by Bell, D. R.
“But there is no direct evidence that Pavel Rostin was instrumental in your release, is there?” pressed Barbara.
“I don’t believe it was a coincidence,” replied Kron.
“Tragically, Pavel Rostin killed himself before Jeff’s release,” Barbara addressed the camera for a full dramatic effect.
“He did not kill himself!” Jennifer raised her voice.
“What do you mean? There is a police report.”
“Everything that Jennifer and I know about her father tells us he did not commit suicide,” Jeff shook his head. “He came to see me in jail just a few weeks prior to his death. He was a man with a purpose, he was not suicidal. Pavel Rostin was killed, although we don’t know why or by whom. I was not able to thank him for my release.”
“So you went to thank his daughter instead? And fell in love with her?” Barbara looked from Jeff to Jennifer and then at the camera, inviting viewers to share in a romantic story.
Jennifer chuckled: “Actually, it was I who fell in love first. He was so handsome and shy. But I’ve let him think that he’s been the one vowing me.”
The two women laughed conspiratorially.
“What a lovely story,” Barbara addressed the viewers again. “But let us turn to your political career, Jeff. It began rather unusually, right? You both graduated from college in 2009. Jennifer had a degree in computer science with a minor in public policy; you came out with degrees in economics and history. Jeff, since you had no political background – what prompted you to get involved in politics?”
“I didn’t get involved immediately,” said Jeff. “We struggled to get jobs in a tough market, we had a child...” he hesitated, not sure how to continue.
“May I?” asked Jennifer. “You see, Jeff never wanted to be a politician. We both were affected by the human suffering that we saw in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis. For Jeff, it came so soon after the 2000 dot-com crash that ended up destroying his parents. He saw that nothing had changed.”
“Forget it, Jake. It’s Chinatown,” said Jeff.
“What?” normally unflappable Stanton lifted her eyebrows.
“That’s the last line in one of my favorite old movies, Chinatown. To me, it meant that rich and powerful get away with whatever they want. The people that created the 2008 crisis not only didn’t go to jail, they paid no social costs.”
“I see. You felt it was unfair.”
“Yes.”
“It’s this unfairness that motivated Jeff,” continued Jennifer. “He started writing on the matters of economics and history. He started looking for ways to change things.”
“You said in one of your early books that you wanted to change the world,” Barbara Stanlon sounded skeptical. “That’s rather ambitious, isn’t it?”
“The first step in changing the world is believing that you can. And then taking the next step... and the next one...” shrugged Jeff. “I had my life given back to me by someone who cared. I have a debt to pay forward.”
“Do you really think that you can change the world? Isn’t it arrogant to assume such a personal ability?”
“Yes, Barbara, I really think that any person is capable of having an impact. Sometimes an individual action makes only a small immediate difference but will affect something important down the road. And at other times, we can be in a place and at a time where our actions have instant results.”
“So you chose the California’s initiatives process as your way of affecting the change?”
“Yes. I think it returns some of the power back to the people.”
“But isn’t that almost a mob rule?”
“There are dangers in the direct democracy, we can’t address all the problems by simple majority rule. But there are dangers in a representative democracy as well, especially when money starts playing such a big role in politics. When my representatives are unduly influenced by big money, do they really represent me? I believe we’ve gone too far in the direction of representative democracy, we need to bring in more direct democracy to have tension between the two and to provide a better check over the people we elect.”
“And that’s how you burst on the political scene in 2016, when the California’s Attorney General tried to block one of your initiatives from gathering votes?”
“Yes,” smiled Jeff Kron. “We wanted to create a constitutional amendment that would have given more control and higher revenue share to local governments. This idea was not welcomed by the established interests.”
“So you and some of your supporters blockaded the government building, got arrested and went on a hunger strike?”
“We did.”
“And that was the beginning of your political career and of the Reform Party?”
“In a way. More people became involved, all volunteers. It was not until 2020 that we originally registered the Reform Party in California.”
“And now it’s in all the states,” pointed out Barbara.
“Thanks to all the volunteers.”
“You are running a somewhat unusual campaign. You have not solicited big-ticket donations, you are using virtual townhalls instead of traveling all over the country, you – ” Barbara picked up a small tablet, “are distributing digital pamphlets explaining your positions on economy, education, political process. Do you find that people read those? Our collective attention span has been decreasing steadily.”
“Jennifer, how many downloads did we have so far?” Jeff turned to his wife.
“Since we started distributing these pamphlets, we have had over a hundred and twenty million downloads,” proudly announced Jennifer. “For dozens of years now we’ve been feeding voters slogans and soundbytes. We think there is a real desire on the part of many voters to understand the issues rather than be patronized. We want educated voters.”
Barbara Stanlon grimaced skeptically, then caught herself.
“But let’s get to the presidential race. Congratulations – the polls show you in the second place in the presidential race, trailing only John Dimon – and not by much. This is an amazing position to be in, given that you have never run for any office before,” Barbara Stanlon paused to give Kron a chance to respond. Seeing that he was waiting for a more direct question, she tossed him one: “What do you attribute this success to, given that your Reform Party is more of a volunteer network?”
