Three Stages Of Dis/Enfranchisement

Up to the twentieth century in wealthy west
the public were the subjects of the iron whim
of absolutist monarchies in a dying Feudalism.

The descendants of Adam Smith
refashioned all those old divisions
to create Capitalism Ancient and Modern.

In the early Twentieth Century
women fought, went to prison,
and endured forced feeding
for their right to vote
before The Great War
ended their campaign.

The first women to get the vote
got it for being the chattels
of their home-owning husbands.

When all women, and everyone 21 and over
was enfranchised we were slow to realise;
as chattels we now paid taxes.
What we gained was the right to choose
who we were to be the chattels of.