fandomhigh | Civics, Friday, September 8, 2017

There was a lack of glitter in the classroom this week, so hopefully no one was crushed by this. They could make up for it with supplied coffee at least?

"Welcome back," Tony said to their tiny class. "Today we'll be discussing the types of government out there and which is the current governing system in the United States. Again, the one we are currently in."

The one that was dabbling in a variety of populism with a heavy emphasis on racism and nativism!

Plus bonus sexism!

"There are a variety of options out there," Steve said. "For a good portion of history, a monarchy--government by a sole king or queen, someone not chosen by the people--was very popular. Those that are left over have become, for the most part, constitutional monarchies where the ruling family is largely ceremonial and someone else--normally a parliament--does the heavy lifting of governing."

"Not to say there aren't still governments where one person or a very small group of people hold immense power over the rest of the population," Tony added. "There are dictatorships where someone controls all aspects of the state and maintains that with force or the threat of it. There are theocracies where religion and religious leaders are the controlling force in the government."

"And there are swaths where someone says they're in charge but the reality is laughably--or tragically--otherwise," Steve said. "But today we're going to mostly focus on the various kinds of democracies--representative and direct--and republics--parliamentary, federal, or single party."

"For democracies, direct democracy is... well, what it sounds like," Tony said. "You vote directly for things and a majority vote gets it approved. This... is not very common to see as it's very difficult with large populations. Representative is what you may be familiar with as that is what we see in the US. We vote to elect someone who is supposed to vote or work on our behalf in the government. It's a bit more hands off for the general population."

"The US is also a federal republic," Steve said, "which means power is broken up into several sections--the national government, and then the 50 states. Below the states are local government as well, all the way down to school boards."

"Which is why we fear the school board visits." Tony, no.

"Plus from what I've read, they're kind of insane," Steve added. "Today we're going to talk about the different kinds of government, how they work, and when they don't. Dictatorships, for instance, are extremely streamlined because there's no pesky 'asking other people for their opinions' part."

They really were, Steve.

"Pick a type of government and tell us what you think are the biggest flaws in them and what, if any, ways they could be fixed," Tony said.

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Peridot was now squinting at Paris, but willing to accept that line of reasoning. For now.

"Then what would you be asking her?"

"Just to confirm that and to know if we need to be getting extra credit through protesting her," Paris said.

Peridot was now fairly certain that, so far as human beings went, Paris was somehow managing to make even less sense than most. Which was quite the feat.

It wasn't Paris' fault. Peridot just had no idea what half the words out of her mouth actually meant.

"Right..." Peridot glanced around the room a little. And then leaned in a bit to whisper. "Is protesting safe?"

She had her sign all made up already, but she really had no idea how she was meant to use it.

"It's one of our Constitutional rights," Paris said. "Protesting is sacred."

Paris had opinions, Peridot.

"Holding up weird little slogans on sheets of paper is sacred?"

Humans had such weird, weird religious rituals.

Paris nodded. "Even the ones that are horribly misspelled."

"Are the misspelled ones at least effective?"

Or at the very least, clever?

"Not unless it's to make the other side of the argument feel smug," Paris said.

"Oh." Peridot considered that for a moment. "Then I shouldn't make new signs with deliberate misspellings in order to better get my point across."

Good to know.

"Well, if you're doing deliberate misspellings, it's okay. It's when you do accidental misspellings that people will point and laugh," Paris said. "'Get a brain, morans', when moron is spelled with an 'a', for example."

"It's difficult to tell if that one is deliberate, or was meant humorously," Peridot said after a pause. And then, after another pause, she added, "Where I'm from, protesting that way would probably get us shattered."

Which, in hindsight, was a pretty big flaw in the system. At least where she was standing.

"...shattered?" Paris echoed. "What does that mean?"

"About as close to dead as we ever get," Peridot replied, shrugging. "But probably actually worse."

She'd never been shattered or dead. But she'd encountered Gems who had been that first one, so...

Paris's jaw dropped. "You are kidding me. You are kidding me."

"No, really, it's probably worse," Peridot replied, blinking at Paris, maybe just a touch confused. "Homeworld has no patience for Gems who speak out against the Diamonds."

"You come from a dictatorship?" Paris said. "I'm so sorry."

You've hit one of maybe three actually earnest moments in Paris' life, Peridot.

And you've hit one of the maybe three genuinely awkward moments in Peridot's, Paris!

"I guess I do," she hedged, squirming a bit. "But I'm here now, and I can't go back, so... it's okay."

So long as she didn't get kicked out!

"Oh, if you can't go back, then you're probably eligible for a political refugee visa," Paris said, nodding. "Do you have family there or anything?"

"I... don't really have family, no," Peridot replied, tilting her head a little. "Is that a good thing?"

"Is family a good thing? Depends on the family, frankly," Paris said. "I'm not really the one to ask about that."

"Well, neither am I," Peridot decided, shrugging. "We don't exactly have family units where I come from, either."

"Mine's not going to win any prizes," Paris muttered. "I'm not entirely sure my dad knows I've left the state."

That one got a curious look from Peridot, yes.

"Is leaving the state unusual, here? It occurs to me now that I have yet to really look into local migration patterns..."

At least she hadn't said 'human' migration patterns.

But she meant it.

Paris snickered. "It's not really a migration pattern," she said, "but generally people under the age of 18 don't go off without the knowledge of the adults in charge of them."

"And eighteen," Peridot ventured, not letting Paris' snickering rattle her, "is the age when humans reach... maturity?"

She'd also learned to stop calling childhood 'the human larval stage.' PROGRESS.

Re: Discuss

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