Future Stories
Sam
Sam
“Do you want a coffee?” Sam’s dad called upstairs.
“Do you want a coffee?” Sam’s dad called upstairs.
Sam rolled over and looked at the clock. 10am. Time to get up.
Sam rolled over and looked at the clock. 10am. Time to get up.
“Yes please.” Sam replied, picking up the smart phone from the nightstand.
“Yes please.” Sam replied, picking up the smart phone from the nightstand.
Swiping away several notifications, Sam paused on the one from 7am. The latest Vote was live. Sam tapped the notification and the Vote app appeared.
Swiping away several notifications, Sam paused on the one from 7am. The latest Vote was live. Sam tapped the notification and the Vote app appeared.
Today's vote had been trailed in the media for weeks. But it was still exciting to see the choice was finally being put to the people. More notifications popped up. A comedian Sam followed on VidVok had already published a sketch on the vote.
Today's vote had been trailed in the media for weeks. But it was still exciting to see the choice was finally being put to the people. More notifications popped up. A comedian Sam followed on VidVok had already published a sketch on the vote.
One of the first big votes had been to change the voting age to 17 and Sam had turned 17 earlier in the year. At the time Sam was working as a delivery biker to top up the Young Person's UBI Sam received - introduced during the Coronavirus recession.
One of the first big votes had been to change the voting age to 17 and Sam had turned 17 earlier in the year. At the time Sam was working as a delivery biker to top up the Young Person's UBI Sam received - introduced during the Coronavirus recession.
“No taxation without representation” Sam's dad had remarked when that vote was announced.
“No taxation without representation” Sam's dad had remarked when that vote was announced.
Sam didn't get that ancient phrase at first. But like so much else with Direct Democracy, things had changed for the better. Sam had witnessed first hand a revolution in accountability and productivity. The pace of change had frightened some people, but we had to build back better. The old normal wasn't worth returning to.
Sam didn't get that ancient phrase at first. But like so much else with Direct Democracy, things had changed for the better. Sam had witnessed first hand a revolution in accountability and productivity. The pace of change had frightened some people, but we had to build back better. The old normal wasn't worth returning to.
The Vote app phrased the choice succinctly and followed up with 5 and 20 minute reads on the subject. One from the Yes side. One from the No side. Sam had read the 5 minute reads before. Perhaps there would be time today for a deep dive.
The Vote app phrased the choice succinctly and followed up with 5 and 20 minute reads on the subject. One from the Yes side. One from the No side. Sam had read the 5 minute reads before. Perhaps there would be time today for a deep dive.
Sam's friend had enrolled in the free online Voters Assembly for a deep dive on the choice. They had heard from experts on both sides and even got to ask a live question. There had been a few thousand people in the Assembly at the time.
Sam's friend had enrolled in the free online Voters Assembly for a deep dive on the choice. They had heard from experts on both sides and even got to ask a live question. There had been a few thousand people in the Assembly at the time.
Sam washed and dressed and wandered downstairs. “Thanks for the coffee Dad.”
Sam washed and dressed and wandered downstairs. “Thanks for the coffee Dad.”
“Did you sleep well?” enquired Sam's dad. Sam nodded, blowing at the coffee.
“Did you sleep well?” enquired Sam's dad. Sam nodded, blowing at the coffee.
“You still going out later?”
“You still going out later?”
“Yeah, circuit training.”
“Yeah, circuit training.”
Sam met the usual group on the beach. During a break, the talk soon turned to the vote. “Everyone will start doing it. It will become… boring.” Mused one friend. “The assembly explained how it, when fully implemented, you know, with shops on the high street, could raise billions in tax revenue.” Said another.
Sam met the usual group on the beach. During a break, the talk soon turned to the vote. “Everyone will start doing it. It will become… boring.” Mused one friend. “The assembly explained how it, when fully implemented, you know, with shops on the high street, could raise billions in tax revenue.” Said another.
Sam listened to all their opinions and mulled over more on the walk home. Sam closed the front door to the sound of a dishwasher being loaded. “There's leftovers in the fridge.” Sam's dad said.
