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Imagining 2030 Series

for All You Do
!Frank Spring is the Political AffairsThanks
Director for the Truman National Security Project and is a
PS21 Global Fellow.
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3.12pm: hey. college buddy of mine might join us this evening if thats ok.
!3.16pm: more the merrier
!3.17pm: great. youll like her.
!**

Sophie blew out the office door, anxiously surveying the road, left ring finger pressing her
PalmPad to call a cab. She should have done this before she left but she got caught up and now it
was rush hour and theyd all be taken - ah, no, thank god. Here was one now, sleek, almost silent,
driving up the office parks driveway.
Hi there! Smiling womans face on the screen as Sophie got in. You wanna drive?

!No, Sophie exhaled, appending weakly, thank you.

!No problem! Where to? said the screen, as the steering column gently slid into the firewall.
!Sophie tapped her PalmPad.
!Got it! Well be there in fourteen minutes! Sophie sat back as the screen went dark and the cab
accelerated.
!Evenin, Sophia. From the cabs speakers, deep voice with a country western twang. The voice
made her want to listen she loved Westerns, and this was straight out of Deadwood - but it
called her Sophia, so whoever was trying to sell her something didnt know her very well. She
found the volume control. This is important. The values we cherish are under att

!**
!

5:41pm: sorry soph but im running late. hope it wont be more than 20m. so sorry.

!5:42pm: no problem. think i can entertain myself in a bar.

!5:43pm: i know you can. my friends already there. this is the most embarrassing pic of her i have.
!**
!Out of the cab, the smiling womans benediction Thanks! Have a great weekend! in her ears,
the bar in sight.
!Hey, Sophie.
!This from a gently smiling man standing in front of the plexiglass wall of a bus stop. No, he was
on the plexiglass wall of a bus stop. Still smiling, leaning in as if to tell a secret.
!Theres something you dont know about, naming one of the taller of the presidential
candidates currently battling it out. Hes not with us on preventing gun violence. In fact well,
youre not gonna like it. I sure didnt.

!She felt a little ridiculous, standing there listening to a bus stops pitch, but this mattered. She

waited as the bus stop told her how the tall candidate was against what they believed in, and then
held up his PalmPad.

!We can fight back. Chip in $6 thats how much most people pitch in at first and send him a
message about how committed we are to stopping gun violence and saving lives. Its this easy.
!Holding up his PalmPad, flexing his left middle finger, the device buzzing happily. Her own

PalmPad buzzed. Sure, why not? She flexed her middle finger, felt the grateful buzzing response.
The man on the bus stop smiled.

!Wonderful. Enjoy your weekend, and thanks for all you do!
!**
The bar. Dim. Hum of conversation. There she was.
!Diana?

Youre Sophie.
Hands shaken, drink ordered, Diana putting away a small screen, looking up.
How was your day?
I gave money to a bus stop.
Diana, huge smile.
What was the issue?
Gun violence.
Good for you.
It was weird, Sophie said.
Yeah, they kind of are, arent they?
Well, it called me Sophie. How did it know it was me?
It picked up your PalmPad, read your data. Have you ever signed a petition about gun violence?
Sophie thought back. Social media posts, calls to action forwarded to her network. An angry,
futile exchange in the comments section.
Thatd do it, Diana said.
Those ads usually call me Sophia.

But your friends call you Sophie? Then it was definitely social media; theres a tool that searches
for what the hell do you call them, not abbreviations, pet names?
Diminutives?
Sure - that searches for them on peoples public posts mentioning you.
Or my text chats?
Not unless theyre doing it illegally. Any text chats after 2024 cant be mined for commercial
data.
Im sorry, Diana. What do you do?
Small smile. Self-deprecating, or maybe just avoidant.
I work in data.
For a marketing company, or?
Leaning in.
For the happy presidential candidate.
Oh, wow, Sophie said, I love her!
Thank god! Diana, leaning back. Not everyone reacts like that.
They talk about how great the happy candidate is, how she really is like that.

!**
!6.28pm: sorry ladies i swear ill be over there in no time
!6.32pm: dont rush, i like her better than you anyway
!6.33pm: tough but fair
!**
!I think I was about to hear one of the other guys ads in the cab over here.
What did it say?
I dont know, I turned it down. Our values are under attack, something.
Why are they targeting you? Did they get your name right?
Called me Sophia.
What kind of voice?
Kind of a cowboy one.
You like Westerns? When did you last watch one?
Last night. I watched Tombstone, because its awesome.
Im your huckleberry.
Exactly.
What did they go after you for? I mean, youre registered
Independent.
Diana in mock celebration.
I found one! I found one!

!**

Diana up to get another round.

Excuse me?
Sophie turned to the smiling young woman.
Hi! Im Clarissa. I think you and I might be neighbors? I live near a pleasant street, modest
homes, nice apartments. Sophie nodded sure, not exactly neighbors, but close enough.
So, Im a volunteer for the happy candidate and theres a really important election coming up
and I wanted to ask if you support the happy candidate too?
Sophie, agog, but smiling, nodding, sure, happy candidate all the way. Clarissa with a huge smile.
Great! Listen, I am so glad youre with us. Listen, we have a wonderful team working to get her
elected could you come help us out, say, this Sunday morning at 11am?

Sophie was dimly aware that Diana had returned, putting their drinks down, beaming at both of
them. Please dont let me interrupt.
Clarissa smiling, nodding back to Sophie. So, can we count on you to join us at 11am this
Sunday?
Sophie, sure why not. Sure, I can do that.
Clarissa. Thats wonderful! Thank you so much. Ill send you a text chat to remind you and
Sophies PalmPad buzzed.
can you just.? Clarissa looking at the PalmPad, watching Sophie press down with her
finger and confirm Sunday at 11am on her calendar.
Great! Clarissa turned to Diana. Im sorry, Im Clarissa, Im
Im Diana. I work for the campaign. Great job. Thanks for all you do!

!Smiles, goodbyes, Clarissa rejoining her friends.

!Sophie shook her head. How?

Your data must have gotten you tagged as a potential strong supporter. Some of our vols have a
PalmPad app that alerts them when an un-IDed target voter is nearby. They get a picture from
your social media and a script sent to them, and then, well
Wow.
Yeah. She made a great volunteer ask.
Evidently. I wonder what Ill be doing with them.
Oh, youll canvass. Knock on doors.
What? Even with all this tech
Still the most effective way to get out the vote.
Youre kidding.
Not at all. Thanks for all you do!

!**
!6.51pm: finally out of here. there in ten. so sorry.
!6.53pm: its okay because youre coming canvassing on sunday morning
!6.57pm: ok