A N.I.C.E. Boy, Part 2

President's Healthy Nation Act Derailed.

Washington Herald, March 2, 2004

In a surprise maneuver worthy of the Italian genius of subterfuge and political

cunning, Machiavelli, Congressman Dustin Lane of Illinois managed to derail

President Holly Denton's comprehensive Health Nation Act. The legislative

package was to set up a system of health delivery for all people that provided

equitable and free treatment for all essential health services regardless of

income or nationality. This would have had the effect of eliminating the access

that wealthy Americans enjoy for superior health care. It would also provide

free health care for all visitors and others who have come the U.S.

Non-essential health services would be priced according to the tax status of the

individual receiving treatment.

While the Act was finally passed shortly before 10.00 p.m., it was only after

key parts were deleted or changed. These included modifying the migration status

limitation. "At first glance it is easy to believe the Healthy Nation Act is

highly desirable. The media's images of the little Navajo boy in Arizona, the

baby in Missouri, and the elderly couple in Florida, have created a great deal

of sympathy to the issues of health problems going untreated. However, this is

without a doubt one of the most outrageous, misguided pieces of legislation that

has ever been brought before Congress. If we don't eliminate some of its

provisions we will be providing health services to the rest of the world,"

Congressman Lane said. "Any illegal alien, any visitor, will be able to demand

the best health treatment that the country has to offer, and at no cost to

themselves."

It was only with the greatest guile and political shrewdness that Lane was able

to remove the highly popular genetic testing and database provisions. The

supporters of HNA argued that this was crucial to providing centralized support

of the newly created health management system and to achieving the breakthroughs

in treatment that justified setting up the system in the first place. Mario

Gondesonas, the 55-year-old Congressman from Southern California, and Chairman

of the House Committee on Health Reform was not prepared for the opposition from

both sides of the floor that Lane managed to create. "In this day and age, we

must talk about universal health management, not merely providing subsidized

medical services to those who cannot afford their own. Without using the latest

in scientific research, we are unable to detect the health patterns that affect

our entire country," Gondesonas said. "America is crying out for legislation

that guarantees equitable health for every man, woman and child, regardless of

age, income, and immigration status. I cannot abide the un-American

mean-spirited attitude that prevails among the independent and junior members of

Congress," he said referring to the supporters of Congressman Lane.

Gondesonas said he was shocked at the amount of opposition to genetic testing.

"The solution to all of our health problems is technology. This would have

enabled doctors to see problems before they become widespread. Instead of

treating the disease, we could treat people's susceptibility to the disease. The

best offense always starts with a good defense. I fail to see how genetic

testing could adversely affect our civil liberties. It is goes against common

sense." It had been expected that this part of the bill would cause few

problems. Instead, House Democrats had anticipated some Republican opposition to

the income provisions and had prepared themselves for a vicious fight. The

opposition began as the familiar Republican filibuster that quickly became an

extraordinary use of privilege when the control of the floor was handed to

independent Congressman Lane. In a ten- minute speech, he referred to the health

plan as a ill-advised attempt to institute mediocre medical treatment.

"Government has no business legislating the standard of health care when it does

little more than pay lip-service to the power of competition in improving

quality. The fact is there are not enough doctors and nurses, and a genetic

database won't change that. The authors of this act have used genetic testing as

a panacea, as if it will solve the inherent problems at forty years of

mismanagement by our health insurance companies. What this country needs is

better access not greater control. The genetic database provision reeks of

Orwell's 1984. Putting this sort of information into a readily accessible

computer is tantamount to putting government and the insurance companies in

charge of our daily lives. The best way to improve our health system is by

reducing the role of the insurance companies in determining what treatments are

available, by training more doctors who are better rewarded, and by building a

system of health clinics to reach people who are ill-served by the emergency

room at their local hospital."

Chapter 2. West Wing, White House. March 9th, 2004

"'s simple, real simple," James Hackman said as he strutted across the floor,

peacock-style. Although his dull grey suit was hardly flamboyant, his manner

was.

She finished reading the document he had handed to her when he had entered the

room. She looked up as the Vice President dropped into the seat and stretched

out his legs, making himself comfortable without an invitation. She observed

little to respect. He was coarse and undignified, despite the way he acted.

