Can we still distinguish mercantilism from capitalism? How about consumerism from capitalism? I tend to interchangeably use "colonialism" and "consumptionism", because to me, they are the same. Is there a distinction between the White Empire and the Invisible Hand Job?

In the end, I guess, my goto answer is "sales tax". After all, the Empire is all about the demand that is tabulated and turned into government (private and public) based on the cash register receipts. Empire has power because it has all the money: money we create by working for it and then handing it over for convenience' sake.

Most of the people who set this system in motion are dead already. Those who keep it going (maimtain) don't seem to have a clue that doesn't come from a spreadsheet.

Nature abhors heartlessness, but Competition loves it.