Deregulation. "I owe my soul to the company store" is a reference to the truck system and to debt bondage. Under this system workers were not paid cash; rather they were paid with unexchangeable credit vouchers for goods at the company store (usually referred to as scrip). This made it impossible for workers to store up cash savings. Workers also usually lived in company-owned dormitories or apartment buildings, the rent for which was automatically deducted from their pay.

I feel like the credit card companies are the modern day equivalents, but they have interest rates and fees to own people with.

Why do you use credit cards? Geez. Just bizarre. It is quite simple. If you do not like paying interest, then DO NOT ( let me repeat...DO NOT) use credit cards. Good grief, what lunacy! I'll bet you spend 50 bucks a week on lottery tickets too. ugh.