Enlightenment Civilization Sclerosis

During the colonial era, the New World was exploited by joint-stock companies like the Hudson's Bay Company or variations on the theme of the East India Company. In a lot of ways, the American Revolution looks a lot like a hostile take-over by the local management from the parent company, rather than an organic movement of the people for freedom's sake. It's really interesting that the Russians didn't get in on the joint-stock company game until it was almost over (around 1799). By then the Industrial Revolution was underway and the colonial natural resources exploitation game was tapped out.

The New World was sort of like an anvil upon which the old one broke-up or was mangled beyond repair. Those joint-stock companies became the basis for new methods of organization and production. They're really the basis of our entire social order today, while older institutions like religious cults are still around, corporate society organizes almost everything. In the United States, for example, marriages are registered at the county/state level and ceremonies are administered by licensed officials. While there are religious "laws" that govern marriages/divorces by individuals within specific religions, the state's laws almost completely trump whatever claims they make.

The new order feels pretty tapped out and sclerotic. Oligarchy from Europe eventually infected the United States. Similarly the goals of this society, e.g. building the Star Trek civilization seem vapid at best, and just like stupid cons at worst. Lots of people are scratching their heads about what to do next.