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| Carol at work |
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| click photo to learn about Carol's idea |
'She's right, Carol, maybe another time,' offered Thomas.
And so they drove past the hospital and further through town. As they got further from the hospital, the
neighborhoods became nicer, less and less trash on the streets, and the people were dressed nicer. The buildings were newer,
but had less character.
Carol then explained to Thomas how she became a nurse, how her goal had been to match current affairs with
economic justice.
She reasoned that if the economy was being automated and life sciences computerized, more of humanity would become poor
and destitute as wealthiest individuals took most of Earth's resources. Thus, focus of the affluent should be on poor and
destitute, which had rarely been the case.
In the then current global climate, however, rich countries were fearful of terrorist attacks by people from poor countries.
If poor and destitute, people were more likely to be angry and turn to crime for survival. Her ideal social organization
would seek out poor and destitute and satisfy their wants and needs.
Carol reasoned that in exchange for having their wants and needs satisfied, the poor and destitute would agree to give
up certain freedoms. All incarcerated would automatically give up the same certain freedoms. Such freedoms were knowledge
of location and what one sees and hears. Such knowledge would be monitored for public safety, social services, and commercial
purposes.
The choice for society was either being monitored constantly or living in terror. For affluent, there was freedom from
being monitored but responsibility to satisfy wants and needs of poor and destitute. For poor and destitute, wants
and needs were satisfied, but life constantly monitored.
Devices to monitor peoples location and what they see and hear were created through the convergence of nano, bio, neuro,
and info technologies. These devices became popular as the ability of poor and destitute to terrorize affluent was vastly
improved as diseases became more lethal and contagious, with the environment becoming more vulnerable to massive catastrophes,
and weapons of mass destruction becoming more available and more dangerous.
Her job was to install GPS devices into people. These devices feed into global database, ending hunts for criminals.
They also regulate human health, greatly reducing diseases and handicaps.
'I went to school in the orange building to your right,' interupted Rebecca. 'I didn't have a great time.'
Thomas was surprised that such a small building could be a school.
'How many students graduated with you?' he asked.
'It was a private school. My class had fifteen girls,' caame the unhappy response.
'Oh, sorry to upset you,' Thomas apologized.
'It wasn't that bad,' protested Carol, 'she graduated and got into a great college, and she made great friends
who've also gone to great colleges.'
| Approaching Rebecca's and Carol's home |
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| click photo to read about suburban life |
They continued driving. Took the next left at the lights and straight for five blocks. There was silence for a
while until Rebecca announced that they were home.
Their house was in a decent neighborhood with green lawns and small gardens by the side of homes.
As the car pulled into the driveway, Thomas saw the house's front door opening. A middle aged man emerged
from the doorway.
'That,' pointing to the man, 'is my husband, Richard,' smiled Carol.
After the car stopped and Carol got out with Rebecca to greet Richard, Thomas felt very awkward. Rebecca
motioned to him to get out.
'So you're Thomas,' greeted Richard.
Thomas thought Richard was neat, with graying black hair, blue glasses, and green sweater.
'I guess Carol must've mentioned me already. I hope you don't mind, but I'm very eager to try calling
my uncle again,' Thomas said in a hurry.
'Sure, sure,' laughed Richard, 'but let's get this luggage into the house, shall we?'
Nodding, Thomas helped Richard grab Rebecca's suitcases from the trunk. They each carried two into the house,
Thomas also wearing his backpack. Putting down both suitcases by the foot of the stairs, Thomas asked about the phone.
'It's in the kitchen, by the fridge, to your right,' answered Carol.
Looking around the house, Thomas was impressed. The furniture looked rather new and the television in the
living room was huge.
'My, what a nice home you guys have. How long have you lived here?' Thomas asked.
'Been here twenty two years in August,' replied Carol.
Slowly walking to the kitchen, Thomas noticed a bunch of pictures on the mantle.
'Who are these people?' he asked.
'These are Rebecca's cousins from Lake George,' replied Richard.
Thomas quickly looked at the pictures before continuing on to the kitchen. Reaching the kitchen, he quickly
found the telephone and tried calling his uncle.
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