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Jennifer Government

 Jennifer Government
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TVTItem
 Jennifer Government
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Jennifer Government
 Jennifer Government
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Jennifer Government is a 2003 novel by Max Barry about a Corporate Dystopia where the government is powerless. Set 20 Minutes into the Future, United States has become a globe-spanning corporate empire including the Americas (bar Cuba), the British Isles, South Africa, India, Japan, and Australia - a recent acquisition where most of the book takes place. A map provided in the book identifies some countries as "affiliates" and others as "socialist" and "fragmented markets." Government taxation and spending are things of the past, people take the surnames of their employer company, and the corporations are above the handful of laws they have allowed to remain.The story begins when Corrupt Corporate Executive John Nike signs employee Hack Nike up for a new guerilla marketing scheme, killing a dozen customers that buy the latest model of their shoes to raise street cred. After Hack outsources the kill to NRA via the privatized police, the Government gets involved. The investigation is led by Jennifer Government, a single mother/secret agent who seems to have a personal stake in solving the case. Another story thread follows Hack's self-employed girlfriend, Violet (later Violet ExxonMobil) getting caught up in the war between US Alliance and Team Advantage, two "Customer Loyalty" programs that are effectively competing with each other and the government for control of the nation, and Hack getting involved with a group of anti-capitalist activists.Meanwhile, in Texas, Billy Bechtel (Later Billy NRA) is laid off as Bechtel closes down their tank factory and he decides he wants to go skiing. Several misunderstandings later he is a part of John Nike's ultimate plan: to overthrow the government. We also follow stock trader Buy Mitsui, who is a bystander to the initial Nike shootings who ends up dating Jennifer.Often compared with the dystopia novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, Jennifer Government explores the opposite premise - a dystopia wherein the state has too little power, allowing the unchecked abuse of power by non-state actors. Taxation was abolished long ago, which one character points to as the beginning of serious problems since it removed people from any sort of investment in the larger society, and almost all government services (including law enforcement and road repair) have been privatized.note The usual first-world percentage of GDP tied up in government taxation and spending is 40-60%, the bulk of this going towards education and keeping citizens alive and well. Pre-modern/liberal/libertarian states which spent on the level of the USA in the book, such as the real-life USA in 1850 or Qing and Republican China, never mobilized more than 4% of GDP outside wartime. Such states sometimes find themselves unable to tax more money even when they want to and so have to resort to making/'printing' money even in peacetime. The Government only has the power to investigate crimes against private property and life, and only the funding to help those who can pay.
 Jennifer Government
fetched
2023-11-24T08:14:45Z
 Jennifer Government
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2023-11-24T08:14:45Z
 Jennifer Government
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DBTropes
 Jennifer Government / int_117d2e1f
type
Fauxshadowing
 Jennifer Government / int_117d2e1f
comment
Fauxshadowing: The second half of the novel was intended to be more action-packed, before focus groups universally decried the change in tone. Nonetheless, some unused setup remains - an entire chapter is dedicated to John arranging for the NRA to have artillery set up across LA, but pointed at office buildings. Later, specific reference is made to such weapons being pointed at Reebok, a TA company. Ultimately, only one missile ever goes off and it doesn't appear to be connected to any of this.
 Jennifer Government / int_117d2e1f
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 Jennifer Government / int_1235f055
type
Dirty Coward
 Jennifer Government / int_1235f055
comment
Dirty Coward: Most people in the book who have genuine moral objections to what the likes of John Nike are up to do not have the courage to speak out about it, the UA executives in particular.
 Jennifer Government / int_1235f055
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 Jennifer Government / int_1d9ec554
type
Scannable Man
 Jennifer Government / int_1d9ec554
comment
Scannable Man: Jennifer has a barcode tattoo under her eye (it is the UPC for a Malibu Barbie). The tattoo is explicitly stated to be purely cosmetic. On the paperback version's cover, they arranged to learn the book's UPC in advance and replaced Jennifer's tattoo on the cover with it so that the book's front cover was scannable too.
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 Jennifer Government / int_20bcfa13
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Sliding Scale of Libertarianism and Authoritarianism
 Jennifer Government / int_20bcfa13
comment
Sliding Scale of Libertarianism and Authoritarianism: A rare bird in these times, a dystopia on the libertarian end.
 Jennifer Government / int_20bcfa13
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 Jennifer Government / int_22cf536c
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Chekhov's Gun
 Jennifer Government / int_22cf536c
comment
Chekhov's Gun: The extremely sharp Nike swooshes that are used as door handles at Nike Town are mentioned at the beginning of the book and show up again during the climax.
 Jennifer Government / int_22cf536c
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 Jennifer Government / int_230d64
type
Screw the Rules, I Have Money!
 Jennifer Government / int_230d64
comment
Screw the Rules, I Have Money!: Corporations eventually got so powerful that they were able to essentially get almost all of the rules abolished. There are a few characters who want to finish off the rest.
 Jennifer Government / int_230d64
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 Jennifer Government / int_29e6dc40
type
HypocriticalHumour
 Jennifer Government / int_29e6dc40
comment
Hypocritical Humour: Hack gets annoyed at a fleeing patron stealing trainers during the attack on Nike, only to realize he was planning on doing exactly that during his own escape.
