Richard: Zachary created an environment that solved all issues that promoted free enterprise but also allowed natural monopolies under the government. Local governments now have natural control over their utility services thanks to things like thorium. Then you have his subway systems where the federal government profits on national public transit by selling train tickets and passes. Then on top of that, thanks to allowing the federal government to have a monopoly on alcohol and tobacco sales almost like how Sweden has with their Systembolaget, that makes up way more than what federal income taxes can collect from people who make $50 an hour. States pay federal taxes in return of our services like the military. Each state, thanks to Cripto and Zachary, have growing economies that makes them nearly self-sufficient. Even Texas is self-sufficient despite the state not enforcing a state income tax.

Dustin: Don't forget that NASA mining asteroids too with automated technology. So more money!

Cripto: That never would have occurred to me: the fact you got both sides of the horseshoe represented if I am right-wing (which I am) and Zachary is left-wing (at least that's what I thought).

Zachary/Zihao: I wanted to introduce new ideas to the federal government but in the end, we're Americans; we have to work together.

Richard: In the words of Abraham Lincoln, the first Republican president, a house divided is a house that cannot stand.

Leo: Very wise words of him indeed. I had been taught the quote differently, though; I thought it was "A house divided against itself cannot stand."

Me: You were the narrator of this story, Snare Soldier? Oh wow. Look at all this.

Roger/Snare Soldier: I was. The point of this, however, was the scandals of the strippers. Then we magically bring bad karma to them to defend ourselves by playing the old jazz standard, "The Stripper." Supernatural powers are weird that way, you know?

---

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bLX06yR3wY

Me: Magically bringing in karma, huh? Yikes.

Roger/Snare Soldier: It is a bit creepy. We're actually hoping we don't have to play the burlesque music anymore. We also have a hatred towards the act of pole dancing.