Pool_1

call it capitalism, but huge unfettered unrefereed power in the hands of a few who make decisions in secret is not what we as a people are about." "That's why you have to vote for Clinton!" Shannon made an overhead power to the people fist, getting her pitch in. "The government is the balance. We are the government. We the people. See?" Making a finger in throat gesture, Mac went on, "Gak. On paper, maybe. I saw government in action. It is a government of thieves, by thieves, for thieves. They are smart. Damn smart. They suck you in with great schemes. Motherhood, starving children, cleaning the river, and things of unimaginable intricacy, all to do one thing, steal." He looked Shannon right in the eyes, but also focused right through her, "It's not that they can steal that bugs me. It's not that they do steal. It's that they won't allow anything to exist unless stealing is built into it. They can't abide the honest man in their proximity. I can never be so smart to figure out the many ways they have of stealing. I witnessed it day after day after day." "When was that? How did you.." trailing off, Shannon led him on with a keen look of interest. Mac was considered by everybody to be a raging liberal and congenital softie. She had not seen THIS side of him, not so furious. "It was right after the rum banana," was the confounding reply, "and some I learned indirectly from Jazz Man, my father." He paused, then teased darkly, "Shannon. Any chance of Mrs. Hallem giving her kid up for adoption or moving to the North Ward?" If she would have had coffee in her mouth, he would have been wearing it with her reaction to that unexpected joke. "Duh, yeah, right. That's about the only way.." But that's the thing about humor it needs a seed of truth. She trailed off lost in