 Jennifer Government / int_29e6dc40
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Jennifer Government / int_29e6dc40
 Jennifer Government / int_2b706ca
type
More Dakka
 Jennifer Government / int_2b706ca
comment
More Dakka: The Police and NRA both show this repeatedly. The latter are essentially an army, with a full military hierarchy, bases and vehicles that include tanks. The former have gigantic machineguns mounted on vehicles, and put another on top of a Burger King counter to destroy a McDonalds.
 Jennifer Government / int_2b706ca
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 Jennifer Government / int_2b9031ee
type
Privately Owned Society
 Jennifer Government / int_2b9031ee
comment
Privately Owned Society: Everything, including the Police and even the Government, is privatized.
 Jennifer Government / int_2b9031ee
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 Jennifer Government / int_2e8441c9
type
The Bad Guy Wins
 Jennifer Government / int_2e8441c9
comment
The Bad Guy Wins: Surprisingly averted for a dystopia story: the other executives realize the insanity that John Nike's plans would lead them to, and choose to work with the Government to get things straightened out again.
 Jennifer Government / int_2e8441c9
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 Jennifer Government / int_2fc21a19
type
Distaff Counterpart
 Jennifer Government / int_2fc21a19
comment
Distaff Counterpart: In the first draft, the character Miranda Hewlett-Packard was intended to be this to John Nike, but redrafts dropped her.
 Jennifer Government / int_2fc21a19
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 Jennifer Government / int_319e4a2f
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Even Evil Has Standards
 Jennifer Government / int_319e4a2f
comment
Even Evil Has Standards: The Nike VP of Global Sales finds the extremes that John Nike goes to repugnant. The leading executives of U.S. Alliance are also quick to denounce his plans of a wholly unregulated market as incompatible with their desires once they see them in action, and are more than willing to hang him out to dry.
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 Jennifer Government / int_327a197a
type
Publicity Stunt
 Jennifer Government / int_327a197a
comment
Publicity Stunt: The events of the novel are set off when Nike tries to drum up press for its new line of shoes by arranging random shootings in its stores.
 Jennifer Government / int_327a197a
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 Jennifer Government / int_32a1f455
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Alliterative Family
 Jennifer Government / int_32a1f455
comment
Alliterative Family: Kate's unmarried parents, John Nike and Jennifer Government.
 Jennifer Government / int_32a1f455
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 Jennifer Government / int_3318a1cb
type
Distant Finale
 Jennifer Government / int_3318a1cb
comment
Distant Finale: An epilogue set twelve years later depicts a reunion between the Pepsi Kid and John just after John's release from jail. The latter tries a charm offensive, and is basically told to go fuck himself.
 Jennifer Government / int_3318a1cb
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 Jennifer Government / int_3b39c254
type
Dystopia
 Jennifer Government / int_3b39c254
comment
Dystopia: Anything goes if you have the money for it. Everything is privatized, down to emergency services.
 Jennifer Government / int_3b39c254
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 Jennifer Government / int_465780af
type
Facial Markings
 Jennifer Government / int_465780af
comment
Facial Markings: Jennifer's barcode tattoo.
 Jennifer Government / int_465780af
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 Jennifer Government / int_479d4e5a
type
Would Hurt a Child
 Jennifer Government / int_479d4e5a
comment
Would Hurt a Child: John Nike is willing to have a bunch of kids killed at a mall and succeeds. He later has his own daughter kidnapped.
 Jennifer Government / int_479d4e5a
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 Jennifer Government / int_47fea76b
type
Butt-Monkey
 Jennifer Government / int_47fea76b
comment
Butt-Monkey: Billy NRA just wants to go skiing. He finally escapes with a ski instructor near the end of the book.
 Jennifer Government / int_47fea76b
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 Jennifer Government / int_4921aad7
type
Expanded States of America
 Jennifer Government / int_4921aad7
comment
Expanded States of America: Europe, China and Cuba are still independent, but Australia is a recent acquisition and most of the rest of the planet has been incorporated into the American economic empire.
 Jennifer Government / int_4921aad7
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 Jennifer Government / int_4e52a624
type
Screw the Money, I Have Rules!
 Jennifer Government / int_4e52a624
comment
Screw the Money, I Have Rules!: You pretty much need this attitude to be content working for the Government.
 Jennifer Government / int_4e52a624
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 Jennifer Government / int_4f84cdef
type
Smug Snake
 Jennifer Government / int_4f84cdef
comment
Smug Snake: John Nike is an arrogant controlling jerkass who believes in the abolishment of all government. When he finally loses his leverage over Jennifer Government, he degenerates into a Dirty Coward blubbering for mercy.
 Jennifer Government / int_4f84cdef
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 Jennifer Government / int_52488c54
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Drowning My Sorrows
 Jennifer Government / int_52488c54
comment
Drowning My Sorrows: Buy Mitsui gets so drunk that he cannot even properly navigate his wallet after he sees Hayley get gunned down for her shoes.
