REPRESENTATIVE

A podium in a gallery. Clipped to the audience-side of the podium is a forest of microphones marked with badges from all the large media entities. Lights are trained on the podium. Somewhere behind you is the sound of an expectant crowd.

Approaching the podium you see that several pages of notes have been prepared for the speaker. They are handwritten in a florid 18th century hand. On top is this paragraph regarding Democratic Representation, borrowed from Thomas Jefferson’s notebook.

7270. REPRESENTATION, Democratic. — The full experiment of a government democratical, but representative, was and is still reserved for us. The idea has been carried by us, more or less, into all our legislative and executive departments; but it has not yet, by any of us, been pushed into all the ramifications of the system, so far as to leave no authority existing not responsible to the people; whose rights, however, to the exercise and fruits of their own industry, can never be protected against the selfishness of rulers not subject to their control at short periods.

As you move into position behind the podium a large image of a political leader is projected on the wall above and behind you, exactly as in a modern political rally. If you are so bold as to speak into the microphones, this leader will start to speak in his loud voice, overwhelming yours. The louder you speak, the louder he becomes. Speak long enough and the crowd will become excited, encouraging your representative to say more.

Whose agenda is this?