Gradual Slavery

Morpheus: The Matrix is everywhere. It is all around us. Even now, in this very room. You can see it when you look our your window, or when you turn on your television. You can feel it when you go to work...when you go to church...when you pay your taxes. It is the world that has been pulled over your eyes to blind you from the truth.
Neo: What truth?
Morpheus: That you are a slave, Neo. Like everyone else you were born into bondage. Into a prison that you cannot taste or see or touch. A prison for your mind.
--The Matrix

Fine monologue by the judge on the progression of the United States from a land of the free to police state. The judge suggests that a significant factor in this progression has been its gradualism.

Radical disruptive change is readily noticeable to the citizenry and likely to be put down if undesirable. But gradual change, as metaphored by the oft used 'boiled frog' story, often goes unnoticed by the public. Chains of bondage wrap gradually like vines of ivy growing around a trellis.

It should be noted that many socialist movements (e.g, Fabians) believe that socialist principles are best advanced thru gradualist rather than revolutionary means. The judge provides some history that supports a gradualist approach at work here in America.

One explanation as to why the Tea Party and other movements have gained traction recently is that gradualism has given way to more disruptive approaches over the past few years, thus waking more people out of their slumber. They now see more clearly how far we have strayed from freedom.

You can probably count me among this group.

Insightful quote offered by the judge near the end of his monologue:

"There are none who are so enslaved as those who falsely believe themselves to be free."