 Jennifer Government / int_52488c54
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 Jennifer Government / int_5313c266
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Bookends
 Jennifer Government / int_5313c266
comment
Book Ends: The investigation into the Nike Town shootings begins and ends with a call from Jennifer to Jim GE, Hayley's father.
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 Jennifer Government / int_567e7c4d
type
Wounded Gazelle Gambit
 Jennifer Government / int_567e7c4d
comment
Wounded Gazelle Gambit: Violet reduces herself to a "woe is me, everyone's out to get me" pity party. Hack and Claire waste no time in calling her out on the fact that she kidnapped a kid, and is lamenting the fact that she didn't just murder a man.
 Jennifer Government / int_567e7c4d
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 Jennifer Government / int_58970bae
type
PromotedToParent
 Jennifer Government / int_58970bae
comment
Promoted to Parent: Buy, who ends up spontaneously looking after Kate despite knowing nothing about kids, does so extremely well and ends up her stepfather.
 Jennifer Government / int_58970bae
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 Jennifer Government / int_5ca80293
type
Pragmatic Villainy
 Jennifer Government / int_5ca80293
comment
Pragmatic Villainy: It is not that the executives want to give power back to the government, they just recognize that if there is no regulation or outside moderation then corporations will destroy themselves and drive away their own customers.
 Jennifer Government / int_5ca80293
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 Jennifer Government / int_60b21fa3
type
The Lancer
 Jennifer Government / int_60b21fa3
comment
The Lancer: Calvin Government is this to his partner, Jennifer. He backs her up against numerous threats and helps her fight against the forces of the corporations.
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 Jennifer Government / int_61996785
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Sacrificial Lamb
 Jennifer Government / int_61996785
comment
Sacrificial Lamb: Hayley McDonald, a POV character, but only to give a human face to the Nike massacre that kicks off the book's plot.
 Jennifer Government / int_61996785
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 Jennifer Government / int_6bda9a30
type
Meaningful Name
 Jennifer Government / int_6bda9a30
comment
Meaningful Name: People use the name of their employer as their surname, hence all these Billy Bechtel and Jennifer Governments. More specifically, Buy chose that name after he moved from France as it seemed more appropriate for America, especially when one is a stockbroker.
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 Jennifer Government / int_6cea929e
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There Are No Good Executives
 Jennifer Government / int_6cea929e
comment
There Are No Good Executives: Bounced back and forth a bit. The ones we have any extended interaction with, anyway (except maybe the Pepsi kid) are pretty much greed on legs, but the corporate executives ultimately vote against John Nike's plans and eject him. They are not exactly saintly, but apparently Even Evil Has Standards.
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 Jennifer Government / int_6d332aea
type
Driven to Suicide
 Jennifer Government / int_6d332aea
comment
Driven to Suicide: Buy becomes depressed after the girl to whom he gave money to buy sneakers is killed because of the very same shoes. However, he does not know how to use the (very) expensive gun he purchases, and ends up calling Jennifer and asking for help on making the darn thing work. Next Thing They Knew...
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 Jennifer Government / int_79cce27b
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Law Enforcement, Inc.
 Jennifer Government / int_79cce27b
comment
Law Enforcement, Inc.: The Police, and NRA, though both are closer to mercenary services. The NRA even has a private air force and tanks. Tanks! Not just knockoffs or ancient Russian Surplus, either; the M1A1 Abrams is specifically named, though it could well be obsolete by the time the book takes place.
 Jennifer Government / int_79cce27b
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 Jennifer Government / int_863fa679
type
What Happened to the Mouse?
 Jennifer Government / int_863fa679
comment
What Happened to the Mouse?: The book does a good job of accounting for all the relevant characters but there are two exceptions: Elise, Jennifer and Calvin's boss. After she tells Jennifer the latter is going to London, she's never heard from again. Georgia Saints-Nike disappears after she's fired, though this is because she no longer has any interaction with the POV characters.
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 Jennifer Government / int_890d4ef2
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Humiliation Conga
 Jennifer Government / int_890d4ef2
comment
Humiliation Conga: The main John Nike gets one at the very end. After having his attempt to overthrow the government shot down in front of all his peers, he's arrested by the very woman who he thought he'd had killed. Twelve years of prison later, not only can he literally not get a single job he comes across, he's given a verbal smackdown by the Pepsi liaison who he'd laughed out of the room.
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 Jennifer Government / int_8ae880f7
type
Deconstruction
 Jennifer Government / int_8ae880f7
comment
Deconstruction: The novel deconstructs the dystopian fiction genre by flipping its idea of totalitarianism, and exploring the flaws of a society where there is no authority to force accountability for those who have power. Basically, the message is if government becomes weak and lacks power, it will create a power vacuum that will likely be filled by something much less accountable to individual citizens.
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 Jennifer Government / int_8b60a09b
type
Capitalism Is Bad
 Jennifer Government / int_8b60a09b
comment
Capitalism Is Bad: The book's message is that The Unfettered variety of Capitalism is especially detrimental. A girl gets killed in order to increase the street cred for some new shoes, 911 won't send an ambulance unless they can confirm whether the girl can afford it, and the government can barely afford to bring those responsible to justice.
