Few interesting thoughts.

In reality, progress is the rise of compensations for obedience with parallel reduction of tortures used for coertion :-)

Hence, "freedom of choice" is just ability to select among more compensation options (or options arising from money compensation) and compensation is required to force you to make projects required by elites.

Big issues here is that elites may want to rise compensations but won't have enough resources. So, it is absolutely natural, that most "progressive" elites always have best resources. And same elites always use mass media to tell how other elites are not so progressive.

You property is your property only while others treat it as such. As soon as they stop doing so, you'll be parted with your property, and no one will ask your opinion.