Lyric discussion by Robert the Devil 

Cover art for Discipline lyrics by Nine Inch Nails

Ok I'm about 90% certain this is NOT about Trent. This is all sarcastic. Tongue-in-cheek, people. He's saying this stuff from the role of the quintessential neo-con fascist running the country. Sort of like what he did with Capital G. He's playing out this role as though the person is finally questioning their war-mongering, oil-grubbing, bull economics methods ("Am I still tough enough? Feels like I'm wearing down. Is my viciousness losing ground, ground, ground?"). There should be a recognizable theme here since With Teeth (I definitely agree that this song is picking up on that aesthetic), which is that Trent is becoming less focused on social revolution and more focused on political revolution, less focused on introversion and more on extroversion. Thus his recent camaraderie with Saul Williams and the use of Year Zero in its entirety as a concept album poised against the Bush regime and its results. While most of his songs still hold some evidence that he is still questioning himself (i.e. Right Where it Belongs), he has spent far less time with the self moralizing and more time to the cause of the struggle. Questions, comments?

i agree, this song is more satirical about society than self motivated: putting up the mirror to society and saying make decisions for yourself! we dont need to be disciplined we dont need to be helped and how ridiculous it sounds to beg for discipline and help. he is pointing out flaws via imatation: discipline and help yourself.

to be governed is walking along thin line, he is questioning if its crossed the line into oppression - he articulates this suggestion through out the lyrics, by a persona deffo not of his own: a non dominant follower, and ingorant (not offensively ignorant,...