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 Jennifer Government / int_8cb1a369
type
Took a Level in Jerkass
 Jennifer Government / int_8cb1a369
comment
Took a Level in Jerkass: Hack takes the assertiveness he gets from joining Claire's group too far, alienating them one by one. Claire explicitly says he used to be a lot nicer before it all, but he ends up doing the right thing in the end (thanks to a lot of prodding from her).
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 Jennifer Government / int_8ed5c6e4
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Asshole Victim
 Jennifer Government / int_8ed5c6e4
comment
Asshole Victim: The other John Nike, killed by Buy in the final confrontation at the Nike Town.
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type
Laser-Guided Karma
 Jennifer Government / int_90e31482
comment
Laser-Guided Karma: The other John Nike is beaten half to death for attempting to rape Violet, and later dies in the book's climax. Violet's nastiness is far less than that of either of the John Nikes, but she still treats Hack like dirt throughout and ultimately ends up losing out in the climactic conflict, while Hack ends up with her much nicer sister Claire. On the positive side, Buy gets a meaningful life with Jennifer, having struggled in doing the right thing throughout the book.
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Betty and Veronica
 Jennifer Government / int_94e4c8ab
comment
Betty and Veronica: Hack's choice between sweet, visionary Claire and forceful, greedy Violet.
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type
PrivateMilitaryContractor
 Jennifer Government / int_9823c800
comment
Private Military Contractor: Both The Police and the NRA, though The Police are more Law Enforcement, Inc. as mentioned above.
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Saintly Church
 Jennifer Government / int_99390db0
comment
Saintly Church: The churches run free hospitals, the only medical care a lot of poor people have.
 Jennifer Government / int_99390db0
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 Jennifer Government / int_a0db7803
type
It's Personal
 Jennifer Government / int_a0db7803
comment
It's Personal: Jennifer's entire motivation throughout the book has far more to do with her personal history with John than it does actually bringing justice to dead teenagers. The reason Hack usurps Claire's group is to avenge himself against the same John Nike, and by extension the company itself. Subconsciously, it appears to have been the idea from the beginning, but he only explicitly embarks on the path after he's fired.
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Jennifer Government / int_a0db7803
 Jennifer Government / int_a183f4c3
type
Skeleton Government
 Jennifer Government / int_a183f4c3
comment
Skeleton Government: Taxes were abolished years before the events of the book; these days the government mostly tries to prevent crime as it happens, and investigate them if the victims can pay for the investigation.
 Jennifer Government / int_a183f4c3
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1.0
 Jennifer Government / int_a183f4c3
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 Jennifer Government
hasFeature
Jennifer Government / int_a183f4c3
 Jennifer Government / int_a270b9e5
type
Anarchy Is Chaos
 Jennifer Government / int_a270b9e5
comment
Anarchy Is Chaos: Averted, despite most of the world devolving into anarcho-capitalism. The novel explores a lot of the flaws of the society, including a lack of inhibitions on those who hold power, but there is never a collapse of society into chaos. At one point late in the novel John Nike's aspirations for destroying the Government and letting the corporations have unlimited free reign gets decried by the head of US Alliance as a condition for chaos instead of anarchy.
 Jennifer Government / int_a270b9e5
featureApplicability
-1.0
 Jennifer Government / int_a270b9e5
featureConfidence
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 Jennifer Government
hasFeature
Jennifer Government / int_a270b9e5
 Jennifer Government / int_a3f6fcb0
type
Action Mom
 Jennifer Government / int_a3f6fcb0
comment
Action Mom: Jennifer, Government agent and single mother.
 Jennifer Government / int_a3f6fcb0
featureApplicability
1.0
 Jennifer Government / int_a3f6fcb0
featureConfidence
1.0
 Jennifer Government
hasFeature
Jennifer Government / int_a3f6fcb0
 Jennifer Government / int_a70223
type
Karma Houdini
 Jennifer Government / int_a70223
comment
Karma Houdini: A lot. Hack despite his part in arranging the Nike massacre ends up getting away with his girlfriend, Claire, to live a new life. Billy ends up finally skiing in Aspen with a new girlfriend despite his own involvement in almost killing the President. John Nike is a downplayed example; while he only spends a mere twelve years in prison for his crimes despite the murder of multiple kids, the assassination of the US President, and other capital crimes, his Smug Snake attitude offends the one man who could give him a high paying job again after he's released.
 Jennifer Government / int_a70223
featureApplicability
1.0
 Jennifer Government / int_a70223
featureConfidence
1.0
 Jennifer Government
hasFeature
Jennifer Government / int_a70223
 Jennifer Government / int_a7055a94
type
Classical Anti-Hero
 Jennifer Government / int_a7055a94
comment
Classical Anti-Hero: Hack, a likeable loser with no real place in the corporate world in which he lives.
 Jennifer Government / int_a7055a94
featureApplicability
1.0
 Jennifer Government / int_a7055a94
featureConfidence
1.0
 Jennifer Government
hasFeature
Jennifer Government / int_a7055a94
 Jennifer Government / int_a9ba5cdc
type
Deliver Us from Evil
 Jennifer Government / int_a9ba5cdc
comment
Deliver Us from Evil: After being dumped by John Nike after getting pregnant, Jennifer quit her corporate job and became a Government agent.