Indeed, her critics had scorned their political partnership. Some referred to it

as 'a marriage of exigency'. Perhaps they were right she thought as she wondered

whether he realized she loathed him.

"Simple? Hardly, James. Don't you realize that you're suggesting? It's,... It's

ridiculous, " she scoffed at him, her tone dismissive.

"Of course I realize what a'm a suggestin', Holly. You ass me to look into tha'

problem. So I done that. We work 'n it fer six months now. And you know good 's

me wha's at stake. Ah've given this a great deal `a effort. This is far tha'

best approach `at committee's come up wid. `n fact is, I cain't say I dis'gree

with `eir `clusion."

He stopped then, proudly surveying the document on the low coffee table before

him. He could tell that the table was old and very expensive just by looking at

it. The dark lacquer, the intricate inlaid woods, the precious stones around the

sculpted edge. It was a gift from the Chinese Association of Textile

Manufacturers from when they had stayed at the White House a few months earlier.

Supposedly, it dated from the Ming Dynasty.

"For Christ's sake. It'll never get through Congress," she said abruptly.

"I think it will."

He had never addressed her as Madam President, although that was the appropriate

etiquette. James Hackman had a problem with smart white women, and unfortunately

for him, the President was smarter than most of them.

"It depends how we sell it. I got tha' numbers studied `n they ain't even close

to stoppin' us. Fact is, no one likes a goddamn sex deviate. People wants these

perverts gone fer good. Tha's a fact."

"Well, that's true enough," the President agreed. "I was watching Oprah today.

She didn't have good word to say for them."

"We cud jail `em all `nstead, but it cost a darn sight more."

"It's not impossible," President Denton said with a hint of a smile. "With the

two strikes law, we'd be rid of them for a long, long time."

"Time we crack'd down. Some a' 'em is even gettin' out from tha' big Can'yman

porn sweep in '02 `cause some judges is goin' easy. They ought to be goin' down

fer life and some's doin' a coupla years a' most. `sa disgrace."

"I agree we need to do something, James, and this is as good a time as any to do

it. We got elected because we promised a Just and Fair America! We have to do

something about crime, however, I don't think singling out one group like this

is all that we have to do. Even if they are pedophiles!"

"Hell, they's evil. They's worse than bein' gay! They get they's rocks off by

fuckin' kids. Sorry, 'olly."

"Apology accepted. Just don't forget that the gay community helped to get us in

here," she reminded him. "The fact that you don't like them is neither here nor

there. They're expecting us to pass a same-sex marriage law and add them as a

protected class to the Civil Rights Act. Damn it, this goes directly against

that."

"Do it?' The Vice-President laughed. "Most gays dis'sociate from pedophiles.

Talk `bout tha' pot callin' tha' kettle black."

"Be that as it may, we still owe them something. They carried California for

us."

"So they get wha' they wan'. We get wha' we wan'. If we do everythin' what they

wan', they'll be right behin' us on 'is."

"I expect you're right about that, James. I just can't help feeling that this

proposal is too radical."

"Ah'm not sayin' we git the knives out right away `n start slicin' off nuts.

Hell no! `n we certainly cain't require it by law or the fuckin' civil liberty

peoples gonna be all over us. We gotta finesse this show and do it right, even

if we go slow fer a while."

"If they ever manage to tie up with the gay contingent,..." she thought aloud.

"See, tha's why we gotta git rid of `em before they git up `n going `gain."

"There's still way too many gays for my taste, even after the AIDS thing got a

lot of them," the President agreed with a smirk. There was a story to be told

there. "They've still got the power to control this country and they don't even

know it."

"More `n likely the fags'll shut up, like I say, `specially if we pass tha'

same-sex leg'slation."

"I agree. Mostly, I'm worried that the press will have a field day. "First Woman

President Orders Castration of Boys. It sounds terrible!"

The Vice-President laughed. "They ain't gonna do that. Look at them numbers,

Holly. We trade maybe some bad press for the Christian Fundamentalists. We pick

up ten southern states and a big chunk a' the Midwest, and worse come to worse,

maybe we lose California."

