Representative Democracy

"So, it looks like this guy is going to be a Supreme, huh?"

Malcolm shook his head disapprovingly. "Did you telephone your senators, like I told you?"

"Well, no," admitted Peter shamefacedly.

"Then you have no gripe coming," said Malcolm sternly. "I, on the other hand, have sent 27 emails, signed 14 petitions, and made 112 calls to my senators. If they pass that guy, it won't be my fault."

"I don't know," Peter whined. "I have a lot of trouble doing that call-the-senator stuff. And, quite honestly, it doesn't seem to do much good."

"But this is a representative democracy," said Malcolm. "You have to hold your representatives' feet to the fire. If they're about to approve someone you oppose, you have to tell them. If enough voters complain, they can't let the guy through. That's how a representative democracy works."

Flossie, who had been listening with interest, cocked an eyebrow, but said nothing.

"But here's the problem," replied Peter. "Both my senators are in the MCP, and that Furrillo character is also in the MCP. A major MC ideologue, in fact. The MCs don't give a hoot what I have to say. If my senators were NCs, it would be a different story."

"No, no!" insisted Malcolm. "It doesn't make any difference! If you apply enough pressure, they'll come around, even if they are MCs."

Flossie cocked the other eyebrow.

"Come, now," continued Malcolm. "Don't you remember that ... civil reply you got that one time from ... Purrington, wasn't it?"

"Well, yes," Peter admitted, "I do. She always writes civil replies, saying 'thanks for writing, and I damn well intend to do exactly what you don't want me to.'"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," said Malcolm impatiently, "but that one time, she promised to look into the use of cruel traps, remember?"

"Hmm, yes," said Peter. "But that wasn't a really big issue with the MCs, like this one is. If only we could elect more NCs, this wouldn't be happening. Although, ... even some of the NCs seem to be supporting Furrillo. Like the really liberal NC senator who said she didn't agree with him, but that didn't mean he shouldn't be a Supreme."

"Ok, let's get one thing straight here," said Flossie, joining the conversation with a twitch of her whiskers. "The one fundamental thing that connects the Mean Cat Party and the Nice Cat Party is that they're all cats. So, when it's about mousetraps, which only humans use, maybe you can get some sympathy. But when it comes to elevating a confirmed mouser to the Supreme Cat, what do you think they're going to do? Du-uh! Gosh, guys! Why would you think that any feline would ever give a mouse an even break?"

Well, maybe a literal break, huh?