ic families
in control of Avalon's publishing and broadcasting fields have the endless
resources to buy you out, or squeeze you out, by one nasty means or
another."

Ronny snorted. "Well, the people must be satisfied or they'd vote some
fundamental changes."

Tog nodded. "They're satisfied, and no wonder. Since childhood every means
of forming their opinions have been in the hands of industrial feudalistic
families--including the schools."

"You mean the schools are private?"

"No, they don't have to be. The government is completely dominated by the
fifty or so families which for all practical purposes own Avalon. That
includes the schools. Some of the higher institutions of learning are
private, but they, too, are largely dependent upon grants from the
families."

-------------------------------------

Ronny was irritated by her know-all air. He tapped the book he'd been
reading with a finger. "They don't control the government. Avalon's got a
three-party system. Any time the people don't like the government, they
can vote in an alternative."

"That's an optical illusion. There are three parties, but each is
dominated by the fifty families, and election laws are such that for all
practical purposes it's impossible to start another party. Theoretically
it's possible, actually it isn't. The voters can vary back and forth
between the three political parties but it doesn't make any difference
which one they elect. They all stand for the same thing--a continuation of
the status quo."

"Then you claim it isn't democracy at all?"

Tog sighed. "That's a much abused word. Actually, pure democracy is seldom
seen. They pretty well had it in primitive society where government was
based on the family. You voted for one of your relatives in your clan to
represent you in the tribal councils. Every one in the tribe was equal so
far as apportionments of the necessities of life were concerned. No one,
even the tribal chiefs, ate better than anyone else, no one had a better
home."

Ronny said, snappishly, "And if man had remained at that level, we'd never
have gotten anywhere."

"That's right," she said. "For progress, man needed a leisure class.
Somebody with the time to study, to experiment, to work things out."

He said, "We're getting away from the point. You said in spite of
appearances they don't have democracy on Avalon."

"They have a pretense of it. But only free men can practice democracy. So