So to summarize, a work day is 24hrs, except for the time the body is fed an rested.

You're being fed a narrative one to make you feel as though you're owned by someone else. It is similar to the #libertarian "taxes are theft" a narrative to make you feel like someone is taking your money without consent and that you're not benefiting from the money you pay in.

But what does it mean to own somebody. There is #slavery of course. We also have things like #blackmail. Or if someone can decide what you will do and you have no choice but to follow thru.

The last one sounds like a business, it is true that they have legal authority to decide how you're used, modified, or dispose of. If by 'used' we mean give you specific tasks related to the type of work you agreed to do for them; and 'modify' we mean require certain dress and safety equipment; and 'dispose' means to end the contract you signed.

I'd say the closest ownership a company has is blackmail. The good old trope, "I'll make sure you never work in this industry again." But blackmail and defamation are both illegal. Both of which can be difficult to prove in court, but doesn't constitute a true ownership.

Society is made up of individuals making choices based on the environment (historical choices of the past) and the need to meet requirements of a living organism. I'd argue if the other people in society need to give you permission to change jobs or move, or what agreements you can make, is a society that owns you not the other way around.

Coming back to the tax example, you benefiting from someone taking your money, doesn't mean theft didn't occur. Unlike being born into a society where people before have decided to work for one of a number of shitty options, society does not give you the options not to pay tax (except by not making much money, or by realizing gains by taking a loan out on unrealized gains). Well there is the "you can move to x" which is probably the closest libertarian rebuttal to its claim.

My point is, people have more control over their life than this narrative claims. If you buy into the narrative you'll never have control. And while I didn't get to it, a government by the people for the people is one that doesn't control the people.