Fortunate Bigboss: " Since we are in France, I will tell you the french democracy ".

Martin: " If I am not mistaken, a democracy is a political mode where the people exert itself his sovereignty ".

Fortunate Bigboss: " It is not so simple. The French elect representatives which make all the decisions ".

Martin: " Why? Are the French immature and incompetent to make only the significant decisions which relate to them? " 

Fortunate Bigboss: " It is not that. It is considered, rightly, that the French are completely able to indicate intermediaries to decide in their place ".

Martin: " But not to decide themselves? "

Candide: " One chooses probably the most just individuals to represent them! " Pangloss: " And these representatives scrupulously respect the commitments which they undertook with respect to their voters! "

Fortunate Bigboss: " You too simplify the things! Actually, the voters have a very vast choice. They can choose, at the elections time, to represent them, between Pierre, Paul or Jacques..... "

Martin: " And if Pierre, Paul or Jacques do not seem to them just or do not like to them? "

Fortunate Bigboss: " So much worse for them! They do not have an other choice. Or if not, they can always abstain from. Without being penalized. It is a prerogative which their representatives granted to them and who does not exist everywhere ".

Candide: " Of course, these people representatives always hold their promises? "

Fortunate Bigboss: " Only when that arranges them. Nothing obliges them there ".

Pangloss: " The men being naturally good, I am convinced that the people representatives are entirely disinterested and much more concerned interests in their voters than of their personal career! "

They were abruptly stopped by a procession gleaming cars arrival preceded of motorcyclists with splendid uniforms.

" It is the prefect " announced Fortunate Bigboss to them.

Discussions began between the Prefect and the G.I.P.N.F. President (the Gherkins Independent Producers National Federation). At the three rough hours end of palaver, the talks had not led. The Prefect and his motorcade disappeared. The hostages were retained during three days and three nights and slept in turn in the taxi.

Candide was astonished: " What do we have to make in this conflict? Why do they retain us? "

Martin: " Because we are their hostages! "

Candide: " Yes. But why are we their hostages? "

Martin: " Because to negotiate in a force position, should well be retained hostages! "

Pangloss: " Admirable! There is well best possible reasoning! "

The Prefect returned the fourth day with his gleaming motorcade and his decorative motorcyclists. The discussion was short. Equipped with strict ministerial directives, the Prefect signed an agreement with the G.I.P.N.F. President.

The hostages were released.

Pangloss: " You see! Very arranges itself with goodwill! "

Martin: " And especially much of money! Isn't this Mr Bigboss?"

Fortunate Bigboss, which had gotten information: " Indeed. The state will refund with the producers the difference in price between the gherkin normal course and the current disastrous course. In addition, it engages, in order to support the future courses, to promulgate a decree forcing the restorers required gherkins with all their meat dishes and all their hors-d'oeuvre ".

Candide: " It is really beautiful the democracy, Master Pangloss! "

Pangloss: " Admirable! "

They took again the road towards the capital. Martin, curious about democratic France manners again questioned their guide: "How are the french deputies elected? "

Fortunate Bigboss: " An arithmetic touch will make you understand. The French can vote as from 18 years, that is to say 75 % of the population. Approximately 85 % are registered on the electoral rolls. 65 % of them are expressed on average. 25 % of the latter vote for a party which will carry it. With 10 % of the voices (25 % of 65 % of 85 % of 75 %) a party seizes the power".

Martin: " Thus, the representatives of 10 % French vote laws to which must obey 100 % French. 90 % of the French have happiness to be directed, without the pangs nor the faults of freedom, by the 10 % minority representatives which manage their life as good seems to them? "

Fortunate Bigboss: " It is the democracy ......"

Martin: "......the french democraty! One spoke to me about a close democracy, quite different, which exists in Switzerland ".

Fortunate Bigboss: " It is exact. It is about a very antiquated political system which one names the direct democracy. Who relates to only a few million individuals to delayed manners. Imagine basic citizens, obviously badly informed, deciding themselves of their commune or their canton budget amount, their trade agreements, their foreign politics, their economic, political, social rules, etc !!! In short, these citizens decide on all, without rhyme or reason, without the essential help of their representatives, qualified well better than them to know their needs and their desires ".

Martin: " Moreover, one unceasingly importunes them by " votings " where they must themselves make the decisions which relate to their existence!"

Fortunate Bigboss: " Fortunately, the French representatives, by compassion for their voters, avoid these drudgeries to them. They ask them, strictly, to only vote to set up them. They take care, with total disinterestedness, remainder ".

Their taxi arrived to Paris and had been immobilized with a red fire. Suddenly, they heard shots. Our travellers, curious, got out of their taxi. Masked individuals left a bank precipitately. Police officers who watched for them, outside, precipitated to stop them. Our heroes did not understand why the police officers passed to them the handcuffs as to the criminals.

Accused of complicity, our travellers embarked in a police van which took them along, immediately, to the Sante jail.