So – Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley were President and Vice President – Peter Criss was Secretary of Defense, and Ace Frehley was Head of the Joint Chiefs?

oh yes, if this were true, I’d dye my hair too! burlap is way too itchy.. yuck.

Not only is there supression and conformity, but there’s a taste of rebellion! Not what I was exactly expecting, but it definitely works!

Thanks for entering, ¡Don Jefe!

I like the interesting setup for an alternate future. “Face paint” is the last two words of the last two sentences, which throws the reader (well, me at least) a little bit off. I don’t know what else can be done to it (maybe change the first “face paint” to something like makeup. I dunno). But anyway, I liked the story overall.

I figure if you’re wearing burlap on the outside, the only real option is silk underthings. Mmm, silky underthings. Nice job on a quick telling of a large story.

I imagined kids starting with Cindi Lauper-style blue eye shadow and then going full-on clown… I read Clay Shirky’s Here Comes Everybody, and there’s a section about protests – that if oppressive regimes don’t crack down right away, they build very quickly because people start to feel impervious. I don’t know where this story came from for me, it just did.

lol at THX silky underthings.

So THAT’S why in the future, everyone wears the same thing.

I like this. It has a sort of “when they ___, I said nothing.” vibe to it, and I adored the subtle forms of rebellion, child of the 80s that I am :)

Yeah, this story does have a very 80’s vibe to it. I don’t know why.

I almost laughed out loud at President Beige.

I agree with THX, this is a big story in a few words, and very creative.

I’m glad you guys picked up on the 80’s vibe! I was thinking of it filmed like Brazil or Max Headroom while I was writing it.. total 80’s dystopian future. I think there’s potential for exploring Beigeworld in other stories… maybe.

Hey…
I thought Frankie Said Relax…

I love it; you and I both looked at this challenge and immediately went to “beige”!

Rock on!

The idea of the laws and restraints worming their way into society is all to real and scary.

Interesting concept. Reminds me of Vonnegut’s Harrison Bergeron