Today, the Shelthams watched the news. Intently, they discovered that there could be a new leader of the nation-state of Smartystan. Mala and Sheltham sat with their boys around the television and interacted with the questions and smart functions. They had voted earlier but harbored differences on key issues. For example, they answered questions about the current president, Glenn Goshen. They knew his politics, respected and even liked him. Mala didn’t like his fiscal policy. Sheltham enjoyed the elimination of all regulations and controls under Goshen. Still, they  fought.

“I think we should revert to the days where it was just Delaware. There was no sales tax. Now, when we buy clothes and electronics, we’re digging deeper in our digital wallets to satisfy the costs,” Mala said.

“Yes, but you must see how a consumption tax or payment  for governmental goods––”

Mala just cast her eyes in her husband’s direction. She was like a jaguar about to pounce on its prey.

“I don’t want you to say what you’ve been saying a million times already…that the country is alright with a consumption tax. It’s not. We’re squeezed right in the middle. The upper class floods down money, yes. This is true. But the poorer people under us who may have just come out of rehab or a homeless shelter, should be included as well.”

Sheltham sighed. “It’s not about the upper class or lower class. It’s about the productive class.”

“And I agree with you. We’re pulling in more money than I’d ever thought possible. It would just mean something more if Goshen would have put in the work for protecting us from price gouging,” Mala replied.

“Price gouging is a healthy part of the economy.”

“I’m serious. Look at the way governments before this one behaved. They mouthed that ‘greedy’ corporations would raise prices to increase their bottom lines. And they were right. There’s nothing wrong in my eyes, when a company hikes up prices without government interference.”

“Yes, well, they ought to consider the people.”

“Who did I marry? You’re an office assistant who is raking in six figures and with a promotion, could go to seven figures. Goshen has led us to a place where we’re going to be linked to the rational ideals of the forebears who developed and founded this country-state.”

Mala blew out air in exasperation. “What I do like about Goshen is that he is pro life. And I mean he’s for abortion. He’s in favor of the 

 life. In that I can respect his character.”

“I still think that a woman should not abort. Look at our boys. Look at you! What if you had an abortion, then those children would not be here. We wouldn’t know the beauty of having sons.”

“Who did I marry? You mean to tell me that a woman can be raped, or impregnated through incest and have to carry that child to term?”

“I can’t believe all of this revelation. What about all the potential offenses that weren’t perpetrated against law-abiding citizens because of abortion?”

“I know that abortion may have prevented crimes a long time ago. I know that there is hard data to support this. But that doesn’t mean I don’t care about the mother in her hour of distress. I’m just saying that the ban on abortion would help create a better world for everyone.”

“Everyone but the mother’s world would be better. Think of the mom who has to bring a child into this realm knowing that the baby would not just be a baby. Everyone gets giddy about a little baby, not realizing that child will more than likely grow into an adult. They will have to carry the legacy of abuse and torment all because they were born in a world of hurt.”

Sheltham said, “Darling, I’m not advocating for children to arrive in the freest place on the planet. What I’m saying is that––”

“What you’re saying is that you wish to move to the surrounding states where all of the horrors continue to occur,” Mala fired back at him.

“I can be on my square and say that women should make better choices about their minds, which includes how they govern their bodies.”

“So, you’ve never asked a woman to put her feet in the stirrups?”

“See, that’s what I’m talking about. You want to not only eat your cake and have it too, but you want seconds. I love you, Felton. But we have a severe disagreement here. We can talk about taxes and how we need private property, but what is the most private ‘property’ other than the individual?”

Sheltham shifted as they watched the entirety of the election play out on the screen.

“I only know that it is the monetary policies that far outweigh the personal concerns of––”

“Personal concerns? These are lives here. Women and men. Could you imagine if they reinstated the draft? Men and women would be selected through a lottery system to possibly have their heads blown off all at the whim of the government.”

“That can’t happen here. They even got rid of Selective Service so this place is immune to any of that action.”

“Yes, but the US government still wants to see youngsters in boots protecting the homeland,” Mala retorted.

“One thing they don’t talk too much about anymore, or make it an adjacent topic is terrorism. Do you remember those days when terrorism was on the lips of every politician? Goshen’s opponent Bella Novak has plans to safeguard our city but she’s saying it’s tied to immigration.”

“We don’t need more immigrants….” Mala said.

“Says the immigrant from Pennsylvania who sought and found refuge here….”

“I know where I came from and how I got here, but we have to remember that I’m one of the few who made it here. Others want to plunder and pillage the space.”

“Okay, so you’re against immigration now?” Sheltham asked.

“An undocumented worker, carrying her sons including a small baby across the border is now anti-immigration….”