 Jennifer Government / int_a9ba5cdc
featureApplicability
1.0
 Jennifer Government / int_a9ba5cdc
featureConfidence
1.0
 Jennifer Government
hasFeature
Jennifer Government / int_a9ba5cdc
 Jennifer Government / int_aa8dcc21
type
MegaCorp
 Jennifer Government / int_aa8dcc21
comment
Mega-Corp: US Alliance and Team Advantage, two corporate alliances including the most powerful companies in every field. US Alliance includes most of the strongest.
 Jennifer Government / int_aa8dcc21
featureApplicability
1.0
 Jennifer Government / int_aa8dcc21
featureConfidence
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 Jennifer Government
hasFeature
Jennifer Government / int_aa8dcc21
 Jennifer Government / int_aaece264
type
Rousing Speech
 Jennifer Government / int_aaece264
comment
Rousing Speech: John loves giving these, and he's usually successful. His last one, which is almost identical to his second-last one, falls completely flat. Possibly because he backed up his "The end justifies the means, and all of us have forsaken human life in the name of profit somewhere along the line" by blowing up the plane carrying two thirds of the government's leaders, including the entire top echelon.
 Jennifer Government / int_aaece264
featureApplicability
1.0
 Jennifer Government / int_aaece264
featureConfidence
1.0
 Jennifer Government
hasFeature
Jennifer Government / int_aaece264
 Jennifer Government / int_aba04d22
type
High Times Future
 Jennifer Government / int_aba04d22
comment
High Times Alternate Reality: Drugs have been legalized and you can get them at the supermarkets.
 Jennifer Government / int_aba04d22
featureApplicability
1.0
 Jennifer Government / int_aba04d22
featureConfidence
1.0
 Jennifer Government
hasFeature
Jennifer Government / int_aba04d22
 Jennifer Government / int_ae3d6438
type
Deadpan Snarker
 Jennifer Government / int_ae3d6438
comment
Deadpan Snarker: Calvin Government. He loves doing it to wind up Jennifer.
 Jennifer Government / int_ae3d6438
featureApplicability
1.0
 Jennifer Government / int_ae3d6438
featureConfidence
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 Jennifer Government
hasFeature
Jennifer Government / int_ae3d6438
 Jennifer Government / int_aec19d54
type
Hyperlink Story
 Jennifer Government / int_aec19d54
comment
Hyperlink Story: The story follows several different plots simultaneously, with Hack, Violet, Billy, Buy and Jennifer all protagonists of their own tales. Eventually everything becomes intertwined as the characters run into one another.
 Jennifer Government / int_aec19d54
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 Jennifer Government / int_aec19d54
featureConfidence
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 Jennifer Government
hasFeature
Jennifer Government / int_aec19d54
 Jennifer Government / int_b01abe4f
type
Catchphrase
 Jennifer Government / int_b01abe4f
comment
Catchphrase: Jennifer has "And yet...", used very sparingly but to great effect;
 Jennifer Government / int_b01abe4f
featureApplicability
1.0
 Jennifer Government / int_b01abe4f
featureConfidence
1.0
 Jennifer Government
hasFeature
Jennifer Government / int_b01abe4f
 Jennifer Government / int_b8e3f20a
type
Demoted to Extra
 Jennifer Government / int_b8e3f20a
comment
Demoted to Extra: Holly TA, the Team Advantage boss. This is because the female, TA version of John Nike, Miranda Hewlett-Packard, was dropped in redrafting since she didn't intersect with the other characters. Holly is therefore stuck with only a few short scenes with Violet and John.
 Jennifer Government / int_b8e3f20a
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 Jennifer Government / int_b8e3f20a
featureConfidence
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 Jennifer Government
hasFeature
Jennifer Government / int_b8e3f20a
 Jennifer Government / int_bb18a227
type
It's All About Me
 Jennifer Government / int_bb18a227
comment
It's All About Me: Violet is actually the worst offender, since John acts on principle. Granted, they're awful, but he's completely fine with everyone else trying what he's doing. Violet, meanwhile, despite suffering genuine slights (the Attempted Rape for one) never accepts responsibility for anything. She even bitches to herself about the courier she beat up to steal her jacket having the audacity to fight back.
 Jennifer Government / int_bb18a227
featureApplicability
1.0
 Jennifer Government / int_bb18a227
featureConfidence
1.0
 Jennifer Government
hasFeature
Jennifer Government / int_bb18a227
 Jennifer Government / int_be009bbc
type
Alliterative Name
 Jennifer Government / int_be009bbc
comment
Alliterative Name: Pearson Police.
 Jennifer Government / int_be009bbc
featureApplicability
1.0
 Jennifer Government / int_be009bbc
featureConfidence
1.0
 Jennifer Government
hasFeature
Jennifer Government / int_be009bbc
 Jennifer Government / int_c5249b29
type
Nice Guy
 Jennifer Government / int_c5249b29
comment
Nice Guy: Hack for the first half of the novel, and Buy. Subverted in that Hack is involved in numerous criminal activity, including a mass shooting because he lets people walk all over him.