"I've looked, James. But they supported me. I just can't.... What do the votes

look like?" she asked in an effort to get back on task.

"We can get just `bout every woman from both side to s'pport us just `cause of

yo' positi'n. It's `bout woman issues `n all. It's about keepin' families safe.

We get most if not all of tha' non-whities `causa me. We'll get a lotta s'port

too, just cause most people hates fags, and they don't give a damn `bout `em,

even as kids. Tha' senior vote `ll come in too fer much tha' same reason. Add to

that we got tha' white male vote from the unions, and the religious vote like I

just said. Put `em all `gether `n I believe it'll pass with least a thirty `cent

`jority in tha' `ouse. It's like to be a mite higher in the Senate."

"That high?" she asked incredulously.

"Of course, there's gonna be some `sistance from tha' west coast `cause they's

so many goddamn intellectuals out there. Might even cost us New York, I `magine.

They don't see th' difference `tween doin' it with a man or boy, I guess. We'll

stop of lot of tha' gay vote from goin' west with tha' same-sex law. Pity,

`cause they voted fer us' but it's not much to lose when we gain three more

terms."

"You're probably right," the President agreed. There was truth in what he said.

It was a hot issue and people wanted action.

"Course I am."

"Hm,... And you really think the American people will sit still and let this

happen? To systematically sterilize 3,000 boys a year who carry the da Vinci

gene in order to eliminate pedophilia? Even if they aren't going to be criminals

themselves?"

He poured himself more tea and slowly stirred in cream and sugar. Tea tasted

like `piss', but she drank it, so he had to as well. A Gallup Poll had been

conducted using questions about sex crimes mixed in with injustice and

inequality for different social groups. 95 percent of those surveyed supported

unidentified measures that could achieve the elimination of alternative

undesirable sexualities on a permanent basis. However, unidentified measures

were very different to the drastic action called for in the proposal. He

shrugged.

"I got it figured. Ta' win we gotta give some `way, right? Make it look better

on tha' face. It's gotta look right. People knows it's worse `n homosexuals, but

they're gonna say cuttin' off some kid's balls ain't the way to stop it.

Pedophilia's an abomination `gains' `manity. `gainst the very principles our

forefathers stood fer. It's `gains' nature," he said as eloquently as possible,

deliberating leaving out God for the moment.

"What do you have in mind?"

He smirked. "The act don't have'ta say shit about castratin' `em, right? We set

up an independen' agency. We give `em the goal of gettin' rid of deviant

behavior and let `em go."

"And we load the Agency with people who appreciate what has to happen," the

President finished with a knowing smile. "I think you've got it, James."

"Damn right! I know just the person, too. He got hisself a reputation huntin'

down pedophiles a coupla years back. He took down some boy-fuckin' Judge in

California. Some other perverts too. One boy-fucker even su'cided after they

found `im in'cent. He's the man to clean out tha' swamp."

The President smiled and nodded. She had all but given up any chance of getting

elected, that was until James Hackman approached her. He knew how to win. The

people had a short memory for some things and a long memory for others. The

trick was knowing how to play the game. She was in his debt and both of them

knew it.

"Personally, I loathe them as much as you do, James! If I had a chance, I'd

castrate most men. It wouldn't matter whether they were pedophiles or not. I

certainly wouldn't mind doing my ex-husband's miserable balls, even though he's

not into boys as far as I know!"

The Vice President laughed weakly. There had been a rumor, but nothing more than

that. Her husband had been present at Jack Seidelman's house in Cincinnati when

he died of a suppsoed heart attack. By itself it did not mean much, but there

was a report that had come into his hands by illicit means suggesting that a

young boy, blond, blue-eyed and very good looking, had been present at the time.

Plus, the CIA had been involved. He put the thought aside and placed his

dark-skinned hand on the sheaf of papers that represented the new act. It was

time.

"This's God's will, Holly. We got a chance `ere to fix thin's. There ain't no

better time to do this. We can finish what AIDS missed. Tha' country'll thank

us. Maybe a few people gonna gripe about kids losing their balls, but there

won't be no pedophiles left in a coupla generations."

