Republic Part 2

After John Lithgow and his crew got in their car, which was an advanced alien spacecraft in disguise, and left the Earth, I turned to Mister Biden and asked him,"What did you think of that?" "That was pretty good. I really liked the part with Elvis Costello." "It was the high point of his career," I opined. We sat there in silence for a few minutes, then I spoke again. "You see why this was the greatest farewell episode in television history, don't you?" "Well, it was funny." "Exactly. They didn't try to make something big out of it, other than getting Elvis Costello to sing at their party. Now, MASH on the other hand, tried to get all important, and it totally sucked. And Seinfeld, when they did their last episode, completely lost their way. For years, it was a show about nothing, and when they did their last show, they made it about something, and they fucked it up completely. Did you ever see it?" Joe said, "Well, being in the Senate at the time, I really didn't have much time to watch TV. But I'll take your word for it." I suggested that he shouldn't do that. Most of the trouble in the world comes when people take someone's word at face value, which leads to fraud, flawed social policies, and bad farewell television episodes, which I explained to him in great detail. He yawned, then admitted he had done that often in the past. "Sometimes it's easier to just take someone at their word," he said. "You've got to go along to get along, they say." "Yes, that's what they say, whoever they are. That's how mass movements start, and if you study history, you know that usually doesn't end well." "People are social animals, you know. How can you stop them from being themselves?" "You don't. Any true change must come from within, and some forms of social interaction form the basis of what we need. But when you get beyond the family, that's where the trouble starts." I finished my last hot dog, and added, "Of course, I like trouble. Every problem in the past has led us forward. Unfortunately, every solution brings at least one new problem." "I've noticed that. That's the old unintended consequences thing, isn't it?" "Yes it is, sir." He sat there, as if he was waiting for more, then he said, "Aren't you going to elaborate on that?" "No. Sometimes an answer can be one word, if it's the right word," I explained. "If I had said any more just then, I would just be showing off, not adding to the truth at all. I would just be feeding my own ego." "You need a big ego to want to live here." "I don't agree. In my case, I will use my empathy, though that sounds egotistical, doesn't it?" "Whatever works for you, man. I'm just glad I can go back to Delaware and give up this political game, once and for all." "Yes, now that I'm in charge, there'll be no more politics. Of course, people are naturally political, so saying there'll be no more politics is like saying there'll be no more oxygen." "You need oxygen." "Indeed. But we don't need politicians passing laws to feed their own egos, or to bolster their misconceptions. That ends today. I intend to let nature take its course." "How can you do that? The world's gotten too big to depend on nature." "My rule is the necessary first step towards anarchy, the true anarchy where we live on love, and no soldiers will be there for generals to order around. I know it won't change overnight, but as long as families and markets thrive, we really don't need any politicians." He stretched, then stood up. "I don't see how that will work, but that's your problem now." He was escorted to where Airforce One waited, for one last ride. I decided to watch some basketball.