| To quote something from a favorite fiction-series, where someone has traveled to a relatively backwards planet: > "Poor?" said Cordelia, bewildered. "No electricity? How can it be on the comm network?" > "It's not, of course," answered Vorkosigan. > "Then how can anybody get their schooling?" > "They don't." > Cordelia stared. "I don't understand. How do they get their jobs?" > "A few escape to the Service. The rest prey on each other, mostly." Vorkosigan regarded her face uneasily. "Have you no poverty on Beta Colony?" > "Poverty? Well, some people have more money than others, of course, but... no comconsoles?" > Vorkosigan was diverted from his interrogation. "Is not owning a comconsole the lowest standard of living you can imagine?" he said in wonder. > "It's the first article in the constitution. 'Access to information shall not be abridged.' " -- Shards of Honor (1986) by Lois McMaster Bujold In the 39 years since this was published, I would have hoped our real society would have advanced a bit more in that direction. |