The Stereotypes of Government:
One thing that intrigues me in novels and movies is the way in which people in government are portrayed. I’d lump them into four stereotypes: there’s the noble idealist fighting for right and typically opposing him is the corrupt government official or politician – and with the recent wave of lobbyist/kick-back scandals, no one has a hard time believing these characters exist. Third, the apathetic, bumbling civil servant and last, the dedicated, highly competent, warrior type, often military but sometimes from other organizations like the FBI or CIA. Having worked in and for government, I know the stereotypes are real but rarely one-dimensional, for example the warrior type: I’ve known captains of submarines and guys who fly jets – and although these men are just as brave and dedicated and competent as the people you see in the movies they can also be incredibly mundane in all the good and bad ways that people can be mundane.
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<span face="Times New Roman">As a writer, what intrigues me about government – and the reason I set my books in Washington D.C. — is the <em>capability</em> of government.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>There is absolutely no other arena where individuals – and sometimes not very high-ranking individuals — can control gigantic organizations, have access to boxcars full of money, and are engaged in high stakes issues like war and espionage and terrorism and leading-edge high tech gizmos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And what amazed me — and sometimes frightened me when I was working — was the <em>commonness</em> of some of the people in positions wielding such power, and when people, ordinary and otherwise, are involved in matters of such magnitude, the potential for disaster can be enormous – and nothing appeals to a thriller writer more than the potential for enormous disasters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span>
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