Another election

"What did you think about the eagle’s idea about a government and
electing a President?" the

fox asked.
“As I recall,” the weasel said, dryly, “the idea of electing a
President was your idea.”
“Ah, yes, so it was. Well, but the eagle started me thinking about
it, so I’m just giving credit

where credit is due. Anyway, you’d have to be pretty dumb not to see
that such a government

has a lot of potential for us all. Only—and as I think you might
understand—it’s not going to be

so easy as all that to elect a President. There are just too many
factions: too many species, too

many animosities. Why, did you hear the way those animals were
fighting about which Big

Animal has put them in this forest? I’m telling you, several times
I almost broke out laughing, it

was so ridiculous! Big Boars, Big Rats, Big Turtles! What
imbeciles! You know, I always knew

the other animals were a little slow upstairs, but I never realized
till today just how stupid they

really are. Anyway,” the fox continued, shrugging his shoulders,
“that’s not the reason why I

called you in here. What I really wanted to talk to you about was
the campaign for President.”
“I’m listening,” said the weasel politely.
“I’ll get right to the point. Are you weasels intending to put up a
candidate?”
“Well,” the weasel temporized, “that depends on various
circumstances within the weasel

community.”
The fox pulled back his upper lip and showed his tiny front teeth in
a smile. “‘Various

circumstances’! Oh, that’s good—very good—very cautious: spoken
like a true weasel! But you

know, you’re not talking to a rabbit or a crow right now: you’re
talking to a fox: and I know a snow

job when I hear one..."


THE POLITY OF BEASTS

The most politically incorrect book of its time.