On one side was brutal exploitation and oppression; on the other were carrots, sugar-laced carbonated drinks, and concepts such as "equality," "freedom," "democracy," and "human rights."
At the same time, they were overturning, breaking, and crushing Nagaril's former extreme rule, in which theocracy and political authority operated side by side.
How could the Nagaril People choose? It seemed there was no question at all.
Yes.
To save the Nagaril People from their miserable past, the Federals had generously bestowed so many "catchphrases" upon them.
But in reality, the Federals themselves did not enjoy these things. How could they possibly let the Nagaril People enjoy them?
It was a scam, a lie—but that scam and that lie were simply too sweet.
So sweet that many people overlooked the poison and traps beneath the honey.
The Federation's charter and laws had never mentioned equality, democracy, human rights, or anything of the sort. The only term explained in the charter was freedom.
Yet they stubbornly believed that they could possess all these things as long as they followed the Federals—even though the Federals had built the South Hemisphere Financial Center without allowing them inside, and built Slem without allowing the poor inside.
Oh! Right!
They were allowed into the world's largest port, but only as dockworkers, not to do business or engage in anything else.
The world had never changed, and neither had its rulers. People could not simply conclude from these comparisons that the rulers were unfriendly or evil.
This gentle method of choking people to death in the midst of beautiful dreams was at least much gentler than taking a hammer to someone's forehead several times while they were awake.
The Nagaril People were poorly educated. Combined with the intensity and reach of the brainwashing and propaganda, this meant that most