There was a system then, and it worked. But the Crown crossed the line, and farmers and shopkeepers woke up. We don't know what it's going to take this time.
Those farmers and shopkeepers were free to walk off and thus retain their liberty.
If you can't walk off, your freedom is already lost - You just don't know it yet..
Too, too many can do no other, and wouldn't have the stones to try.
And thus will never know what they have lost.
Normalcy keeps them in check and fear keeps them in tow.