His mother, Hazel, is simply too stupid to understand the scene, and his father is disoriented by the government-issued radio that the law requires him to wear twenty-four hours a day. These events make the reader wonder what kind of government would do such a thing and begins to plant a seed of mistrust within us too. These government-issued radios broadcast noise to interrupt the thoughts of intelligent people like Harrison's father, George. He also introduces the Handicap General and describes her as having a team of agents to ensure that equality laws are enforced. By naming a government official after an army general, Vonnegut may be referring to his time at war and perhaps his resentment towards his captors during this time.