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Comment by SippinLean | Hacker News Reader

Serfs were not paid for their homes, and in many cases were not allowed to stay in their homes. How does this resemble feudalism?

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He literally owns the property of his neighbors in order to make his living situation more comfortable. It's sort of like a king granting lands to lords he approves of.

Also, what's to stop him from kicking those people out if he changes his mind? I doubt Zuck would ever write a honest contract that held him accountable for anything.

Like everything else is a free economy, it was a consensual transaction. If Zuck offered me $1 mil for my small apartment, and said I could live in it, I'd take the deal. He purchased their homes and then leased them back to them, what's the problem here other than how it can be construed to "sound bad"?

That's how America works. It is a feudal system where the rich buy the laws, gated communities, college admissions, genes, designer babies, and pandemic vaccines they want.

> like a king granting lands to lords

He purchased the homes in a free market, they were not granted to him; the residents are not serfs.

So I guess it's like feudalism in that...there's a landlord?

Slaves, serfs and human organs were sold on free market in times of feudalism. They are perfectly compatiable.

Interesting aside. Back on topic: the homes were not granted to Zuckerberg; and his residents are not serfs. So they are not "perfectly comparable," they are barely comparable.

(not to mention serfs could not be bought alone, they could be sold with the land. Maybe you are thinking of slaves?)

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