How do you make sure that your oppressed population doesn't spend all its time plotting your overthrow? Easy: keep them so poor and downtrodden that they don't have the time or energy to revolt. Jerks. Luke witnesses this firsthand as his parents lose their woods, their pigs, and—thanks to a high tax bill—maybe even their farm. Problem is, if you push people too far, eventually they're going to revolt, starving or not.
Questions About Poverty
- Thanks to not being poor, Jen has a lot of things that Luke doesn't, like a specially constructed car to hide out in. Are there some things Luke has that Jen doesn't?
- How does lacking money affect Luke's life on a day-to-day level?
- Play the devil's advocate for the Government: do people work harder when they're on the edge of survival?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
No matter how hard Luke's family works, the Government will always find a way to keep them hurting for money.
Poverty is the Government's main method of control.