It occurred to me on the way home tonight how similar the present economic environment in the United States (and perhaps all of the West) is not dissimilar to the feudalism in Europe's Dark Ages. Most of us are mere vassals, serving the lords of capital, the C-level executives who form the ruling class of our civilization. So if feudalism passed into history with the arrival of the Middle Ages--might it depart again?

If there were time enough in the world, I'd love to write a book about the topic. I can imagine the chapters thus:

I. Introduction (or Premise)
II. Characteristics of Feudalism
III. How Feudalism Ended
IV. Implications for the Present
V. Conclusion