On the remote and desolate Turtle Island,
After a plane crash, with no hope of rescue...
CAPTAIN
I have surveyed the survivors, and I decree that we shall have democracy, because most of us want it.
POPPY
Who put you in charge of what the people want?
CAPTAIN
I am the captain, silly. In my first survey, most people wanted me to just run everything. But I am not some kind of dictator, so I refused and tried again.
OLLIE
Clearly the people are not thinking straight after the crash and cannot be relied on. Neither can the captain, whose failure brought us the crash.
POPPY
Oh, no. What will we do? How will the people get things done by the people, for the people?
OLLIE
The most learned among us have formed a small group to study the matter, and our objective finding is that we should be in charge. We have written this down and also the term "social contract."
POPPY
That sounds familiar, which I have always equated with true.
DEMI
There is only one thing to do: I hereby authorize the captain to survey the people again, to establish the Ollie-group's authority.
POPPY
Do the people approve of this plan, to survey the people again?
EVERYONE
(mumble mumble, cheers, groans, raised fists; mostly other chatter)
POPPY
Approved!
DEMI
Approved!
CAPTAIN
Approved!
ENDLESS STACK OF TURTLES
Approved!
EVERYONE, to each other
Did you hear? The people have spoken.
Cover image “TurtlesAllTheWayDown2.png” from Wikimedia, licensed under “Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.”
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:TurtlesAllTheWayDown2.png