2015 Second American Civil War

Book 4

The Smiths and Joneses

1st Edition August 2014

Copyright 2014 Ira J. Tabankin

Sterling VA 20166

Dedication

This book, as all of mine are, is dedicated to the love of my life, my wife Patricia.

Thanks to everyone who’s provided feedback and support for my writing. A special thanks to Cheri, who again was able to proofread and edit my words into something readable.

The following is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual names, persons, businesses, and incidents are strictly coincidental.

Prologue

The story so far;

The right wing of the Republican Party won additional seats in the House, and they took control of the Senate at the 2014 midterm elections. The right wing of the party demanded the impeachment of President Obsma for their support in getting other Republicans elected.  President Obsma tried to buy off and bribe the Speaker of the House to delay or indefinitely delay, bringing Articles of Impeachment against him. Part of the President’s plan was to cause massive conflict, pain and suffering at home so the population would be distracted. He used his Executive powers to nullify the second amendment; he offered to buy back, with tax-free dollars, everyone’s guns and ammo. Due to the on-going recession and with over 100 million Americans out of work, most took advantage of the tax-free offer and sold their firearms to the government. The President next reduced the size of the US Military, including ending the proud history of the US Marines. The President backed the occupy movement who took class warfare to the 1%. The rich were attacked in their homes and offices. In addition to class warfare, the President incited race wars, all to distract people from his pending impeachment.

To solve the problem of massive unemployment, on the eve of his impeachment President Obsma announced that every unemployed American could be hired as a government worker, entitled to full government pay and benefits. The increased employment, many with no previous experience almost destroyed every government program as costs soared.

The last Commandant of the US Marines, General Brownstone, started to build a government on the sidelines to take over the country.

Glenn Back and Rash Linebacker, two of the most popular talk show hosts, were kidnapped by the DHS and held in the Greenbrier hotel. Unknown to all, General Brownstone was using the old cold war bunker buried under the Greenbrier as his headquarters. A US Navy SEAL attached to the General’s staff, discovered and released Glenn and Rash. Glenn told his audience to form a human wall around Washington, DC; he called it the ‘Hands-around-DC’ march, a non-violent march to show support against the President. President Obsma called out the unions to form a counter march hoping to push Glenn’s marchers into violent action so he could ban all such gatherings. The unions attacked the peaceful marchers and ten people ended up dying in the conflict.

Russia and China decided to crush the American economy by dumping their dollars and accepting other currencies, including giving discounts for payment in other currencies. General Brownstone pulled together a cabinet and a plan to rebuild the country while he tried to push Congress into impeaching the President. The American people were split on the subject of impeachment, but the majority was for it. With the economy falling apart, international tensions rising; the US military all but useless due to massive reductions; the President went so far as announcing the removal of all US nuclear weapons. The Congress moved forward with the impeachment of not only President Obsma, but his entire cabinet. General Brownstone was sworn in as the new Secretary of State placing him the line of succession to become the 45th President of the USA. Newly sworn in President Brownstone wasted no time in appointing his cabinet and making changes. He backed the US dollar with gold and silver; he closed the Federal Reserve and cancelled the paper debt the fed held on the treasury. He rebuilt the military. President Obsma didn’t take his impeachment lying down. He started the formation of a new nation within the USA; he called his new nation the Liberal States of America (LSA), with him being its first President for Life. His Vice President became Harold Ried. President Obsma was set to make the formal split on New Year’s Eve in New York City on December, 31st, when the power failed. He was swept away in the panic, hitting his head giving him amnesia. He spent time living in an old tunnel as a homeless person until he was found. Reid used Obsma’s absence as an excuse to take over the new LSA. He placed President for Life Obsma in a special hospital, one he never left. Reid’s computer was hacked by Anonymous, who filled his personal drive with thousands of child pornography files, a crime not even the most powerful could escape in the LSA. The Governor of California took over as President of the LSA, he swore to serve for a single six-year term, allowing the people of the LSA to vote for their next leader.

When President Brownstone entered office, he was sued as a war criminal and for the murder of President Obsma in the World Court. In building his defense, his staff uncovered the sealed files on President Obsma’s past, proving he wasn’t a US citizen and should never have been allowed to run for the office. The US Supreme Court ruled that every bill signed into law by President Obsma had to be overturned as if it was Jan 18, 2009. Most of the people who were behind the scandal fled to the LSA to avoid jail.

The previous stories ended with Canada splitting up, part of the Canadian provinces joined the USA, a few joined the LSA, and Quebec became an independent country. Three countries shared the North American land, the LSA and the USA.  The LSA built a wall to separate themselves from the USA. This story begins twelve years after the split and the building of the wall between the LSA and the USA.

Chapter 1

Former United States of America Presidents Rod Brownstone and Ted Cruise each looked forward to their quarterly dinners together. These dinners allowed the two men to get together face-to-face and discuss anything on their minds. The two men became good friends when Rod was President with Ted serving as his Vice President, then following him as President. The two men lead the country through the break up of the United States into two countries, the Liberal States of America (LSA) and the United Sates of America (USA). They had narrowly avoided what could have been the bloodiest war in America’s history. The decision to allow then President Obsma to create a new country based on progressive policies, was very controversial. Half of the country was for it and half against the split. President Brownstone knew it was better for the country if he didn’t run on his own. He served out the remaining term left on President Obsma’s presidency and retired to private life with his wife, Sally. His Vice President and good friend went on to win the Presidency in a landslide victory in 2016.

