Kitty Jones (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
rathercommon) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
maskormenace2016-10-19 09:26 am
rathercommon) wrote in maskormenace2016-10-19 09:26 am
Entry tags:
- † cassandra pentaghast | seeker of truth,
- † charles xavier | professor x,
- † damen | n/a,
- † darlene | n/a,
- † death the kid | n/a,
- † hunk | the yellow paladin,
- † jayden revell | mouse,
- † kitty jones | n/a,
- † miles vorkosigan | admiral naismith,
- † sarissa theron | n/a,
- † the (twelfth) doctor | stop that,
- † victor s court | n/a
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[ Oh, look, it's Kitty Jones. She seems a little tired - though you'd only know it by looking at her. Her voice is unchanged from normal. Indeed, she speaks with her typical firm bubbliness - a cheerful, kindly tone and an adorably youthful London accent obscuring the fact that her speech is (as usual) a bit on the manipulative/calculating/forceful/aggressive side. ]
Hullo, all. First, a job offer. I run a charity garage. It does pretty good work - we fix up and build really, really good cars, and sell 'em to the richer members of the local populace, and then the proceeds go to fund public transit in Heropa. Anyway. I recently... [ Just a little flicker in her smile. ] Lost an employee. So if there's anyone out there who's good with cars or mechanics or whatever, I definitely want you.
[ And now to the less businesslike portion of her announcement: ]
Anyway. Obviously there's been a lot of talk of elections lately, and there's also been a lot of cynicism about the whole electoral process. For obvious reasons. Since there are some politicians who are lunatic idiots. So I guess I just wanted to throw this out there, 'cause all of you have so much different experience from different worlds.
Who had power, where you're from? What was the government like? And were they good - just - or unjust? What do you think's the best form of government? How much power should the people in charge have?
And if you could build a government, build a country from scratch, what would it look like? Would you limit the freedom of the press, or would everyone have the right to speak? Would you build social programs, or would you leave people to fend for themselves? Would you go after warfare and expanding your borders, or would people live in peace?
[ These questions are a little bit leading. Perhaps. ]
Anyway. Share your thoughts, please.
Hullo, all. First, a job offer. I run a charity garage. It does pretty good work - we fix up and build really, really good cars, and sell 'em to the richer members of the local populace, and then the proceeds go to fund public transit in Heropa. Anyway. I recently... [ Just a little flicker in her smile. ] Lost an employee. So if there's anyone out there who's good with cars or mechanics or whatever, I definitely want you.
[ And now to the less businesslike portion of her announcement: ]
Anyway. Obviously there's been a lot of talk of elections lately, and there's also been a lot of cynicism about the whole electoral process. For obvious reasons. Since there are some politicians who are lunatic idiots. So I guess I just wanted to throw this out there, 'cause all of you have so much different experience from different worlds.
Who had power, where you're from? What was the government like? And were they good - just - or unjust? What do you think's the best form of government? How much power should the people in charge have?
And if you could build a government, build a country from scratch, what would it look like? Would you limit the freedom of the press, or would everyone have the right to speak? Would you build social programs, or would you leave people to fend for themselves? Would you go after warfare and expanding your borders, or would people live in peace?
[ These questions are a little bit leading. Perhaps. ]
Anyway. Share your thoughts, please.
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[ His had been. ]
But not through questions like this.
Kings - and presidents - carry more on their shoulders than the wishes of their people. Their role is to do what is best, not what their people want.
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A group is not right just because they are many. There are many reasons why a group may want change, or wish to avoid it.
An example. Slavery has been part of Akielon life for hundreds of years. It has popular support - even among slaves, who believe their role is sacred.
Would you stand by the million who desire it? Or by the King who will see it gone?
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A counterexample. Slavery's been part of British life for hundreds of years. But the people don't like it. They detest it, as a matter of fact. It's only the ruling oligarchy which was holding onto it, because they used it to prop up their rule.
Would you stand by the ministers who desired it, or the millions who would see it gone?
An individual is not right just because he's in charge.
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I would see it gone, whether one wished it or a million.
[ He's an autocrat. He will see it gone no matter how many protest, and they will protest. Some may even revolt. He expects it. But in this he is right, and he knows that he is. ]
Being in charge does not make one right. A leader must do what they believe is right. That an idea is popular does not make it right, and that is why I cannot agree that Kings should exist to 'do what they are told'. A leader must decide.
They may be wrong. Or, they may know context and strategy that the crowd does not. They may judge not for the good of one group, but the country as a whole.
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Yes.
That is why there is more I would ask. The customs of their people, their traditions, their history, their religion, their culture. How they might trade, who their allies are, their views on slavery, servitude and work, how they defend their borders.
You cannot say one system is better than others if these are not things you know.
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But that's sidestepping the core of the issue, isn't it. Obviously a benevolent tyrant is going to be - in the moment, at least - better than a great lot of wicked men who've banded together to hijack the government. But that's just all distracting from this question of democracy-against-autocracy. Which is something that ought to be addressed.
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[ He just looks at her, flatly. ]
It will not change the system here. Already you have seen the difference between my country and yours. One system need not fit all.
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I'm a soldier, loyal to the King. Does it matter?
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It is my duty and my honour to serve my country. Besides that, I have always had skill with weapons. It is where I belong.
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It is the duty of every man to serve his country as best as he is able. Farmers farm, traders trade, soldiers fight.
I consider it an honour.
[ His expressions says, I don't know what else to call it. ]
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And, what, you were born big and strapping, so you were destined to fight?
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I know what I am good at. What is your position?
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A soldier too. After a fashion.
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A revolutionary. Working to bring down that oligarchy.
[ And then, with a little wave of her hand - ]
Semi-retired.
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Then it is no surprise we hold opposite views.
Why only semi retired?
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Or do you intend to make changes here, too?
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There are things here that are bloody awful. No question about that. But it's a democracy, and democracies have room for voices to be heard. So I'm going to point out what's bloody awful without any attempts at revolution.
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