless magic paper to the villagers > the villagers sought out the snakeoil merchant, willing to trade their everything for worhless magic paper > a week later, after realizing that its worthless magic paper they couldn't use anywhere else, they returned to the merchant to trade it back > the snakeoil merchant told them that he would be a fool to trade back all the resources for the original prices, as there are so few resources in comparison to the volumes of worthless magic paper now in circulation > villagers involved legal authority which told them to fuck off, because the trades were legal -- the merchant didn't lie, the bait did and the villagers didn't bother asking the merchant or reading the fineprint > the snakeoil merchant showed "mercy" and allowed the villagers to burrow the resources against a fee and interest paid with the worthless magic paper > [fast forward] the village is bankrupt and indebted, everyone's at each other throat having scammed each other out of their worthless magic paper to pay their own fees > the merchant once again showed "mercy" and offered them a deal: if they assume the role of the bait and spread the good word of the worthless magic paper in other villages they'll be allowed to stay in their homes and toil their fields > [fast forward] the merchant is now considered the sovereign, writing the laws and ruling over terminally indebted and blackmailed royality and common folk alike, all the while canonizing the most prolific baits as prophets and whatnot > [fast forward] (you)'re here. it's a racket run by bait-people for their owners.
Germany