"But—don't they see the other animals—it's obvious—"

"I imagine Moira would ask why humans or mer are sentient if it's that obvious." 

"'Cause you can ask 'em."

"They can communicate with their animals, too. From their perspective, they probably do seem self aware."

"Communicating and talking are different things."

"My husband was convinced most things were people till he was about twelve."

"So four more years," she sighs.

"How very American. Four more years, four more years!" She laughs. "Is America still a republic in your world? Just out of curiosity."

"...yeah? It's not one here?"

"We don't really have an America anymore."

"Why not?"

"A group of Miracles seized power and carved the country up."

"Oh. ...are they good at it?"

Zaneta gave her an odd look. "What do you mean?"

"Are they good rulers, do they have good laws and take care of their people..."

"...No. They're brutal tyrants."

"Oh. That's terrible. Why?"

"People who overthrow civil governments usually are."

"What's the point of overthrowing a government if you're not gonna be better than it?"

"Some people just like to put themselves above others."

"But what for?"

Zaneta sighs. "Power, security, comfort, a lot of the time I think they just enjoy the idea of being in charge."

"Well that's stupid."

Zaneta puts her hand on Sadde's shoulder. "Yes. It is."

"When I grow up I'm going to take over the world and fix it."