“What’s the charge?” the commander said, knowing full well what the answer was going to be.
“It seems they were caught red-handed on a breaking-and-entering,” the police chief informed him. “That might not be so bad, but it was the governor’s house they were breaking into, and he caught them himself!”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Journal #112
While it may seem that my employer has a greater tendency than most to “buy his way” out of problems and dilemmas, I have noticed that he invariably draws the line when it comes to dealing with politicians. This is not, as it might be supposed, the result of any distaste on his part for the influence of “special interest groups,” nor does he subscribe to the “An honest politician is one who, once he’s bought, stays bought!” school of thought. Rather, it stems from a stubborn belief on his part that elected officials should not have to be “paid extra” to do their jobs.
As he puts it, “Waitresses and card dealers are paid minimum wage in anticipation of their income being supplemented by tips, so if one doesn’t tip them, one is, in effect, robbing them of their livelihood. Public officials, on the other hand, are expected to live within their salaries, so any effort on their part to obtain additional earnings for the simple performance of their duties is extortion at its worst and should be a jailable offense!”
Needless to say, this attitude does nothing toward increasing his popularity with the politicians he comes in contact with.
Governor Wingas, or Wind-gust, as he was known to his rivals, could not suppress a feeling of smug excitement as the commander was ushered into his study. Ever since reading in the media that there was a megamillionaire in residence in the settlement, the governor had been racking his brain for a way to entice a fat “campaign contribution” out of that noteworthy. All party and luncheon invitations had gone unanswered, however, as had his personal notes soliciting contributions and hinting vaguely at “beneficial legislation” for the Legionnaires.
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