"But no more da Vinci's either." She could not help sounding regretful, not

after her recent trip to Italy and the Vatican. "Give it to me." She held out

her hand, opened the document to the second page and read aloud.

"PREAMBLE

Whereas this great nation is founded on the principle of equality, and that

recognition of the inherent equal and inalienable rights of all members of the

human family is the foundation of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,

"Whereas disregard and contempt for the rights of others has resulted in

barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of this country,..."

She looked up and smiled. "Oh, I like that. A nice touch referring to that

serial murderer down south."

"Ah thought of tha' myself. He killed them ten boys. People don't ferget thin's

like tha'."

"Excellent-Ah, where was I up to? .... and to create a world in which all human

beings shall have the right to fulfill their dreams, to enjoy freedom of belief

and freedom from fear of discrimination and physical threat,

"Whereas the children of this country represent its greatest asset, and are its

future, and whereas sexual crimes against children constitute the most egregious

and hideous crimes and can no longer be tolerated.

"Whereas it is essential, if man is to have recourse against evil and depraved

actions that harm the children of our great nation, and as a last resort, to

stop the continued oppression of children through wicked acts by those who

possess by virtue of biological inheritance, certain genetic flaws that

predispose him to deviant and dangerous behavior,

"Whereas the peoples of the United States of America have reaffirmed their faith

in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the all people

regardless of sexual orientation and in the equal rights of all men and women

and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life,

Now, Therefore we proclaim this the Act, our Nation's NATURAL INTERVENTION TO

CONQUER EVIL....."

She stopped, thinking. Capitals always drew attention. A person had to be very

careful using capital letters when sending something to the Congress.

"Yeah? What is it?" He sounded petulant. This was the best part. He had written

most of that paragraph himself.

"Conquer?" she repeated. "It won't do. It reeks of my predecessor. Hm.... But I

do like the acronym, NICE. A `C' word? Control? To control evil. Still doesn't

sound right. Controlling isn't enough. We want to do more than just control it.

We want to get rid of it once and for all."

"How 'bout um,... cure?" James offered graciously. His vocabulary was limited.

"Cure? But we aren't curing anything, are we, not in a medical sense at least.

It would be misleading. Hm,... Curb? To curb evil? Much better!" she exclaimed.

After a moment, she glanced down again. N.I.C.E. It had a nice ring to it. It

sounded innocuous. Nice, not evil. Natural intervention to curb evil.

"To achieve the universal goals of life, liberty, and happiness, every organ of

our society, keeping this Act constantly in mind, shall strive by its actions to

promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, to

secure the same rights for all regardless of their sexual orientation,

notwithstanding that those few individuals deemed by our society to possess

genetic defects that render them dangerous to society at birth, shall be

provided with the opportunity to effect a permanent remedy and to make a

positive contribution to society."

The President ceased reading and looked up. She beamed. "It might just work. We

give with one hand and take away with the other. It's a very small price to

pay."

"Tha's wha' I figured. Go on, it gets better."

"Article 1. Except as excluded under Article 3, all people are entitled to all

the rights and freedoms set forth in this Act, without distinction of any kind,

including sexual orientation,

"Article 2. All people are born free and equal and have the same right to a life

of happiness regardless of sexual orientation. They are endowed with reason and

moral conscience, and subject to their own religious beliefs, should act towards

one another in a spirit of brotherhood. Such consensual relationships as may be

formed as partnerships under this Act shall be recognized by all government

bodies and have the full force of law."

That legitimized gay marriage. She smiled ambiguously. The gay population would

be ecstatic. Of course, with the full force of the law behind them, they would

be allowed to adopt. That might be problematic. Some people. the righteous

right, would complain vociferously.

"Article 3. Those people who are identified as having genetic defects that cause

them to endanger others through depraved acts, in particular acts against

children, shall be provided with the opportunity of redressing their

deficiencies in the most efficacious manner, with the understanding that such

treatments are voluntary, but which in order to attain the rights and privileges

of society, must effect a comprehensive and permanent remedy that can be

verified by examination. In the case of minors, the child's legal guardians

shall have sole responsibility for whatever action is deemed desirable. In the

case of adults, registration and treatment is discretionary, but for convicted

sex offenders, they shall be subject such action as may be mandated by the

tribunal herein described."

