Not only are governments cults, they are cults that run Pyramid schemes. The only way you see any return on your investment is to recruit others. For example the government pension plans. You pay into while you are working so that others who are retiring benefit. Your hope is that by the time you are in that position there will be sufficient younger workers paying into that pot. It will eventually collapse so the best way is to prepare for your retirement yourself.
Now, how many cults do we need to follow if you are the average citizen and haven't clued in yet? Depending on your beliefs you are tied to your religious affiliation, your government, your employer, perhaps even the municipality you live in.
Cults, have become a derogatory word meaning that in some way you are not following the normal path. It is considered a bad thing because they do not understand what you are practising in your life. It does not conform to their ideals so you must be evil.
I realized this scam about 20 years ago. I knew then that I would not collect a cent from the pension that I was paying into. The baby boomers will draw a lot from the fund, but here in Canada, the government has been drawing from the fund as well, which is highly unethical and questionably illegal as well.