Society is, always has been and always will be a structure for the exploitation and oppression of the majority through systems of political force dictated by an élite, enforced by thugs, uniformed or not, and upheld by a wilful ignorance and stupidity on the part of the very majority whom the system oppresses.
Anyone who bar-codes their employees isn’t likely to be the forgiving type, and the reflex of long-held obedience through hierarchy is usually enough to overcome fear of a combat death. That’s how you fight wars, after all—with soldiers who are more afraid of stepping out of line than they are of dying on the battlefield.
Culture is like a smog. To live within it, you must breathe some of it in and, inevitably, be contaminated.
Like Bancroft, MacIntyre had been a man of power, and like all men of power, when he talked of prices worth paying, you could be sure of one thing.Someone else was paying.
We are, after all, evolved to relate to the physical world.
The past is relevant only as data.
Money doesn’t automatically mean taste.
Bancroft wants privacy, he spends half a million on discretion systems. Me, I just go talk where no one’s listening.
She held her discarded shoulder holster dangling in one hand, and her breasts moved beneath the thin cotton of a white T-shirt that bore the legend YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT—WHY DON’T YOU TRY IT FOR A WHILE?
I’m stacked, backed up and I’m fifth danAnd I’m not afraid of the Patchwork Man
“The human eye is a wonderful device,” I quoted from Poems and Other Prevarications absently. “With a little effort, it can fail to see even the most glaring injustice.”
The essence of control is to remain hidden from view, is it not?
“I’d rather you didn’t smoke in here.”“Kawahara, I’d rather you died of an internal hemorrhage, but I don’t suppose you’ll oblige me.”
“Petty tyrant a long time back. He built this place.”Kawahara shrugged. “Petty tyrant with delusions of religion. Catholics get on well with tyranny. It’s in the culture.”
Naturally these penalties were applicable only to private citizens, not military commanders or government executives. The powerful are jealous of their toys.
“You’re not corporate,” she said definitely. “Corporates don’t do this stuff. Not like this.”“The corporates do whatever turns a profit. Don’t let your prejudices blind you. Sure, they’ll burn down entire villages if it pays. But if having a human face is what cuts it, they’ll whip out a human face and put it on.”
I paused and set down my glass, searching for the fine edge of deceit that always lies right up against the truth.
“Whatever. If Carnegie wakes up not knowing, he might make some private inquiries, but he ain’t going to be in too much of a hurry to let the police department in on it. And if he wakes up knowing—” He spread his hands. “—he’ll make less noise than a Catholic orgasm.”
This was no time for thinking. Thought in combat was a luxury about as appropriate as a hot bath and massage.
Whatever world it is, whatever you’ve done there for better or worse, you always leave the same way.Alone.