Nuffies

They had come down to Sorrento to stay a few days, taking advantage of Johno’s parents’ beach house. His parents were visiting Sydney, avoiding the crowds that came down for Christmas and January School Holidays.

‘The Peninsula freeway has made it too accessible, and we get inundated with CUBs (Cashed Up Bogans),’ his father would constantly complain. ‘Oh the trials and tribulations of having two homes,’ Johno would mockingly say, just out of earshot of his parents.

Alphy had observed the absurdity in Australia, where many younger Aussies could not afford to buy a home, but there were significant tax incentives provided to the rich, to buy additional homes, apart from their primary residence.

On AC, the whole housing and associated supply chain had been totally automated eons ago, with armies of automatons freely available for manufacturing and construction work. As a result, when required, Centaurians were allowed to select their own GOD, Grand Organic Design, from an extensive catalogue of architectural options. The fact that Saps still had to carry out manual labour and physical work was one of the many reasons the Centaurians still considered them ‘primitives’. In fact, work was seen as another form of slavery.

‘CARBs (Cashed-up Asset Rich Boomers) represent a significant voting block,’ Johno had explained to Alphy. ‘So every election the same old incentives remain, loading up the CARBs.’

'So perhaps it is time for a sustained period of fasting for the super-rich,’ said Janno. Johno looked at her quizzically. ‘Implement a tax regime where the rich pay their fair share and abolish the myriad tax loopholes and inequitable investment incentives,’ she explained.

'Clearly, many people in the Western world are rejecting the current model of free-market Capitalism. Hence, the rise of populism and extremism at both ends of the spectrum,’ said Johno. ‘So perhaps the time is right for New Age Socialism,’ said Janno. ‘Don’t we already have that’ said Alphy, ‘the Greens?’ ‘Unfortunately, the Greens have a track record of rejecting the practical in their never-ending pursuit of the perfect,’ replied Johno.

‘We’ve seen the flaws and dangers with both excessive Government control and unconstrained Capitalism, so for Western democracy to survive I think we need to find a new middle way. Luckily in Australia, we have compulsory voting, which at least ensures that no ultra extreme parties get elected to government. Unfortunately, it doesn’t guarantee competence. With high rates of voter apathy or voter suppression, this is not the case in the US, UK etc.’ said Johno. ‘So what’s the answer?’ asked Alphy. ‘Unfortunately, I have no fucking idea,’ replied Johno despairingly. ‘The rift between the Republicans and Democrats in the US is now so partisan and ferocious, it looks like a dress rehearsal for another Civil War.’

AC had successfully transitioned through a similar period of Sociopolitical turmoil in their ancient history, and hence Alphy knew the answer. But even if the Guardians would allow him to divulge it, (which they wouldn’t), given the current state of world affairs, he reluctantly had to admit, the Saps would not be capable of implementing it. Sadly, Alphy had to agree with Johno, and in his subsequent report back to AC, stated ‘with respect to effective Sociopolitical development, to use the Johno vernacular, the Saps have no fucking idea.’ Back on AC, NFI became the new shorthand to describe the Saps, whom they now referred to as nuffies.