AREK: Captain, tell us about the other part of Earth, the
part you come from.
SLADE: Canada? Oh, you mean the Federation itself. It's very
great, miss--I mean, Arek. Let's have the map again, my
dear. All of North America--here--parts of South America,
the United States of Europe, Union of Islam, Japan, India,
parts of Africa outside of Islam--then over here there's
Australia and New Zealand, and here's the Republic of
Oceania. Almost all the rest of the world, you see. Here's
Federal City. Find it? Follow my finger east of
Winnipeg--lake country, and very lovely: I was born near
there. The city was planned and built new in 1985; seems
long ago, isn't really. And then, Arek, there are some small
countries which have preferred to keep their national unity
outside of the Federation instead of inside it, although
they're affiliated with us and there aren't any barriers to
travel and other intercourse. A somewhat technical
distinction, since local sovereignties are well enough
preserved within the Federation.
WRIGHT: Not entirely a technicality. At the time we left
Earth, there were some tendencies in the Federation that
could lead to overcentralization, even with the recognition
of limited powers. And too much emphasis on the admitted
glories of machine civilization. I think it's an excellent
thing that some parts of the world should be a little
insulated from the enthusiasms of material progress. The
Federation itself will be the better for it.
SLADE: Perhaps. I think I know what you mean, Doctor. I was
always a small-government man, myself. Still, under the
threat of Jenga--
STERN: I can't see it as much of a threat.
SALLY MARINO: I don't know....
STERN: The empire will break down sooner or later, of its
own rigidity.
SLADE: But while we wait for that, the Federation has to be
strong, in the military as well as other senses.
MUKERJI: If we do just wait for it.
STERN: Preventive war is an absurdity, Jimmy.