“You’re wrong Mr. Barnes, he had no chance of winning at all. He had a history of actually delivering on his word. People don’t want things to actually be better, they like the idea that someone else can make it better for them. I make a lot of promises and never keep any of them but I do offer excuses and others to blame. Everybody wants to blame someone, right?”

“That’s one of the most disturbing, and true, things I’ve heard you say. Which is equally disturbing.”

“Welcome to the way of things.”

“I think I’m going to be sick.”

“It’ll pass. It always does. Then you can join our imaginary little regime as you called it.”

“But you’re killing them!”

“Please Mr. Barnes, such vulgarity is quite unbecoming, especially from one so enlightened. We are very pleasurably giving them the means to hasten their inevitable demise. They can choose anything they want, they just choose this way. It’s all very civilized. No?”

“What. No. Of course not. I’m not sure they even know what the choices are.”

“Whose fault is that? Certainly not ours. We didn't put blinders on them. They were already there. We simply capitalized on an already existing plan. 

Help us help us. Tell us what to do. We don’t want to think, ect ., ect . ,

Potato potato.”

“This is insane.”.”

“No Mr. Barnes letting them be in charge would be insanity. They can’t think for themselves, would you really want them making choices for others.”

“But,  . . . . they’re has to be another way.”

“Oh there is, but they won't believe you. That would require thinking and accountability. Nobody really wants any of that now. So we decide for them. It’s quite simple really.”

“The lesser of two evils.”

“Again, with such vulgarity. I prefer realism. Maybe at one point in time things could have been different, but now it is what it is and we are where we are.”

“It’s not too late to change it. Maybe I’ll run for office."

“Which brings us back to where this conversation started. Maybe you are unsane.”

“Un-sane?”

“It sounds more appropriate. Wouldn't you agree?”

“I’m not crazy though.”

“Of course you aren’t. You are one of the most enlightened people I have met, which is why THEY think you are unsane. Anyone who doesn’t think like they do or believe like they do is wrong or unsane. You are clearly not one of them and you don’t tell them what they want to hear, which is why you can’t win. Round and round it goes. Is there another song you can commit to or do we have to listen to the same one all over again?”

“But it’s not right.”

“What does right and wrong have to do with anything? From their point of view there is only us and them. No one wants to be one of them, so they do whatever they have to do  to remain one of us. Even if, by your small minded standards, it is wrong.”

“What do you get out of it?”

“No Mr. Barnes, you should ask what I get out of it. As for myself, that’s my business. You can have whatever it is you would like, as long as it doesn’t interfere with the status quo. No one likes change.”

“But change can be a good thing.”

“Historically, change for the better meant better for a few at the cost of many. And we remind them of it all the time. It’s quite fascinating really. How easily they turn over the reigns to those they know are only serving themselves at their expense. Kings are made of those who dare to claim to be kings. It’s the way of things.”

“Sounds like playground rules. I called it first so it’s mine.”

“The wisdom of a child is so . . . . pure.”

“You’re not a king, you’re just an elected official, and not even a high ranking office.”

“Does the biggest fish in the pond care how big the pond is?  I am KING of my world and all who are in it.”

“Not of me.”

“You are not part of my world Mr. Barnes. You are one of them, not one of us.”

“I’ll tell them the truth.”

“I insist that you do. You will make me a hero to my people. Or perhaps you would like to just play the recording of this conversation.”

“You knew I was recording this?”

“When a person, such as yourself, seeks an interview with a person such as I, one can only assume it is for nefarious reasons.”

“Nefarious. . . . .Me>.....? What?”

“Again it’s a matter of perspective. We are right and you are wrong. We decided that. So, you are trying to wrong us with your slander. Ergo . . . Nefarious. Or do you not believe me.”

“It doesn’t matter what I believe people should know the truth and make up their own minds.”

“You imply they don’t know the truth already. Most of them do, they simply prefer the lie they tell themselves. It lets them sleep in their comfy beds and rest their heads knowing they are completely free of blame because it is always the fault of THEM not us. You have too much faith in people. ”

“I don’t need faith in them to do what is right.”

“I know Mr. Barnes. I’m counting on it. You act as if you were the first person to come to your minute view of things.”

“What happened to the others.”

“That IS the best question you have asked, unfortunately it is not one I can answer. I am not a seeker of truth. Unanswered questions do not burn my conscience. I am not an auxiliary member of some Sherlockian gang, trying to unmask the evils around us. I am merely a public servant. Since the people have not asked that I look into these matters, I won't. Potato, potato.”

“I’m not sure you’re using that right, they’re supposed to be pronounced differently.”

“Yet they are spelled the same way. Perspective, Mr. Barnes. Us and them. Neither pronunciation changes what a potato is, it just identifies us and them. It is the way of things.”

“I thought we were all in this together?”

“We are but you are one of them not one of us. There can’t be us if there is no them. Who would we blame for our misfortunes? Who would make us feel better about who we are? Who can we blame? Them.”

“ I think I’ve heard enough, but this is far from over.”

“We shall see, but don’t be disappointed if things don’t turn out quite like you expect them to. Or you could save yourself from all that unwarranted suffering and trauma and go live your life the way you feel is best.”

“My conscience won't allow it. I have to try and stop this.”

“And you think they are the unsane ones. But I knew you would not have it any other way. So if you have enough for whatever dark schemes you have planned ahead, I will bid you good day. You have a lot to think about, I believe. But one final bit of information at no charge Mr. Barnes, If you tell people they are being lied to, they might not get mad at the people lying to them, they’ll probably just get mad at whoever tells them the truth. People don’t seem to want to know there’s a better way. They just want the way they’ve been doing it to be the best way even if it’s a lie.  
Potato, Potato.”