Divide & Conquer, Family Divided by Design: How Disconnected Families Fuel a Consumer Economy

Divide & Conquer, Family Divided by Design: How Disconnected Families Fuel a Consumer Economy

Modern society often praises independence, self-sufficiency, and personal success—but beneath the surface, there’s a deeper, engineered reality. Families are not just drifting apart by coincidence. They’re being separated by design, and the result benefits corporations more than communities.

Over the past few decades, the traditional family structure has quietly been dismantled. The man is separated from the woman. The woman is pulled away from her children. The children are raised apart from their elders. Everyone is divided, and in that division, control becomes easier.

This isn’t simply social change—it’s social engineering.

The elder now lives in a nursing facility, no longer passing down wisdom. The child is placed in daycare, raised by strangers. The woman juggles work and home life alone, and the man often struggles financially while no longer living in the same household. Each individual becomes dependent on outside services: elder care, childcare, counseling, fast food, and retail therapy. And each of these services is part of a profit-driven system.

The Economic Trap

One of the clearest examples of this shift lies in housing. In 1970, homeownership was within reach for the average family. The median home price was about $17,000, while the median household income was $8,730—a price-to-income ratio of 1.95. Many households thrived on a single income and still managed to own a home, raise children, and maintain a stable life.

By 2020, the landscape had changed. The median home price skyrocketed to $328,900, while median household income was $67,521—a price-to-income ratio of 4.87. That’s more than double the burden, yet people are still encouraged to become homeowners on their own. With such a skewed ratio, homeownership is often only achievable with two incomes, long-term debt, or financial strain.

Key Comparison:

• 1970

• Median Income: $8,730

• Median Home Price: $17,000

• Ratio: 1.95

• 2020

• Median Income: $67,521

• Median Home Price: $328,900

• Ratio: 4.87

Not only was homeownership more affordable in the past, but most households also had two parents. This reduced reliance on paid childcare, cut food and transportation costs, and created more stability. Families had stronger internal support systems and more time together—something that’s increasingly rare today.

The Cost of Separation

When families are split, each member becomes a separate customer in a larger system. Instead of one household supporting itself, each person now needs a service: daycare for the kids, nursing homes for the elderly, therapy for emotional support, and consumer goods to fill the emotional void. The result is a society built on consumption and dependency—not connection.

Final Thoughts

First, they divided the family. Then they inflated the cost of living. All of this happened during a time when society began glorifying struggle as a badge of honor—telling people that doing it all alone was a sign of strength and independence. But the truth is, this isn’t empowerment. It’s strategy.

It’s a corporate design to keep people isolated, overstretched, and dependent on systems that profit from disconnection. When individuals are convinced that the purpose of life is climbing a corporate ladder, they become easier to control—and easier to sell to.

Independence, in this context, isn’t freedom. It’s manufactured struggle disguised as success. Recognizing that truth is the first step toward rebuilding real power: family, community, and collective support.