I think that what Nancy Farmer is talking about an idea in "The House of the Scorpion" about the Five-legged horse is probabaly attacking the government of socialism. I think this because socialism is "the economic political thoery advocating public or common ownership and coopertive management of the means of production and allocation of resources." In the book it seems like the Keepers are using this in an oposite manner or in a bad way since they have the kids doing the work in a since of cooperation but they do it to get food. In the book one of the kids told Matt "My advice for you is to sit your butt down while you have the chance" kind of saying that the keepers dont like when you dont work right away. This is my opinion on this post.