A better metaphor would be a farm. We are livestock. Some of us caged in batteries, others free-range. But still, livestock.
At least we've moved on from the idea -- at first blush actually quite reasonable -- that the same principles that are optimal for governing herds of stock are necessarily also the best for herds of people, and, nominally at least, the animals are now in charge of the farm. (under capitalism, man is a wolf to man. under socialism, it's exactly the opposite)
The stables and cages are pretty well hidden, so we imagine ourselves free. This is good for productivity.
No need to hide the stalls; they represent safety for the stock. So much so that a particular danger during barn fires is panicked stock attempting to reenter the building...
-Dave
