Today, Bucharest’s streets were gridlocked thanks to an enormous protest by a mass of labor unions. They were protesting government austerity measures related to the national government’s cutting back on the handing out of free stuff.
Yup.
From the article -- "Too many of us have become fat, lazy, and complacent. Too many of us want free stuff, and too many of us are willing to sacrifice our freedom for that same free stuff, tiny bit by tiny bit, until it is all gone, and we have our own Ceaușescus."
The lure of "free" -- which one sees in commercial marketing and advertising, as in socialists' blather, is a lie. Was a lie. Remains a lie.
But then again, one view of the Garden of Eden expulsion can be couched this way -- 'God-like knowledge' is available FOR FREE is just a bite away.
The hook was baited with "free," in so many narratives which are part of civilization's lore. Just bite. And you'll be "hooked." Problem is, the hook is a real hook, baited and always waiting.