“That’s right. I know myself. I knew I could change my life for the better. I can’t say the same for others. It all relates to the idea of being steadfast and––”

 a hypocrite. You’re the one who believes in individual rights but is too timid to admit that abortion rights shouldn’t even be on the table.”

“So, we’re going back to that now?”

“We’ve rehashed all of that. Let’s talk about the idea of immigration some more.”

“A forebear Dr. Frampton scooped you up and ushered you into this land.”

“You have been able not only to survive but thrive under President Goshen’s Smartystan, yes?”

“Listen, my dear. You came out of the mud, literally, to fashion a greater life for your boys and yourself. Wouldn’t you want that for the other immigrants to experience as well?”

“That’s right. But there have to be checkpoints and screenings. Dr. Frampton had me tested for all sorts of diseases and the same with my children. We were put through tests and I’m still not officially a Smarty. I have to take more written tests concerning the founding of this great land. I’m ready, though.”

“That’s what should happen to immigrants, I agree. I didn’t know you were tested like that.”

“This is still the richest, most powerful nation in all of human history. We’ve been able to live in an oasis amongst a wasteland,” Sheltham observed.

“Not only that, we’re the most moral country ever. There is nobility in our ways of dealing with the issues.”

They looked on at the tallying of the election results.

“If we hire Goshen again, it will be a major boost to our lives. He will include in his package a way forward to eliminate the recent crime that has ticked upward in recent years. He is the only way.”

“I’m not trying…maybe I did sound like a commercial there.”

 “It’s alright. All we’ve been given are trillions of dollars worth of advertising. If you ask someone on the street over the age of eighteen if they’ve ever seen a political ad and they say no, they’re a lying somebody,” Mala pointed out with comic timing.

The couple both laughed at this. “I don’t think we should let these politics wedge between us.”

“But they do. We’re having a healthy discussion…we show when the other is wrong, namely you being the wrong one….”

“Shut up!” she said playfully. She smiled.

“It’s true. Government should always be what it is here. It is out of economics, it is out of ideas, it is out of science, and out of education,” Sheltham noted.

“That’s the one that gets me. Our boys will be in college soon and what kind of education will they receive?” Mala queried.

“All I know is that with those measures in place, we will always enjoy living in this country.”

“I still have my reservations,” Mala mentioned.

“I still think that women should represent the government.”

“A gynocracy? You want Novak to win because she’s a 

? Nothing about her policies and her ability to lead…but just because she has the anatomy of someone who has two X chromosomes.”

“Exactly. This is the way it must be done. Women should hold the power, the reins while men facilitate and function as workers in the beehive.”

Sheltham caught a laugh in his throat and just shook his head. 

“I can’t believe I’m hearing this. There should be women in power, yes. They must be qualified, however. Their sterling record of just being a human being sometimes can get the job done. Men and women should govern based on their morality. It is important that we notice how we see women in power as those who have backbones and brains. I don’t care about what their gender is.”

“You say that, but you said you voted for Goshen….”

“I did. And I did it for the simple fact that he has principles. He acknowledges the reality of having ethics and to not wither like a spear of asparagus.”

Mala yawned as the tally for electoral college votes calculated upward. Both of their eyes glazed over the run up to the election. Like stars winking in the sky, their glances beheld the spectacle of the electoral process. Each of their respective candidates looked on as the voting places closed. In their anticipation to see if history would be made in the tiny country-state, they looked at their sons. From toddler to high school student, they held their positions as parents with solemnity in this final hour. Sheltham wrapped his arm around his wife. She looked up at him and smiled. In the time it took for them to be delivered a verdict in the courtroom, the family all understood their role as being witnesses to history.

“President Goshen, it looks like, will be president once more for a second and final term.” Mala just shook her head. 

“Good night, I’m going to bed. And you all are, too,” She said to her sons.

When they all had rustled up to go to bed, The Shelthams knew that they would be able to take this news and stride. Especially the young men who floated upstairs in an air lift. Sheltham and Mala stayed downstairs. 

“Now don’t let this be a blight against our union,” Sheltham said.

“I stand where I stand and you….” Mala suggested.

“I stand for reason, individualism, and capitalism.”

“I wish that were true. But it’s over now. The whole thing has finally come to a close. We’re focused on what the future holds now.”

NO BORDER NO NATION. Urban street art graffiti.

Markus Spiske

Smartystan

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Four years later….

Today, the Shelthams watched the news. Intently, they discovered that there could be a new leader of the nation-state of Smartystan. Mala and Sheltham sat with their boys around the television and interacted with the questions and smart functions. They had voted earlier but harbored differences on key issues. For example, they answered questions about the current president, Glenn Goshen. They knew his politics, respected and even liked him. Mala didn’t like his fiscal policy. Sheltham enjoyed the elimination of all regulations and controls under Goshen. Still, they  fought.



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