those who don't understand history are doomed to repeat it.

Once upon a time we had feudalism where serfs worked the land owned by nobles and had little power.

The Irish potato famine was indeed partly caused by often non-present landowners who made decisions from a distance.

One reason people immigrated to America was to be able to own their own land. New England farmers were a resilient bunch, as were those who settled the frontier.

Under fuedalism - the lords controlled land. Under Communism - ithe state. Under crony capitalism - it's the large corporations and super-rich. Of course lobbyists aid and abet companies like ADM and Monsanto.

In each case, we replace independent people with a variety of serf.