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D: Doyou have a government on thatplanet? P: Not so much a government as here, as everyone is pretty much self-regulating. The laws of the land are unwritten and unspoken. It is simply known what to do and not to do, therefore there is not the equivalent ofpoliticians and law enforcement. There is com- merce, however. D: Doyou have aleader? P: There is no singular leader or nation. It is a global community. There are councils ofindividuals who set policy. They are picked by common vote, the consensus of the population. D. Wouldn't that be aform of politics? P: Notreally. This voting is one aspect of politics here on Earth, one facet of the whole picture. Whereas, the entire picture on that planet is aconsensus. There is competition, yes, but there is not the-I'm trying to think how to explain this. Thejob or the pur- pose isa common goal. There are no political parties. There is no bickering, no back-biting or mud-slinging. It is consensus in form, so in that respect there is a difference. Do you see? D: I'm trying tounderstand the concept. Do they servefora certain length oftime? P This varies with the position. Some are, quote, unquote, "in office" until they decide they have done enough or they wish to do something else. D: Doyou ever have cases of the people wanting to remove someone from office, from the council? 35 CHAPTER THE SOCIALSTRUCTURE OF THE ALIEN PLANET