The weaker the economy, the more power the cronie capitalists have.
The door on the iron cage of modernity is closing fast.
People of the same trade seldom meet together, even for merriment and diversion, but the conversation ends in a conspiracy against the public, or in some contrivance to raise prices. Adam Smith.
It also can be applied when extracting more from employees than originally bargained for now that the economy is worse.
You’re 100% right!