Srinagar, Dec. 7 -- Across human history, one pattern repeats itself: societies may differ in language, culture, or religion, but the mechanisms of exploitation remain remarkably similar. Whether in ancient kingdoms or modern democracies, the greatest benefits most often flow to a small group that controls capital, land, factories, technology, or today's global corporations. These systems are frequently presented as noble, wrapped in the language of community, justice, identity, or national pride, but the structures beneath them tend to protect the interests of the powerful. Constitutions, legal amendments, and the enormous cost of elections all help maintain this imbalance. Sustaining political power requires not only money but also cons...