"What sort of treatment are we talking about?"

That was the question everyone would ask. There was only one treatment.

Castration. It was so barbaric. It was the sort of thing one did to slaves, or

to anyone with genetic deficiencies. Jews, gypsies, homosexuals, the mentally

retarded, anyone who could be considered undesirable, the Nazis were prepared to

eliminate all of them. If Adolf Hitler had won the war, it was likely that

anyone who wasn't the perfect blond-headed, blue-eyed Aryan would have been

sterilized.

Hackman hesitated to answer. He sipped his tea, even though he hated the taste.

The sugar helped. At least it wasn't bitter. Finally, he had to answer or appear

stupid.

"It don't say," he remarked.

"Well, I know that. That's why I'm asking."

Again, not for the first time, she wondered why she had allowed him to be her

running mate. What an idiotic expression? They had jogged together once for the

press. That was as far as `running mate' extended. There was some innuendo from

the conservative commentators, a few jokes on the late night television shows.

It was an understatement to say that his reputation preceded him. The mere

thought of getting into bed with him turned her stomach.

"Gotta be perm'net and compa'hensive. Boy's gotta lose `is balls fer it t'be

perm'net," he said nonchalantly. "Ain't no other way."

She gave him an irritated expression. "It won't fly. The AMA will scream

`Hippocratic Oath.'"

"They's tha' alright, damned hip-crits, all a 'em, even wi'out no oath."

She was exasperated, but she kept it hidden. "Do no harm," she explained

patiently. He still did not 'get it'. "They won't participate, James. Not if in

means cutting of a boy's testicles."

"Don't have'ta cut `em off," James Hackman smirked. "I `eard they's got other

ways. 'njections 'n such. Or we do 'em like cows. They got some kinda farm tool

fer 'em."

For a moment, she wanted to wipe the snide smirk off his face. It was too late

to change things now. She was stuck with him for the best part of three years.

No doubt there were other ways of achieving sterility. She continued reading.

"Article 4. Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person with

the understanding that the right to reproduce and develop to sexual maturity and

to engage in acts of intercourse is not protected by the rule of law when a

person has the potential to endanger children,

"Article 5. To achieve the purpose of this Act, an unaffiliated Agency will be

established, to be directed by a competent tribunal appointed by the President

or designee, and approved by the Congress of the United States of America; and

shall have all of the rights, responsibilities, and roles granted by the

Constitution or by Federal law.

"Article 6. This Act shall extend to minors and adults who have effected

treatment of said genetic deficiencies as covered under Article 3, all of the

rights, responsibilities and opportunities for the expression of free will in

the pursuit of happiness as accorded to other citizens not so afflicted."

"What does that mean?" she asked pointedly.

Hackman shrugged vaguely. He could not remember how Article 6 was derived or

what it was there for. It was not his idea, but he could not remember who had

suggested it. The President watched him for a moment and then gave up waiting

for a response.

"At first glance it's almost void for vagueness. However, it seems to be saying

that they can still lead normal lives after they've had this treatment. It

doesn't mean shit in legal terms, but it might not be such a bad idea to leave

it in. It looks like we're giving something back. We need to think about it."

"Article 7. Subject to the preceding, such individuals who voluntarily fulfill

the conditions of Article 3, shall avoid the penalty of lifetime incarceration

that results from multiple criminal offences involving the sexual abuse of

minors."

She stopped there, closing her eyes to concentrate. That was the incentive.

Submit to treatment that results in complete and permanent emasculation and you

will not spend the rest of your life in prison. She nodded. The rest of the

document was unimportant. With one hand it gave a little to a lot of people and

with the other it took back a lot from a few people. It was exactly the sort of

legislation that quickly gained approval. It worked like taxes!

"Even though it's ambiguous, they're still going to say that the measures are

much too extreme," she said coldly. "The rest of it is right on the money as far

as I can tell. Give me the rationale."

