The Service

     As predicted Jessie was the last to finish.  Without bothering to take out his pen and paper, he folded his hands across his book and looked at Mr. Day.  “Jessie we’ll start with you,” Mr. Day announced seconds after eye contact was made.  “How does someone become a candidate for public office?”

     “They volunteer,” Jessie responded simply.

     “And how do they volunteer?” Mr. Day asked, not letting Jessie get away with his simple answer.

     “They fill out a declaration form on the Internet that includes their personal information and what they think makes them the most qualified candidate.”

     “Correct,” Mr. Day encouraged with a smile.  Sheridan, sitting next to Jessie on his right, was the next person in the row.  Mr. Day looked at him and asked, “What’s the next step in the election process?”

     “People who know the candidate place their opinions in the candidate’s folder.”

     “OK, but are the opinions good or bad?’  Mr. Day challenged.

     “They can be either.”

     “Very good,” Mr. Day congratulated and then looking at the next person he asked, “How do we know that the candidate and the people who are giving their opinions are truthful?”

     “The candidates are investigated,” the chosen student answered.

     “By whom?” Mr. Day asked, wanting a complete answer.

     “Special agents of the Federal Government.”

     “Can we trust them?” Mr. Day challenged.

     “The book doesn’t say, but I hope so.”

     “I hope so too,” Mr. Day returned.  “Next person.  Is it true that the book doesn’t say whether we can trust our special agents?”

     “It doesn’t really say we can’t trust them but it implies that we don’t need to.  Each candidate has several investigators working separately to verify everyone’s posted statements.  In addition they post their own findings.  None of the personal opinions or the investigators work is published until all of the investigators for any particular candidate are finished and then all the findings are posted at once.”

     “Very good,” Mr. Day congratulated with a smile, happy to get such a complete answer without prompting.  “Next question,” he said looking at the next person, “How many candidates move on from the preliminary election to the general election?”

     “Ten.”

     Mr. Day frowned at the short answer and added a question not found in the book, “And how much will each of these ten candidates need to spend on their election if they want to get elected.”

     “It’s against the law to spend money on an election,” came a quick reply.

     Mr. Day smiled and then looked at the next person, “Why?”

     “Because years ago it got to the point that only the rich or people supported by the rich were able to gain office.  The people no longer had a say in Government and we ended up with a Government of the money, for the money, and by the money.”