What is the structure of the societal control system?

An artificial circle shaped within a natural line aka circular thinking during linear procession.

Who is at the top? Who’s below them?

Linear procession (inception towards death) implies being (life) in-between...it's circular thinking which turns top against bottom.

How do they maintain their control?

By con (together) trol (to roll)...it's the inward circle (logic) turning outwards (reason) which keeps control in place.

How do they shut down opposition to their control?

Opposition (one side vs another) implies con (together) trol (to roll).

At each level of the hierarchy, how much does the average individual understand about the system as a whole?”

a) Understanding implies "standing under" which establishes the artificial levels of hierarchy.

b) Sys-tem (standing together) contradicts whole separating each partial from one another.