The Smiths and Joneses (11 page)

              “Sharon, we don’t sell anything to just anyone. People have to have a valid prescription and a photo ID.”

              “Sean, we both know how easily IDs can be made. We also know many of your drugs are sold online that is easy for others to steal. This is a big reason we moved to a biometric ID – driver’s licenses also carry encoded information so people can be more easily matched with their ID card.”

              “Sharon, doesn’t your nationally mandated education system teach the children about the dangers of drug use or driving while drinking?”

              “Sean, our education system is the best. We’re still dealing with poor children who, due to no fault of their own, have some issues that have to be taken into account when passing judgment.”

              “Sharon, can you expand on this point a little?”

              “Sean, everyone knows that children are a product of their environment. We’re only twelve years into the divide. Many children were already in school not getting the proper education. These poor children started growing up without knowing everyone is equal. When they are caught stealing or bullying, we teach them they are stealing from themselves, we teach them being a bully is only hurting themselves. Watch our evening news programs, you’ll see many of these poor children who don’t realize they’re only hurting themselves. They grew up without knowing the facts. Many grew up without proper supervision; they were allowed to do anything they wished after school. They watched programs that twisted their still developing minds. What they're doing now isn’t their fault. The poor children don’t know any better. We set aside many of the punishments for these poor souls. It’s not their fault they didn’t get the best education. They were entering or already in their teenage years when we split. They didn’t get the benefit of a good progressive education.”

              Sean looks surprised, “Sharon, do I understand you have two different legal systems?”

              “Sean, I wouldn’t go so far as to call it two different systems. We accept that the legal system has to recognize who the perpetrator is and their background before passing judgment.     How can it be their fault for not following our rules when we failed them in not providing them with the proper education that would have taught them right from wrong?”

              “Sharon, what about other people who break the law?”

              “Sean, the same can be said about many minorities who didn’t receive the best the state could offer them. Many people think they are owed things because of how their ancestors were treated. Some think that because their ancestors might have been slaves, the nation owes them compensation. Our high court is currently studying this issue. They are due to rule in a month. So far it looks like the government is going to recognize this debt and compensate those who claim their ancestors were mistreated or were slaves. Human slavery is horrible. It’s a blight on the world. These people have had their self-esteem taken from them. They feel they are unworthy. This feeling of being less worthy and being owed has been passed down for generations. If we don’t address it now, it will return in the next generation.”

              “Sharon, do you really believe that a minority is acting badly because a very small percentage of their ancestors might, key word is might, have been a slave? Most of the slaves were in the southern states, there are no southern states in the LSA. How could these people be suffering if there were no slaves in LSA held states?”

              “Sean, many of these people moved after they were freed. Who’s to know how many moved to the Northeast or West Coast? I’d say that the feeling of inequality has been passed down generation to generation. Certain people have carried the feelings forward for over 150 years. The cycle has to be stopped.”

              “Sharon, do you know that there were many blacks who held slaves?”

              “Sean, that’s a lie Republicans spread 50 years ago.”

              “Sharon, it’s not a lie, it’s the truth. Do you know that in the 1960’s it was the progressive left who wanted to block civil rights?”

              “Sean, again another lie. I really wish you’d study your history before you toss around lies. Every school child in the LSA knows the real history of America, not the lies you teach in your schools.”

              “Sharon, I think it’s your history books that are in error.”

              “Sean, our books have been reviewed and accepted by the best minds at Berkley, they have to be correct.” 

              Sean is confused, “Sharon, may I see one of your history books?”

              “If you have a tablet or e-book ready I’ll transfer one from Scott’s inventory to you. We don’t use paper books. Paper requires chopping down trees to make the paper. Remember everything we do is green.”

              Sean says, “Let’s return to the different aspects in your laws again.

              Sharon smiles saying, “Sean, it’s really very clear, if their ancestors hadn’t been put in chains and made slaves they wouldn’t have found themselves in their current mental state. They were taught since childhood they weren’t equal to everyone else. It’s not their fault; it’s ours. We, as a progressive society, are trying to change this. We’ve altered the law so those who feel they’re not equal gradually get to see their impressions are wrong. So in a way you can say we have two legal systems, one day in the future, after all of our people realize we’re all equal, we’ll return to a single legal system. We won’t need a system to assist those who think they’re not equal. Education will cure this problem within a generation.”

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I’m about to burst; I turn to Kathy; my face is red from holding in my anger, “Kathy, can these people really think they make sense? They’ve been played by their own system. I can’t believe they really think that it’s their fault and not the person committing the crime. Somehow they’ve bought into the bullshit of ‘it’s not my fault, I grew up in a broken home.'

              “They’ve gone so far as to change their legal system to give additional chances to those who, in their opinion, didn’t get the right education. Their own progressive system created the problems they cry about. They passed laws to encourage single parents; they created welfare programs that paid high amounts to babies having babies. I have a friend who taught school in one of the inner cities, he told me the girls would brag about how many times they got pregnant; their goals were to have as many children as possible so they could collect as much welfare as possible. None intended to get a job; they saw their job as having children. Their parents taught them how to game the system; they only went to school only to check a box on a form.

