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Rollerball - A Vision of the Future?

I know this is a little off topic, but living in the hotbed of the illegal immigration debate, I can't help but stray occasionally.

For me, all this discussion about the reform of our immigration system, has brought to mind the movie Rollerball. Not the 2002 version, which was truly awful, and didn't make the point I want to bring up, but the original 1975 version, starring James Caan.
The year is 2018. There is no crime and there are no more wars. Corporations are now the leaders of the world, as well as the controllers of the people. A violent futuristic game known as Rollerball is now the recreational sport of the world, with teams representing various areas competing for the title of champion.

That is the plot line of Rollerball. Six corporations, energy, transportation, communication, housing, food and luxury in control of the world.

I thought the movie was particularly compelling for the statement the team owner made to Jonathan (James Caan), when Jonathan commented "ain't nobody gonna win this game." The owner responded "Game! This wasn't meant to be a game!"

But it wasn't until all the protests by illegal immigrants put this issue on the front burner, did I realize just how insightful this story was. What is happening now in this country and around the world is just the prologue to the movie Rollerball.

I believe the goal of corporations is to control the world. Corporations don't want immigration laws. It's too difficult to do business when there are border issues to deal with, such as customs, tariffs, and especially having to worry about who they can and cannot hire. Corporations don't just want open borders, they want NO borders.

And our political leaders are playing right into the hands of these corporations.

As long as corporations are permitted to exert such undue influence over our political leaders, through corporate lobbyists, and the wave of mergers and acquisitions in the corporate world continues, it's only a matter of time before the world William Harrison wrote about in his short story Rollerball Murder (which the movie is based), becomes a reality.

2018 isn't that far off.

But maybe that's not such a bad thing
No poverty, no sickness.
No needs and many luxuries,
......................
Corporate society
takes care of everything.

Comments

Marcia Forkos said…
This is pretty profound, Marc! I'd like to pass your comments on to several others (especially Danny since he's been saying this for years!).

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