A friend goes to get a blood transfusion. Blood cells are 95% water. You notice the nurse hanging a bag of 60% glucose to inject into your friend instead of blood. You yell “stop!” What did you think would happen to your friend’s blood cells if they were transfused with the sugar water instead of blood

you did not attach the discourse, but i assume it to be the discourse on the origin and basis of inequality among men (the original titile in french is: "discours sur l'origine et les fondements de l'inégalité parmi les hommes"), also know as "second discourse". in this discourse, jean-jacques rousseau emphasizes that private property is the basis of all inequalities.

therefore, what enabled the old regime to maintain as long as it did was private property.