tribal

It started with the mammoth. An animal of immense size that needed teamwork to be brought down. The teams would leave for hours or days at a time to bring back sustenance. The best hunters came home to the most prized of wives. These hunters traveled together and talked amongst themselves to find new and better ways to kill great beasts. They were powerful within the tribe and respected. Their children played together and inherited the power their parents had.

Then came the crops. The ability to grow large amounts of food was paramount and the best farmers were able to provide for the most prized of wives. They talked between themselves and taught each other the smartest ways to work the land. New and better ways of raising crops were developed. They were powerful and respected among the community.

The value of land caused a need for growth that created rivalries and competition between neighboring communities. Fights broke out for more land and, by proxy, more power. Wars were fought and the best warriors gained control of the best lands. These warriors talked between themselves and learned new and smarter ways to disable an enemy to more quickly control more lands. The warriors were powerful and respected and won the affection of the most prized of wives.

Warriors became kings and controlled not only portions of land, but the people residing in them. There was constant haggling between kings for more lands and juxtaposition of power. They talked with each other about how to best control their subjects and increase their influence. Their children interacted with one another. They inherited the influence of their parents. They married the most prized of wives from families of similar standing in other countries. They were sometimes respected but always powerful.

The people revolted and started electing their own officials. These officials and representatives worked together to give themselves more and more clout. They found ways to earn money on the side and simultaneously increase their wages at rates much higher than the typical citizen they represented. They formed partnerships with their counterparts in business. They were able to wed the most prized of wives from other influential families. Their children existed in the same circles. They were respected and powerful.

Corporations grow on the exploitation of their workers. They merge and split, are created and destroyed, according to profit margins. When the governments needle them with moral changes they work with those governments to decide together on profitable solutions. The CEOs are compensated very well monetarily. They discuss among themselves and with those of similar status in these governments to find the best ways to make themselves the most money. They determine ways to keep money from the government that in turn finds ways to give them more. They use their power and influence to generate more power and influence. They buy the best cars, best houses, best wives and their children go to the same schools and workplaces.

Since the day a sparsely clothed tribesman brought back a gigantic piece of mammoth not much has changed. Except maybe the respect.