Darkness in the Brightest Day - Part 1

The Social Structure of 2286

Jake also got to learn more about the social structure of 2286.  All people were educated by teachers, not by the Aye even though that would have made it more efficient.  The Aye had figured out that sharing knowledge was something people found greatly rewarding and it encouraged teaching as long as it felt it wouldn't get the children, or even the adults, into trouble.  The headbands allowed the Aye to learn everything about every child.  Apparently, privacy was only for adults.  It made sure that whatever occupation was picked for the child would be the right one for their skills and interests and made sure there weren't too many of any given occupation.  It encouraged all sorts of creativity in artistic pursuits and it even tolerated scientific pursuits in the spare time of those who were interested.  People were given jobs that they were expected to work at for about 30 hours per week.  Failure to work meant no food deliveries.  Since the quality of the work only mattered for social purposes, no one would ever go hungry except by choice. The rest of their time was spent commuting to work and in leisure and social pursuits.  The Aye subtly and invisibly guided things to keep people busy and happy, but they were not entertained in a way that disconnected them as they were in 2068.  People had families and friends.  They were born, enjoyed their lives, got old and died.  These things happened the way they always had.  The Aye decided that old age was something that people shouldn't suffer any more and the virus would accomplish it.

Jake wasn't sure all this was a good idea.  The American revolutionary Patrick Henry had said: "Give me liberty or give me death."   How many Americans had fought and died for that ideal?  It seemed awful to him to give up democracy and liberty in the name of comfort and safety.  Of course, any one could give up these things but the Aye would deem them a rebel and kill them before they had a chance to do much of anything.  It seemed that the vast majority of the people of 2286 were apathetic to their constraints but even if they weren't, the Aye seemed to run things with a iron fist that would never rust, crack or weaken.  Living forever might be nice but would you really be able to find enough to do?  The work the Aye gave people seemed so shallow and pointless to him.  Though Jake was offended by this situation, he wasn't entirely convinced that giving up this life was best either.