Breaking News: McMurphy Defeats Combine; Combine Remains Undefeated

The way I see it, the "Combine" Cheif Broom refers to is his imaginary system of wires, gears, and pulleys that the ward, particularly Nurse Ratched, uses to "harvest" the patients-make them vulnerable and controlled. All of the patients on the ward except for McMurphy are somewhat subdued and have been emasculated by Nurse Ratched. They cannot stand up to Nurse Ratched and would follow her orders to the letter if not for McMurphy. He is outwardly bold, proud, and has a lot of chutzpah. He uses this to defend himself against and/or even undermine the Combine and Nurse Ratched. However, I think McMurphy's nature draws more attention to him than other patients.  He's not under the Combine's sphere of influence but he cannot withstand much more. He's committed to the ward and has no choice but to endure as long as he can. It's only a matter of time before he gives up.

Every institution is not a Combine in the way Cheif Broom sees it. Schools and prisons across the country are not trying to "harvest" and "gather" people so they can control them. In some cases it may appear that way or the effects are similar, but the intention of the institution is not to control the individuals as Nurse Ratched does. The intent or plan of many institutions is to benefit those who populate them, mainly schools, hospitals, and mental institutions. Jails are more like the Combine than any other institution in that there is some controlling and subduing, but not to the extent as in the psych ward. At the very least jails are saving the criminals from themselves.