Taxes. They have more mobility, vitality and glow than the masses. Same culture of celebrity worship as hw, except we aren't forced by law to give a chunk of our wages to actors. $174,000 per annum for a senator. https://www.senate.gov/senators/SenateSalariesSince1789.htm
Water transport chain-channel; flexible pipeline? It would be neato to know what the ruins are.
They look like citrus fruit seeds.