For centuries, nailing someone to a crucifix or saltire was a tortuous method to prevent their escape. That can be said for how the USA--and its conglomerates--ensnare people. The image above illustrates how a typical American is "nailed into place". The technique uses four elements--which coincidentally are the biggest causes of debt in the USA:
1. College debt.
2. Car & Home debt.
3. Family-planning costs (childbirth, medical, school tuitions).
4. Unhealthy (but highly profitable) foods & pharmaceuticals.
If federal/corporate entities get a person "hooked", that person usually remains stuck for life.
That's not how life is in other first-world nations.
You might be familiar with old Soviet propaganda that brainwashed its citizens to believe that their world was best to keep their citizens as captives. The United States does the same thing. If you look at American sitcoms and cinema from 1950 until now, you'll see what's wrong with America: a lack of responsibility, ignorance of foreign countries, lawlessness, sexism, stereotypes, and a hopeless belief that their lives are overstressed because it's part of the "American Dream".
With a vast territory and population to manipulate, America has the world's largest output of mindless films and television shows. Nearly all are financed by corporate sponsors who have underlying subliminal themes to keep viewers in mindsets of over-consumerism and "staying in America".
To coerce citizens to stay and suffer, American films and TV series corral citizens like sheep via unwavering subplots and background details. For example:
Characters rarely travel abroad. If they do, they have a bad time and can't wait to return home.
Kitchens are always cluttered with every conceivable gadget, and living rooms always have big stereos and televisions.
People usually haver indoor electronic entertainments, instead of venturing outdoors for fun.
Car owners rarely participate in eco-friendly "car pools".
People irrationally overspend and get themselves into debt, but that rarely has a negative consequence for them. Everything works out easily.
Adults are less mature than typical children.
Against reasoning, they inexplicably choose to overspend--especially during holidays.
As if there is no other possibility, holidays are fraught with easily-avoidable fighting, debts, and improbable catastrophes.
Nobody has a sensibly-priced wedding. Overspending in atrocious ways is considered normal. That causes in-fighting and stress, but those are considered "part of the experience".
Funerals are overly expensive for no reason.
People are unnecessarily violent, often exploding with temper tantrums and childish feuds. Such qualities are considered normal.
If a character eats nutritiously, they are portrayed as a novelty or hippie whom everyone else makes fun of.
If a character tries a health-conscious food, they inexplicably revert back to "junk food".
If characters participate in meditations or a "cleansing of the mind", they are portrayed as a novelty or hippie. They often find those attempts to be overly-frustrating, so they fail.
Alcohol, shopping, and "substance abuse" are the main ways for people to release stress.
Despite being in a car-centric society, characters often choose drugs and alcohol as "stress relievers"... despite the hazardous DWI consequences.
"Drug use" is portrayed as amusing and inconsequential. The same attitude applies to cosmetic surgery.
Shopping or "indulgent spending" is usually the answer to a problem.
American characters overreact to things and "flare up" into tirades that cause bigger problems. People rarely behave calmly or think sensibly.
Most characters are self-centered and revert to envy, back-stabbing, canceling at the last minute, and making situations "all about them", instead of paying attention to others. Their crassness never has long-lasting consequences.
Instead of communicating directly, most characters use "behind the back" disdain and gossip to interact with others.
Instead of "helping their neighbors", characters compete with them irrationally or have envy.
You rarely see a character do an anonymous good deed.
Garages, attics, and cellars are depicted as overcrowded catch-alls for unused stuff that people irrationally spent money on.
Colleges and universities are usually chosen because they are a popular "partying schools" for debauchery.
Being intelligent or an "achiever" is scoffed at.
Using a varied vocabulary is scoffed at.
Characters rarely go for walks or strolls.
Screen-time is rarely allocated to show characters doing volunteerism.
In America's car-centric world, characters rarely ride bicycles. If they do, they are portrayed as weird or a "health enthusiast".
A new car has the highest value in society.
People rarely lose their homes due to debt.
Most city apartments are abnormally spacious, bright, and clean.
You rarely see the decrepit NYC Subway, despite numerous shows occurring in NYC.
Slums, immigrant housing, and overcrowded low-income homes are not shown.
That cavalcade of same-minded characters--spewing a torrent of the same brainwashing--is intended to make Americans think that such behavior is normal. Many gullible viewers believe that it is... despite hundreds of other nations knowing that an American way of life is abnormal and oppressive.
Look at that picture again, and tell me if anyone you know suffered from any of those four points but was able to relocate away from their hellhole existence? The system is not intended to let you flee; it is meant to tether you so you pay more, suffer more, lose more, and enjoy less.