“The progressives never understood giving money away doesn’t build self-esteem. Without self-esteem, these kids don’t care about themselves. They wonder why they should ever be productive since they get paid to do nothing. Unearned money means nothing. They don’t care for their homes because it was given to them; none of their own sweat and blood was ever spent improving their lives. So what does the LSA go and do, they expand the very system which almost brought the entire country to our knees. I don’t understand how these people don’t see the problem they’re causing.”

              “Brad, she told us, it’s all buried in their education system. They’ve dumbed down their schooling, so everyone is equal. Equally dumb. They’re not preparing their kids for the future; they’re preparing them to accept whatever the government tells them.”

              “I’m telling you it’s a shame; they are killing an entire generation.”

              “There’s nothing we can do about it.”

              “We can learn, so we don’t repeat their mistakes on our side of the divide.”

              “I hope this program opens some people’s eyes. I hope it doesn’t sway some to think they’re right, and we’re wrong.”

              “If it does, it may be time to move.”

              “Smartass, where are we going to move to?”

              “I don’t know; I can’t accept we still have so many people that think the LSA is on the right track and we’re wrong.”

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Sharon continues, “Sean, you on the other side of the divide think your freedoms are the most important aspect of your lives. I can tell you; you’re wrong. Our children and their future are what’s most important. We may have to do with less money and rights today to ensure our children’s children can grow up safe and equal. Your rights don’t trump our desire to be equal.”

              Sean replies, “Sharon, we believe very strongly in our rights; we also want to have our children and their children grow up in a safe environment. We in the USA accept the fact our children are our future.”

              “Well, from this side of the divide it doesn’t look like it to us. We all know about the crap that fills your airwaves. It costs us plenty to block your transmissions. We don’t want our children growing up being covered with the filth your entertainment industry spills out.”

              “Sharon, no one forces anyone to watch any program.”

              “Our kids think they have to watch the filth that pours over your airwaves to be cool.”

              “Sharon lets pause here and return to the comments you were making before about the flood of drugs entering the LSA. I’d like to comment on this issue: no one is forcing anyone to buy the medicines, no one of forcing them to take more than the daily recommended dosage. These people are making their own decisions. Are you saying the people in the LSA aren’t intelligent enough to read the warning labels and follow the directions? If they did and got harmed, then they’d have recourse against the manufacturer, if they exceeded the recommended dose, then they have no one to blame except for themselves. I’m sure you agree with that.”

              “Sean, how can I agree? I have a friend who works in the emergency room; she deals with the cases caused by your free market. I have to handle the calls that flood in our help line caused by you selling anything to anyone. You have to stop selling over the counter medications. Follow our example, we’ve stopped almost all over the counter sales of drugs. Everything requires a trip to the doctor’s office to be seen and get a written prescription. This way we can ensure only those with a real need have access to these medications. We remove the temptation from staring weak willed people in the face. Our system works. Yours doesn’t, it's that simple.”  

              “Sharon, you know that’s not true.”

              “Which is why so many of your doctors have set up offices right across the border, anyone can walk in with cash in hand and walk out with the magic little white paper which enables them to buy anything. They return here causing us to deal with the aftereffects of your actions.”

              “Actually Sharon, you’re dealing with the actions and decisions made by the individuals, not the USA government or people. If your people decide to use medicines to get high, that was their choice. We believe in free will and enabling a person to be able to make their own decisions about their own care.”

              “I remember that system, it didn’t work so well when we lived under the ‘Stars, and Stripes,' so many went without, so many went to bed hungry, so many made choices they weren’t able to comprehend the ramifications of. I saw the overweight gorge themselves at fast food restaurants getting more overweight increasing their health issues, all while your government stands by doing nothing. The first duty of a government is to protect its people, you're not doing that very well.  I like our system better, the major decisions are made for us.”

Sean decides to change the subject, “Jason, why don’t you tell us about your job?”

              “Sure, I work in the department of energy. I help manage the rationing of fuel. As I’m sure you know, we’ve transitioned from the majority of cars being owned by private persons to the majority being owned by the government.  All of which are electric powered. ”

              “Wait a minute, do you and Sharon own the two cars in your driveway?”

              “Of course not. They’re our government issued cars. Our positions within the government entitle us to the free use of a government vehicle. Most of our neighbors who work in the government also have government issued cars.”

              “Why is that?”

              “After the divide, new taxes and use fees for privately owned vehicles were introduced. These fees and taxes are very high because of the shortage of fossil fuels and the damage to the environment done by cars. In fact, they’re so high that most people can’t afford to own a car. I’m sure you remembered how congested many of our cities were, now with mass transit and much smaller cars, we have much less congestion. Los Angeles, for an example, has almost no smog now. The central government of the LSA discourages the ownership and use of private fossil fueled transport. We’ve spent hundreds of billions building mass transit systems and installing electric car charging stations all over the LSA. Oil is too dangerous to drill, fracking damages the ground water supply; offshore oil drilling can damage the environment for hundreds of years. Ground spills can destroy farm land. Refining gasoline from oil pollutes the atmosphere, spills are extremely flammable, shall I go on? We decided it was better to be safe than sorry. We’re sure the day will come soon when the USA also sees what we saw and decides to change over to electric power for all of your cars and trucks. A major side benefit is the high cost of owning and operating a personal vehicle has been lifted from our shoulders.