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that differ from texts I have-and I suppose that is the extent of my
knowledge. Other than what I was taught in school."
"Well that's a g9od beginning. You have doubts and you have seen that the
world is not as you always suspected. So I shan't waste time trying to
convince you to open your mind. May we sit down?"
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John settled into his chair and crossed his legs comfortably. When he talked
he tended to lecture, to tick off the points made on his fingers. It was
obvious he was an academic of some kind, probably an historian.
"Let us go back to the close of the twentieth century and look closely at
events since that date. Let your mind be a tabula rasa and try not to
interrupt with questions. There'll be time enough later for those. The world
of the year 2000 was very much as depicted in the historical texts you have
studied, physically that is, although the governments of the world were
definitely not what you have been told.
At that time there were varying degrees of personal freedom throughout the
world, with forms of government ranging from the liberal to the most
oppressive. All of that has changed in the intervening years. The Wreckers
were to blame for it all, just as you have learned. That much at least is
true." He coughed. "My dear, might I
have a glass of water?"
Sara brought it to him and he went on.
"None of the world leaders or governments, the Wreckers, took any real notice
of the depletion of natural resources until it was too late. Populations
expanded past the limit of natural resources, while the supplies of fossil
fuels quickly ran out.
There was much fear of an atomic war that would devastate the world, but
apparently the fear was mutually felt among the world powers because the big
bang never came.
Of course there were some atomic incidents in Africa, using what were quaintly
referred to as homemade atomic bombs, but these petered out quickly enough.
The world did not end with the bang, as had been feared, but with a whimper. I
quote the poet."
He sipped daintily from his glass and went on.
"With no energy, factory after factory closed. With no fuel vehicles could not
run and the economies of the world spiraled downward into depression and
massive unemployment. The weaker and more unstable nations went by the board,
torn apart by starvation and dissent. The stronger nations had enough worries
at home without attempting to cope with the troubles of others. The surviving
citizens of what used t6 be called the third world eventually stabilized with
small populations and basic agrarian economies.
'A different solution was needed for the developed, industrial economies. I
will use
Britain to demonstrate this, since you are familiar with what life here has
become.
You must cast your mind back to an earlier day when the form of government was
democratic, regular elections were held, and the Houses of Parliament were not
hereditary and powerless as they are now. Democracy, where all individuals are
held to be equal, one man one vote to elect the rulers, is a luxury of the
very rich. By
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Harrison, Harry - To the Stars Trilogy.txt that I mean very rich countries.
Any decline in living standards and the national product can only mean a
lessening of democracy. A simple example. An employed man with a regular
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income has a choice of dwelling, diet, recreation, what might be called
lifestyle. An unemployed man on the dole must live where he is told, eat what
he is given, and accommodate himself to an unchanging and unvarying, drab
existence.
Britain survived the disaster years-but paid a terrible price in personal
freedom.
There was no money to import food, so the country had to be self-sufficient
agriculturally. This meant microscopic amounts of meat, only for the very
rich, and a vegetarian diet for the rest. A meat-eating nation does not easily
take to a change like this so the change had to be enforced. The ruling elite
issued the orders and police and troops saw that they were carried out. This
was the only alternative to chaos, famine, and death at the time, so it seemed
reasonable. And it wa& reasonable given the circumstances. The only trouble
was that when the emergency lifted and things were physically much better, the
ruling elite liked the authority they had and did not want to relinquish it. A
great thinker once wrote that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts
absolutely. Once the hobnailed boot is firmly planted on the neck it will not
be raised voluntarily."
"What hobnailed boot?" Jan asked, puzzled.
"I do beg your pardon. A simile, very out of date, excuse the excess. I mean
to say that recovery was gradual and the governments in power simply stayed in
power.
Populations gradually reduced and stabilized at a replacement level. The first
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logy%20(UC).txt generating satellites were built and beamed their energy down
to Earth. Then came fusion power that assured abundant energy for all needs.
Mutated plants supplied the chemicals formerly obtained from petroleum.
Satellite colonies processed the raw materials of the moon and their
manufactured products were brought to Earth. The discovery of a workable space
drive sent ships out to explore and settle on the planets of the nearest
stars. So there we have it, what we have today. An earthly paradise, even a
heavenly paradise, where no man need fear war or famine. Where all are
provided for and none need want.
"However there is one thing wrong with this picture of paradise. Absolute
oligarchic rule has clamped down on the countries of Earth, extended to the
satellite colonies, and beyond them to the planets. The rulers of each major
country are in collusion with all of the other rulers assure that no hint of
personal freedom be allowed the masses. Complete freedom at the to~your class,
Bill, from your accent-and economic serfdom, slavery, for all below. With
instant imprisonment or death for any bold enough to protest."
"Is it really that bad?" Jan asked.
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