“Well, I certainly don’t attribute it to my political or oratorical skills. I think it’s the power of the ideas that people follow, not me. I am just fortunate to have become a focal point for some of their aspirations.”
Jennifer jumped in:
“The same two parties have dominated the American politics since before the Civil War. They have successfully excluded third parties for over a century and a half. We have families here that resemble political royalty. It is time for the Americans to have more choices!”
Barbara Stanlon allowed only the slightest note of irritation to slip into her melodic voice:
“But, Mrs. Rostin-Kron, your grandfather, Sam Baker, was the embodiment of the same two-party system that you just criticized! He served in Congress for over thirty years.”
“My grandfather retired from politics two years ago. At the end of his career, he grew ashamed of the current system, where the political elite evolved into a new caste, aligned with moneyed interests and now are desperately fighting to stay in power and exclude the outsiders,” testily replied Jennifer. “I know, I am his granddaughter. Please leave him out of it.”
Barbara Stanlon composed herself and smiled into the camera:
“A very interesting response from Mrs. Rostin-Kron, but I am being told it’s the time for a commercial break. We’ll be back soon, don’t change the channel.”
After making sure they were off the air, she turned to the Krons:
“Jennifer, is attacking the main political parties on the air your party’s election-year tactic? I think you husband has been, while critical, somewhat more circumspect in his comment
s.”
“Ah, you should see her at home,” laughed Jeff Kron. He seemed to have become more relaxed after his wife’s outburst. “Yes, perhaps I’ve been more diplomatic in what I said. But Jennifer’s statement represents my views as well.”
“Welcome back to our viewers,” smiled Barbara Stanlon into the camera. Turning back to Krons: “So, Jeff, do you agree with your wife’s statement?”
“Wholeheartedly,” nodded Jeff. “It’s been a very long time since we’ve seen any changes in our political system. A change is needed. Our Constitution was designed, above all, to prevent abuses from concentrating too much power in a small set of hands. But we have evolved this crony capitalism where the political regime has merged with economic and financial powers. Special interests fund politicians and then demand their dues. Lobbying distorts the process. A select few gather dominant influence. Economic advantages are gained via political means. We are due for a change.”
“And what kind of change would you advocate in the political process?”
“I’ll quote Thomas Jefferson: Every government degenerates when trusted to the rulers of the people alone. The people themselves, therefore, are its only safe depositories,” Jeff looked decidedly more self-assured. “We have to create a more competitive electoral process by introducing term limits, public financing of candidates and limited durations of campaigns. And we have to start eliminating the curse of lobbying. I would ask for a lifetime ban on lobbying by anyone who worked in the government. Plus, I think politicians must take an oath to not meet with lobbyists, to not accept money, gifts or dinners from lobbyists – or face recall. I am taking this oath right now, in front of millions of witnesses: I will never take money from special interests. Nor will I ever give even five minutes of my time to lobbyists.”
Jennifer smiled and squeezed her husband’s hand.
“I am sure many powerful people are not happy listening to your words right now,” carefully enunciated Barbara. “Does that concern you at all?”
“No. I am not running as their champion. I am not looking for their money. I am aiming to break the cycle of money politics. I believe we are all damaged by unfairness, by the unjustified privileges of crony capitalism.”
“That leads me to the next question,” said Barbara. “You’ve been a fierce critic of inequality in this country. Some people argued that you are either a socialist or a communist, take your pick. That you are trying to impose a utopian equality, to eliminate freedom in our society.”
“I am neither a socialist nor a communist,” laughed Jeff. “I am trying to save capitalism. I am not trying to impose equality. But the kind of extreme inequality that we evolved – it can’t be tolerated any longer. In our country, the top one tenth of one percent have more wealth than the bottom ninety percent. No society can survive this for long.”
“And you’ve been trying to change this by advocating non-violent resistance?”
“As one American president said not too long ago,” interjected Jennifer, “Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.”
“Umm, which president was it?” replied Barbara.
“John Fitzgerald Kennedy.”
“Yes, JFK said this. It was true then, it is true now,” nodded Jeff. “We have to restore social trust, we have to break the vicious cycle where economic inequality leads to political inequality and to gaining further economic advantage through political means, thus farther enriching a few at the expense of many. This can’t be changed by reason alone.”
“So you justify active resistance?”
“I justify non-violent disobedience in some cases. We share common humanity. Secular power is not defensible if it contradicts moral principles.”
“Like John Galt, you want to stop the motor of the world?” asked Barbara mockingly.
“No, I want to change how the motor runs,” responded Jeff calmly. “We will have a better society if we stop leaving the majority of the population behind. We will have a better society if we put morality and fairness into equation. Jobs and good pay are the main mechanisms to support flourishing market economy. Drops in living standards makes people eager to turn to anyone offering simple – but dangerous – solutions.”
