From: "Adam Flinton" 

Why would anyone become a public servant?

It would lead to massive corruption if the stakes were high enough. Do this
or me & my mates will...& we don't care that we'll get caught.

Adam

"Frank Haber"  wrote in message
news:3e58ef92$1{at}w3.nls.net...
> OK, this is obviously the group of whom to ask this question.  Science
> fiction short story, read in childhood -- title?  author?  Certainly feels
> dyspeptic enough to be Heinlein, but I can't find it.  Has to be written
> pre-1955.
>
> Plot:  Semi-idyllic society where all elected officials must wear huge
gold
> medallions on their chest as a badge of office.  If five people
> simultaneously get sufficiently pissed at an official, they push their
> sacred buttons and a medallion explodes, offing said official.  The five
> assassins are automatically identified, and must stand before the bar and
> justify their crime/public_service.  There are complications.  End story.
>
>

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