 Jennifer Government / int_c5249b29
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-0.3
 Jennifer Government / int_c5249b29
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hasFeature
Jennifer Government / int_c5249b29
 Jennifer Government / int_c83a589c
type
Luke, I Am Your Father
 Jennifer Government / int_c83a589c
comment
Luke, I Am Your Father: John Nike is Kate's biological father, though he never tells her in person.
 Jennifer Government / int_c83a589c
featureApplicability
1.0
 Jennifer Government / int_c83a589c
featureConfidence
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 Jennifer Government
hasFeature
Jennifer Government / int_c83a589c
 Jennifer Government / int_c93a6560
type
Impaled with Extreme Prejudice
 Jennifer Government / int_c93a6560
comment
Impaled with Extreme Prejudice: The other John Nike gets killed in the end by the sharp Nike swoosh handles on the doors.
 Jennifer Government / int_c93a6560
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1.0
 Jennifer Government / int_c93a6560
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 Jennifer Government
hasFeature
Jennifer Government / int_c93a6560
 Jennifer Government / int_ca87e3ec
type
No Name Given
 Jennifer Government / int_ca87e3ec
comment
No Name Given: The Pepsi Kid, though he does provide his name on his first appearance, which John ignores and subsequently forgets. He finally reveals it to be Theo in his last (present-day) appearance.
 Jennifer Government / int_ca87e3ec
featureApplicability
1.0
 Jennifer Government / int_ca87e3ec
featureConfidence
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 Jennifer Government
hasFeature
Jennifer Government / int_ca87e3ec
 Jennifer Government / int_cbe687ab
type
Corrupt Corporate Executive
 Jennifer Government / int_cbe687ab
comment
Corrupt Corporate Executive: John Nike, who initiates the plot by deciding that the best way to improve sales of the newest Nike product line is to kill random teens who buy the shoes.
 Jennifer Government / int_cbe687ab
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1.0
 Jennifer Government / int_cbe687ab
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hasFeature
Jennifer Government / int_cbe687ab
 Jennifer Government / int_ce27dc3f
type
Protagonist Title
 Jennifer Government / int_ce27dc3f
comment
Protagonist Title: Named for Jennifer, an employee of the Government.
 Jennifer Government / int_ce27dc3f
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 Jennifer Government / int_ce27dc3f
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Jennifer Government / int_ce27dc3f
 Jennifer Government / int_d385f6bd
type
FrivolousLawSuit
 Jennifer Government / int_d385f6bd
comment
Frivolous Law Suit: They would be, except that in this world, they're entirely serious and will almost always succeed. In one early action sequence, Jennifer is thrown onto a Mercedes in a mall. The company sue her for the damage. The book shows the memo from the legal team, which asks questions such as "Did you consider any alternative courses of action that would not have resulted in destruction of the property" and "What was your mental state at the time?". Simply put, you can sue for almost anything you've lost money over, even if it's completely unavoidable (Addidas are stated to sue you for lost profits if you leave and your replacement isn't as good as you, for example).
 Jennifer Government / int_d385f6bd
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 Jennifer Government / int_d385f6bd
featureConfidence
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 Jennifer Government
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Jennifer Government / int_d385f6bd
 Jennifer Government / int_d45c0b86
type
Refuge in Audacity
 Jennifer Government / int_d45c0b86
comment
Refuge in Audacity: Nike killing their customers in the novel is such an extreme thing to do that most likely it's what keeps the real Nike from suing Barry. It's just too extreme to believe. Word of God gives this as the author's own understanding of why he hasn't been sued.
 Jennifer Government / int_d45c0b86
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1.0
 Jennifer Government / int_d45c0b86
featureConfidence
1.0
 Jennifer Government
hasFeature
Jennifer Government / int_d45c0b86
 Jennifer Government / int_d4c98786
type
Writing Around Trademarks
 Jennifer Government / int_d4c98786
comment
Writing Around Trademarks: Averted, surprisingly without any lawsuits. The evil corporations that are trying to overthrow the US government include Nike, McDonalds, Burger King, and the NRA.
 Jennifer Government / int_d4c98786
featureApplicability
-1.0
 Jennifer Government / int_d4c98786
featureConfidence
1.0
 Jennifer Government
hasFeature
Jennifer Government / int_d4c98786
 Jennifer Government / int_dca70c44
type
Reasonable Authority Figure
 Jennifer Government / int_dca70c44
comment
Reasonable Authority Figure: Elise Government, Jennifer's boss, is perfectly sensible, doing her best to moderate Jennifer's rage. Even with Calvin's support she's not able to stop her, however.
 Jennifer Government / int_dca70c44
featureApplicability
1.0
 Jennifer Government / int_dca70c44
featureConfidence
1.0
 Jennifer Government
hasFeature
Jennifer Government / int_dca70c44
 Jennifer Government / int_dde43ab
type
Tattooed Crook
 Jennifer Government / int_dde43ab
comment
Tattooed Crook: Corporate logo-tattooed skinheads.