The Vice President smiled. She was looking for final justification. That meant

that she had bought into the basic principles. Just as everyone else would. It

was impossible not to. Everyone hated pedophiles. He rubbed his hands together.

"Firs' all, the Act's `bout fixin' tha' serious problem of pedophiles `n all.

Everyone knows pedophiles is on the increase. It don' matter we got tha' two

strikes law. An'way, it's not exclusively `bout them, is it? It supports bein'

gay, so it don't look like we're out bashin' queers. 'n the gays will support it

too, 'cause we had one of 'em on tha' committee. He said it won't matter a damn

'cause most of them pedophiles who likes boys ain't gay."

"I notice that we've been careful to leave the specific details of how the goals

are to be achieved. Leaving it up to the discretion of an agency is a stroke of

genius."

The Vice President smirked. "I was thinkin' it might be called `Tha' National

Ins'tute of Aberrant Sexuality. Tha's SAINT backwards if yer 'clude tha 't' in

tha."

The President gave him a strange look. "I really don't care what it's called,

James. The most important thing is it's not affiliated with the government.

They'll be in charge of testing and implementation. Better yet, the health

insurance people really want to set up that DNA database that Lane fucker

stopped. We can slip in something in this act to get it started. That way they

both can tap into it. There's no point in funding it twice."

"We can fund it wi' grants just like we funded,...."

"That will certainly help," she agreed heartlessly, cutting him off before he

had a chance to get started on his usual agenda. "Convince me how we make it

work, James!"

Hackman nodded. "Okay. Tha' main point is it's voluntary. Mostly we're talkin'

`bout boys under twelve, so 's up to the parents. They don't want some sexual

deviate fer a son."

"Why twelve?"

"They tell me yer gotta fix the problem `fore puberty, see, otherwise he jus'

gets shirty, Holly. 'sides he's then big 'nough to injure after that. We gotta

get `em reoriented too. Turn `em into fags or somethin' instead."

"How?"

"We was thinkin' of sendin' `em off to a camp. Tha' psychologis' says you get a

boy young `nough `n he could be chasin' men after a coupla weeks a' most."

"It sounds like brainwashing," she mused. "Not that I'm against it. Better

they're doing it with men instead harming other children, I suppose."

Hackman smiled. `Fer `while there I was thinkin' we needed ta' keep `em outta

school. Don't wan' `em pollutin' other kids. Then, I figure why not let `em do

sum kinda big brother thing, 'summin' tha' man's been fixed too. Settle `em

right into the fag life at tha' outset. We cain't have `em getting' married,

least not ta' womens."

The President nodded. "Good point. However, I really can't see a parent agreeing

to get little Johnny's balls cut off."

"Like ah said, Holly, one of tha' thin's tha' committee come up with was tha'

vast majority of parents don't want some deviate fer a kid. If they got a chance

fer straight, they'll take it."

"I agree in principle, but I wish you would answer my questions instead of

obfuscate all the time. I think prior to conception, to ensure a normal son,

parents would do whatever is needed. Under the right situation it's very likely

the parents will do something even after the child is born. My point is that we

need to get testing done during pregnancy if we can. Look into that right away.

I'm sure it would be rapidly adopted, especially if the Institute paid for the

abortion. Now, how about boys who test positive?"

"Tha' committee thinks that fer tha' right incentive most parents er gonna wan'

to do it. Either that or see tha' kid in jail. Tha' two-strikes law makes it fer

life y'know."W

She nodded. "What sort of incentive?"

"Tha' IRS could offer tax credits," Hackman suggested hopefully.

"Hm,... Not in this lifetime. The budget is tight as it is, especially now that

the Healthy Nation is underway. Hm,... but it is a good idea. We just can't do

it openly." The President suddenly smiled. "I've got it. The parents take it as

a charitable contribution to the Institute," she suggested. "Of course, the

treatment would be at no cost. There would have to be a few treatment options to

select from so it looks right. It's very likely that most parents will resist

the idea at first. We'll need to market it."

She was still unconvinced, but the proposal was beginning to take shape. It was

a pity that she had placed Hackman in charge of the project.