Sam listened to all their opinions and mulled over more on the walk home. Sam closed the front door to the sound of a dishwasher being loaded. “There's leftovers in the fridge.” Sam's dad said.
“Thanks Dad.”
“Thanks Dad.”
“Have you voted yet?”
“Have you voted yet?”
“No, no yet.”
“No, no yet.”
At 6pm Sam started reading the two 20 minute reads on the upcoming vote. The 'Yes' arguments covered the successes in American and Canada, the HMRC Tax benefits, the consequence to health compared to alcohol, and the failure of the decades long “War on Drugs”. The “No” arguments also covered health and the concept of “Gateways”.
At 6pm Sam started reading the two 20 minute reads on the upcoming vote. The 'Yes' arguments covered the successes in American and Canada, the HMRC Tax benefits, the consequence to health compared to alcohol, and the failure of the decades long “War on Drugs”. The “No” arguments also covered health and the concept of “Gateways”.
At 6:55pm after some moments of quiet thought, Sam was ready.
At 6:55pm after some moments of quiet thought, Sam was ready.
The title of the vote filled the screen.
The title of the vote filled the screen.
'Do you want Cannabis to be legalised in the United Kingdom of England and Wales.'
'Do you want Cannabis to be legalised in the United Kingdom of England and Wales.'
At 6:59pm Sam voted.
At 6:59pm Sam voted.
The Vote closed at 7pm and Sam watched as Participation Credits dropped into the Vote app wallet. Sam had been saving the PCs up for a rainy day, but now considered cashing them in for a sunny one.
The Vote closed at 7pm and Sam watched as Participation Credits dropped into the Vote app wallet. Sam had been saving the PCs up for a rainy day, but now considered cashing them in for a sunny one.
Later, Sam's dad joined Sam on the sofa and they watched some new shows the Smart TV recommended.
Later, Sam's dad joined Sam on the sofa and they watched some new shows the Smart TV recommended.
At 9:30pm the results came through. “Wow! It wasn't as close as they thought.” said Sam.
At 9:30pm the results came through. “Wow! It wasn't as close as they thought.” said Sam.
Sam delved into the stats. How had the town voted? How had Sam's friends voted? Sam could see the choices of those who had chosen to make their profiles public. All the demographic data was there to investigate. Sam was still considering University and adding a data science module to a coding degree but was waiting for the result of the vote on tuition fees planned for later in the year.
Sam delved into the stats. How had the town voted? How had Sam's friends voted? Sam could see the choices of those who had chosen to make their profiles public. All the demographic data was there to investigate. Sam was still considering University and adding a data science module to a coding degree but was waiting for the result of the vote on tuition fees planned for later in the year.
The 10 o'clock news' leading story was, of course, the result of the vote. They explained the next steps, the implementation timeline and reminded everyone that Cannabis remained an illegal substance in the UK, until the projected date of the change in law.
The 10 o'clock news' leading story was, of course, the result of the vote. They explained the next steps, the implementation timeline and reminded everyone that Cannabis remained an illegal substance in the UK, until the projected date of the change in law.
“I'm off to bed.” Said Sam. “Night, love you.” Said Sam's dad.
“I'm off to bed.” Said Sam. “Night, love you.” Said Sam's dad.
Sam's dad watched the rest of the news then felt the familiar pain returning in his hand. He reached for the old tobacco tin on the coffee table and took out a joint and a lighter. It was the only thing that had worked for his arthritis. Years of being a solar panel installer had taken a toll.
Sam's dad watched the rest of the news then felt the familiar pain returning in his hand. He reached for the old tobacco tin on the coffee table and took out a joint and a lighter. It was the only thing that had worked for his arthritis. Years of being a solar panel installer had taken a toll.
He blew a smoke ring, as he would do when he was Sam's age and thought about the past and Sam's future.
He blew a smoke ring, as he would do when he was Sam's age and thought about the past and Sam's future.
The news turned to sport and he cheered to himself at the Football results. His team had won.
The news turned to sport and he cheered to himself at the Football results. His team had won.