 Jennifer Government / int_dde43ab
featureApplicability
1.0
 Jennifer Government / int_dde43ab
featureConfidence
1.0
 Jennifer Government
hasFeature
Jennifer Government / int_dde43ab
 Jennifer Government / int_e11027bb
type
Sex for Solace
 Jennifer Government / int_e11027bb
comment
Sex for Solace: Buy blames himself for the death of the girl who was killed for the shoes that he helped her buy. He goes out to try washing away the guilt, and winds up going home with Sandy John-Hancock. The next day he recognizes that he will probably never call her again, which is a pity since she actually seemed rather nice, and he later hooks up with Jennifer herself.
 Jennifer Government / int_e11027bb
featureApplicability
1.0
 Jennifer Government / int_e11027bb
featureConfidence
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 Jennifer Government
hasFeature
Jennifer Government / int_e11027bb
 Jennifer Government / int_e2023325
type
StrawmanPolitical
 Jennifer Government / int_e2023325
comment
Strawman Political: To the point of self-parody. John Nike in particular believes that the destruction of the US government is the last impediment to true free market capitalism. He is willing to go to any lengths to see this achieved and doesn't see any potential downsides.
 Jennifer Government / int_e2023325
featureApplicability
1.0
 Jennifer Government / int_e2023325
featureConfidence
1.0
 Jennifer Government
hasFeature
Jennifer Government / int_e2023325
 Jennifer Government / int_e3109dae
type
Switching P.O.V.
 Jennifer Government / int_e3109dae
comment
Switching P.O.V.: The five main protagonists (Jennifer, Hack, Buy, Billy and Violet), the main antagonist (VP John Nike) and Hayley McDonalds are all POV characters, with the perspective changing with each chapter. There's also a single chapter with an NRA pilot codenamed Jackpot, for no apparent reason than to give a direct look at the assassination of the Government's leadership.
 Jennifer Government / int_e3109dae
featureApplicability
1.0
 Jennifer Government / int_e3109dae
featureConfidence
1.0
 Jennifer Government
hasFeature
Jennifer Government / int_e3109dae
 Jennifer Government / int_eb8ec7c8
type
Jerkass
 Jennifer Government / int_eb8ec7c8
comment
Jerkass: Both Johns, Violet, Holly, and many minor characters. In a society that reveres unregulated capitalism, jerks and selfishness are considered virtues. Hence the characters routinely insult each other and have It's All About Me attitudes.
 Jennifer Government / int_eb8ec7c8
featureApplicability
1.0
 Jennifer Government / int_eb8ec7c8
featureConfidence
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 Jennifer Government
hasFeature
Jennifer Government / int_eb8ec7c8
 Jennifer Government / int_ee7a60e9
type
One-Steve Limit
 Jennifer Government / int_ee7a60e9
comment
One-Steve Limit: Averted. The first two characters we meet are John Nike and John Nike. The mix-up between Bill NRA and Billy NRA provides some of the crucial plot developments of the mid-point of the novel.
 Jennifer Government / int_ee7a60e9
featureApplicability
-1.0
 Jennifer Government / int_ee7a60e9
featureConfidence
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 Jennifer Government
hasFeature
Jennifer Government / int_ee7a60e9
 Jennifer Government / int_eea09b27
type
Political Correctness Is Evil
 Jennifer Government / int_eea09b27
comment
Political Correctness Is Evil: How people in the United States view "Socialist" countries, such as most of Europe, including the belief that the government will cripple the siblings of disabled children in order to make sure that they are equal. A teacher points out that the socialist countries don't actually do that. This is possibly a shout-out to Harrison Bergeron.
 Jennifer Government / int_eea09b27
featureApplicability
1.0
 Jennifer Government / int_eea09b27
featureConfidence
1.0
 Jennifer Government
hasFeature
Jennifer Government / int_eea09b27
 Jennifer Government / int_f32d85ab
type
20 Minutes into the Future
 Jennifer Government / int_f32d85ab
comment
20 Minutes into the Future: At one point, there is a reference to one of the main characters working on the '96 Pepsi campaign, but Word of God says that this is a present day story based on an Alternate History. No specific dates are given, with the exception of that reference, to enhance this.
 Jennifer Government / int_f32d85ab
featureApplicability
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 Jennifer Government / int_f32d85ab
featureConfidence
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 Jennifer Government
hasFeature
Jennifer Government / int_f32d85ab
 Jennifer Government / int_f5c505db
type
The Cracker
 Jennifer Government / int_f5c505db
comment
The Cracker: Violet, who finds herself involved with the cyber side to the corporate war between the loyalty programs. Her virus spreads through anti-virus programs, thus the more paranoid the target, the faster they are infected and their computers bricked.
 Jennifer Government / int_f5c505db
featureApplicability
1.0
 Jennifer Government / int_f5c505db
featureConfidence
1.0
 Jennifer Government
hasFeature
Jennifer Government / int_f5c505db
 Jennifer Government / int_f64a9cf7
type
Earn Your Happy Ending
 Jennifer Government / int_f64a9cf7
comment
On the positive side, Buy gets a meaningful life with Jennifer, having struggled in doing the right thing throughout the book.