"As will tha' little faggots, no doubt. But there ain't nothing they can do, not

while they's still children an'way. They don't have no rights in tha' legal

sense, and they sure as hell cain't vote. And after tha' reorientation, they

won't be no worry."

"Unless I'm mistaken, there is nothing in the Constitution to prevent it," the

President mused. "The Declaration of Independence, maybe, with the reference to

life, liberty and happiness? But we covered that,..."

"Actually, tha's basis we used fer tha' NICE Act, that and tha' evil argumen'.

With the emphasis on equality `n justice and stoppin' crime, `n preservin' tha'

society by natural mean, it fit right in."

"I suppose so," she agreed reluctantly. No more da Vinci artists? She sighed.

"We've also got it to be non-`nominational too. Homosexuality is immoral, but

pedophilia's `a bomination `gainst God! He's on our side `n this."

"You do tend to exaggerate, James. However, I agree that pedophilia, like any

extreme thinking, is inherently destructive to our society. It's extreme,

sterilizing 3,000 boys a year, but it'll be worth it in the long run."

"Hell, boys `a been gelded fer a thousan' years, Holly. It ain't nuthin' new. It

don' take more'n a few minutes ta' do it. I'm willin' to bet there was even

plantation owners who was castratin' brothers. It ain't all that much ta' lose,

not fer a kid, not when he's nine or ten. It ain't like he knows what it's fer.

They git over it quick."

"The civil liberties people will scream bloody murder."

"It won't make no difference. Tha' rest of tha' country supports us. Time we put

'em in their place."

"I expect you're right. It's really very good legislation. It leaves a lot

unspecified. As legal guardians, parents have the right to require medical

treatment that is in the child's best interest."

"It's fer tha' chil'en," Hackman said. "They wan' this le'slation."

She resisted the impulse to tell him to shut up. She thought it through aloud.

"All NICE does is legitimize the opportunity to intervene in the natural

selection process to ensure that sexual deviants are unable to hurt our

children. It's that simple. It's really about achieving equality and justice for

all." She laughed. "I'm beginning to appreciate the possibilities. The queers

will buy in too seeing as we're supporting alternative sexualites." After a

moment, she added. "Begin planning right away, James. We'll need to have the

tribunal and Institute set up before it comes reaches me for signature. I don't

want any surprises."

"There ain't gonna be no s'prises," Hackman stated unequivocally.

"I do have one more idea for you," she said pointedly. Like that, it was not an

idea, It was an order, but not one that came from her.

"You got sumthin' else needs doin'?"

"Yes, and it's related to this." She rubbed her hands together. "Some people

might say that we need to pursue the men as well."

"You mean tha' mens whose pedophiles?"

She took a deep breath. Sometimes it was like dealing with a child. "Yes, James,

of course that's who I mean. It's going to look bad if we go after the kids and

leave the men out there abusing children. We'll direct the Bureau to give it

their top priority. We need a national campaign to target pedophiles. A national

database for a start. It should be publicly accessible. On the Internet. Anyone

who is even remotely linked to sex with kids ought to be on it."

Hackman smirked. "We'll drive `em off tha' streets."

She nodded abruptly, cutting him off before he could say more. "No, James, not

off the streets. I want them in jail. We'll prosecute them again and again until

we get them where they belong. We'll have the Attorney General develop

legislation that gets past the problem of being charged twice for the same

crime."

The President finished her tea and stood up, ready to dismiss him. Her favorite

television show was on in just a few minutes. She had been known to cut short

national security briefings not to miss it.

"There is one more thing," she added guardedly. "I want you to do something

about Lane. That bastard tried to fuck my Healthy Nation Act. The genetic

testing program that he stopped was an important part of the plan. I would

castrate him myself if I had the chance. I want him discredited, James. I want

him out of the way for good,... and quietly too. Very quietly," she said with

emphasis. "The press likes him for some reason. He's too smart for his own

fucking good."

"Ah'll get ta' him right after I finish settin' up tha' tribunal."

Hackman grinned gleefully. The meeting was over. It had taken six months to get

there, but the end was in sight. Already, he was thinking of the other members

of the tribunal. He would have liked to be on it himself. However, like the

President, he could see the rationale for disassociating himself once it had

been set up.