“Are you referring to your opponent, John Dimon?”
“I believe his message of blaming the external enemies is dangerous. Much of our predicament is of our own doing. Did the Chinese make us run up our debts? Did they force us into the perpetual expensive warfare we’ve been engaged in for decades? At what point did we assume the right to militarily intervene anywhere in the world?”
“Mr. Dimon referred to you as ‘the leader of Blame America First’ movement. How would you respond?”
“I would say that I want this country to be great again but that we won’t get there by leaving half of our population on food stamps and in minimum wage jobs. Nor would we get there by refusing to talk about our faults and labeling those who criticize the government as unpatriotic. There is a fine line between patriotism and nationalism and Mr. Dimon is on the wrong side of that line.”
Barbara checked the time.
“We have only a few minutes left. Jeff, can you tell our viewers what would be the most crucial imperative that you would pursue if you were elected the President?”
“Only one?” smiled Jeff Kron.
“Yes, only one,” smiled back Barbara Stanlon.
“All right. I would focus the government on protecting the mass market. I am a strong believer in free market, but left completely to its own devices the market concentrates wealth and income to the point of self-destruction, especially in an increasingly ‘winner-takes-all’ digital society, especially in a progressively automated economy where robots are cheaper than people. I’m not here to preach: extreme inequality is not just a moral issue, it’s a business issue as well. It destroys the mass market and the society itself. A hundred years ago Henry Ford famously doubled his workers’ wages so they would want to work for him and, importantly, be able to buy products such as his Model-T’s. That’s how we built the middle class in this country, the cornerstone of our democracy. Somehow, we forgot this lesson. Fifty years ago, more than a half of our households were in the middle class. Now, it’s about one third. When people at the very top take more and more for themselves, it impoverishes the society. When the CEO of a company fires a thousand people and gives himself a multi-million bonus, what do you think happens to the mass market? The CEO might buy himself five cars, but the thousand people that lost their jobs won’t buy any. And as the market goes, so does our economy: we can build most wonderful products but fewer and fewer people can afford them.”
“Thank you. That’s quite a response,” Barbara Stanlon exhaled, checked the time again.
“One quick last question: Jeff, what is making you run?”
Jeff looked down, gathering his thoughts.
“A famous writer said once that it’s our desire to belong to the Inner Circle that makes us do the worst things, the worst compromises. I run for all those that are not in the Inner Circle, those that are in a much larger Outer Circle. I want to be their champion.”
“And that’s the end of our program for today,” concluded Barbara Stanlon.
Los Angeles, USA
Maggie woke up later than usual. She remembered being wide awake at one in the morning, listening to David’s gentle snoring. What would her life have been like if two years ago he did not walk into the restaurant that she waitressed in? Whenever she wondered, she also remembered that morning at Balboa Lake when he came ready to sacrifice himself in order to save her, a virtual stranger. He could have slapped a handcuff on her wrist, that’s how resolutely he bound the two of them. Their fates were now tied, for better or for worse. She would do anything, give herself to anyone in order to protect him.
In her dream, she was back on the Black Rock in Maui. David handed her the little Seagate thumb-drive that could stop everything. She threw the drive into t
he ocean, but there was no splash. Instead, the drive was back in her palm. She threw it again and again, but the drive refused to leave. When she woke up, David’s side of the bed was empty. Maggie brushed her teeth, washed up and followed a sound of voices into the kitchen. Alejandro, Oleg, and David were talking to a burly man with a sun-beaten face, wearing a stained green shirt, brown canvas pants, heavy workboots and a dirty straw hat. Upon seeing Maggie, then man took off his hat and nodded: “Ma’am.”
“This is Ubaldo,” introduced him Alejandro.
“Maggie,” she offered her hand, which he shook gently. Ubaldo’s hands were calloused; the man was no stranger to physical work.
Maggie poured a cup of coffee:
“What are you gentlemen plotting so early in the morning?”
“Ubaldo is explaining to me the basics of gardening,” laughed Oleg.
“What? Why?” Are they treating this as a joke? She wondered.
“Ubaldo and his crew do weekly gardening for Jeff and Jennifer Kron,” explained Alejandro.
“Excuse me, I have to go,” apologized Ubaldo. “I will pick you up in two days,” to Oleg.
“Do you want to explain?” asked Maggie after Ubaldo left.
“It’s all very simple, that’s how we will get Oleg in touch with Jennifer Kron, née Rostin,” clarified Alejandro.
“And you just happen to know and trust their gardener?”
“I know and work with many gardeners,” laughed Alejandro. “They are the backbone of the new ‘grey sharing’ economy.”
“Grey sharing what?” David and Maggie exclaimed in unison.
“Oh yes, the three of you have been out of the country, there have been some changes since you left.”
“Like what?”
“People have been increasingly sharing things using convenient phone apps. You need a ride, contact Uber. You need a place to stay in another town, use AirBnB. Then the government started taxing these services...”