 Jennifer Government / int_f64a9cf7
featureApplicability
1.0
 Jennifer Government / int_f64a9cf7
featureConfidence
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 Jennifer Government
hasFeature
Jennifer Government / int_f64a9cf7
 Jennifer Government / int_f85354eb
type
Attempted Rape
 Jennifer Government / int_f85354eb
comment
Attempted Rape: The other John Nike tries this on Violet. He gets beaten half to death with a crumpet toaster for it.
 Jennifer Government / int_f85354eb
featureApplicability
1.0
 Jennifer Government / int_f85354eb
featureConfidence
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 Jennifer Government
hasFeature
Jennifer Government / int_f85354eb
 Jennifer Government / int_f9f2c33
type
Running Gag
 Jennifer Government / int_f9f2c33
comment
Running Gag: John forgetting the Pepsi Kid's name, which extends to the very last chapter.
 Jennifer Government / int_f9f2c33
featureApplicability
1.0
 Jennifer Government / int_f9f2c33
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 Jennifer Government
hasFeature
Jennifer Government / int_f9f2c33
 Jennifer Government / int_fccd06b6
type
Beware the Nice Ones
 Jennifer Government / int_fccd06b6
comment
Beware the Nice Ones: Violet isn't exactly "nice", but is nonetheless a physically unimposing geek. John does not expect her to fight back when he tries to force himself on her. Hack, of all people, ends up leading an anti-corporate crusade - a far cry from the loser we meet at the start of the book. Buy, one of the nicest guys you could hope to meet, ends up killing a man.It's John Nike and in self-defence, so no slight on his character.
 Jennifer Government / int_fccd06b6
featureApplicability
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 Jennifer Government / int_fccd06b6
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 Jennifer Government
hasFeature
Jennifer Government / int_fccd06b6
 Jennifer Government / int_fdbb6993
type
Ridiculous Future Inflation
 Jennifer Government / int_fdbb6993
comment
Ridiculous Future Inflation: Something to be expected in such a society. A single pair of Nike's new Mercury shoes costs $2,500. Most people have huge paychecks and savings to accommodate for this.
 Jennifer Government / int_fdbb6993
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 Jennifer Government / int_fdbb6993
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Jennifer Government / int_fdbb6993
 Jennifer Government / int_name
type
ItemName
 Jennifer Government / int_name
comment
 Jennifer Government / int_name
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 Jennifer Government / int_name
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Jennifer Government / int_name
 Jennifer Government / int_name
itemName
Jennifer Government

The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

 Jennifer Government
hasFeature
Advert-Overloaded Future / int_93e0d9e3
 Jennifer Government
hasFeature
Big Brother Is Employing You / int_93e0d9e3
 Jennifer Government
hasFeature
Capitalism Is Bad / int_93e0d9e3
 Jennifer Government
hasFeature
Character Title / int_93e0d9e3
 Jennifer Government
hasFeature
Confronting Your Imposter / int_93e0d9e3
 Jennifer Government
hasFeature
Corporate Warfare / int_93e0d9e3
 Jennifer Government
hasFeature
Deliver Us from Evil / int_93e0d9e3
 Jennifer Government
hasFeature
Double X / int_93e0d9e3
 Jennifer Government
hasFeature
Dystopia / int_93e0d9e3
 Jennifer Government
hasFeature
Expanded States of America / int_93e0d9e3
 Jennifer Government
hasFeature
Facial Markings / int_93e0d9e3
 Jennifer Government
hasFeature
Firing Day / int_93e0d9e3
 Jennifer Government
hasFeature
Flashed-Badge Hijack / int_93e0d9e3
 Jennifer Government
hasFeature
Graffiti of the Resistance / int_93e0d9e3
 Jennifer Government
hasFeature
Interrupted Suicide / int_93e0d9e3
 Jennifer Government
hasFeature
Law Enforcement, Inc. / int_93e0d9e3
 Jennifer Government
hasFeature
One Nation Under Copyright / int_93e0d9e3
 Jennifer Government
hasFeature
Privately Owned Society / int_93e0d9e3
 Jennifer Government
hasFeature
Publicity Stunt / int_93e0d9e3
 Jennifer Government
hasFeature
Read the Fine Print / int_93e0d9e3
 Jennifer Government
hasFeature
Saintly Church / int_93e0d9e3
 Jennifer Government
hasFeature
Scannable Man / int_93e0d9e3
 Jennifer Government
hasFeature
Sex for Solace / int_93e0d9e3
 Jennifer Government
hasFeature
Sexy Secretary / int_93e0d9e3
 Jennifer Government
hasFeature
Skeleton Government / int_93e0d9e3
 Jennifer Government
hasFeature
Space-Filling Empire / int_93e0d9e3
 Jennifer Government
hasFeature
Tattooed Crook / int_93e0d9e3
 Jennifer Government
hasFeature
There Are No Good Executives / int_93e0d9e3
 Jennifer Government
hasFeature
America Takes Over the World / int_93e0d9e3