It really is how you kill off the people. you get them to think the only things that matter must be intense and topical.

1. Sex (hetero/gay) 2. My Kids 3. My tribe/sports team 4. My favorite celebrity Idol

Eventually people assume life is over by age 30 or so, which is the culture in many inner cities and suburbs. This creates a feedback loop. Such as the travon martin situation. or the white drug cultures. There will be thousands of hate crimes today. none will make the media. But we will talk about travon and the colorado shooter for years.

Exactly as you mentioned, you end up with serfs who can not challenge the lords on any level (ethically, morally, financially, physically, politically, intellectually)