After President Cruise had left office, the two men agreed to meet quarterly on a purely social basis. The location and menu alternated between the two men. Their tastes in food were very similar and so far neither had selected a restaurant the other didn’t enjoy. Sometimes the restaurants were small local restaurants, sometimes, like this evening, well-known chains were selected. Rod made tonight's dinner reservation. Both men found themselves in Washington, so a restaurant close to both of their last meetings for the day made the most sense. Rod selected one of his favorite eateries; Morton’s Steak House located at 1050 Connecticut Ave. Rod arrived early, sitting at his favorite table in the right rear corner. Dennis, the restaurant’s Maître D, brought Rod a glass of Jack Daniels, neat. “Mr. President, how are you this evening?”

“Dennis, fine as always, how’s the wife?”

“Very good sir. Waiting for President Cruise this evening?”

“Of course, it seems that he’s always late on my nights.”

“Sir, the snow has brought the entire city to a stop, more than half of our reservations have been cancelled. You and President Cruise won’t be disturbed by anyone.”

“Dennis, it’s never a problem, neither of us minds the few who want an autograph or a picture. It’s the price we pay for having been in office.”

“Sir, if I may, the two of you were not just in office, the two of you held the country together, you saved the world. You rebuilt our economy; you brought pride back to America…”

“Dennis, enough kissing my ass, you know I’ll tip you.”

“Sir...”

“Ah, here’s President Cruise. Dennis, why don’t you have his drink ready for him?”

Dennis turns around to go and meet President Cruise and his protective detail when they enter the restaurant.”

Ted extends his right hand, “Dennis, good to see you again; I imagine he’s here waiting for me?”

“Yes sir, he’s sitting at his normal table. He got here about ten minutes ago. He’s been sipping on a Jack, waiting for you.”

“Did you notice if he brought anything with him?”

“Mr. President, I didn’t see him carry his old battered briefcase if that’s what you mean. When I served him his drink, I didn’t see anything at the table. Of course, as you know, his protective detail could be holding his briefcase.

“How well I know that.”

Walking between tables, Ted stops to chat with two Senators, who are the only other diners in the restaurant, before reaching the table where Rod was waiting, Rod stands leaning on a cane to greet Ted.

The two men hug each other. A deep and mutual friendship developed between the two men. “Ted, it’s good to see you, sit, your Wild Turkey is on the table.”

“Rod, I look forward to our dinners, it almost seems like old times doesn’t it?”

“When we started, we never had time to have a leisurely dinner. There was always a crisis.”

“Price we paid to sit in the big chair. By the way, have you read Rash’s book yet?”

“Not yet, he sent me a copy already loaded into an E-reader.”

“Sounds like Rash, he didn’t want you to forget, or give you any excuses for not reading it. He told me you were mentioned in at least a third of the book.”

“I wouldn’t have forgotten. I’m not sure I want to read it. Some of the events went by so quickly; some of the decisions we made, we might have made differently if we had the gift of time and the ability to look forward and backwards. I’m not sure I want to review those first couple of insane years.”

“Rod, I sense you’re still feeling you made many mistakes. Do you still torture yourself over the decisions you made.”

“Ted, the more I review the decisions I made, the more I question them.”

“Rod, I was right there with you. I agreed with you. Looking back, I don’t think we should have changed anything.”

“What about the special missions we gave Major Grover?”

“We did what we had to do at the time in order to survive. Negotiations didn’t work.”

“Ted, my hands, my arms are covered in blood up to my elbows. I still have nightmares every week. I spend a lot of time thinking about, what if.”

“Rod, if you didn’t have second thoughts, you wouldn’t be the man I respect so much. Your conscience is what makes you the man you are. Your refusal to run for your own term was based on your feelings of guilt wasn’t it?”

“Ted, you know that’s true. I was the only President to oversee the breakup of the nation which I swore an oath to protect and defend. I allowed the nation to break up ending 239 years of our history. We became so polarized we couldn’t live together. I still blame the press for forcing the break up. To this day, I’m not sure what they got out of the breakup. Their overall ratings have never been lower. The LSA runs their own national networks. Instead of acting like the honest fourth estate they were supposed to be, the press created and wrote the story the way they wanted it to end. They nudged the stories, so they always came out or at least were always reported to reflect their built in biases. The damned media created the news much more than they did reporting it. I blame the media for the breakup more than I blame Obsma or Reid.

“I couldn’t run for the office after everything that happened. You should have been President, not me. I had no political experience. I spent my entire life in the Marine Corps. It’s one thing to take a life in a war and another to order the taking of the lives of world leaders. The office should have been yours. I’m happy you succeeded me.” Taking a deep sip of his Jack Daniels, Rod paused, before continuing. “I kept my promise to stay out of the news while you were in office. I promised you I wouldn’t interfere in your term.”

Taking a sip of his Wild Turkey, Ted responds, “Rod that you did. Even when I invited you to attend state dinners and other affairs, you refused to step foot back in the House. I don’t understand why you refused all requests for interviews and hid until Sally passed. I’m sorry for your loss. Sally was a very special lady.”

“Sally was very happy when we left the House and moved back into our own home in Virginia. She didn’t like what she called the glass house. She couldn’t go down for a cup of coffee wearing a housecoat, she never got used to having servants to do everything for her.”

“I remember when the two of you moved into the House, and she proceeded to fire most of the First Lady’s staff. I laughed my ass off at her actions.”

Smiling, Rod replied, “She said she was my wife, nothing more, she hadn’t been elected to any office, she didn’t deserve nor did she need any staff. If she wanted to go someplace, she would just go.”

Ted picks up the conversation, “Oh man, I remember the first time she called a cab because her car was still at your Virginia house. She called a taxi to take her shopping. She took the Secret Service by totally by surprise. Alarms sounded in the house; they didn’t know why a taxi was approaching the front door. She drove the Secret Service crazy. She wanted to continue her normal way of life. She didn’t want to be in the news or be followed everywhere she went. “They ended up quickly arranging for a car to take her shopping. Looking back, it was very funny, I’m sure it wasn’t at the time. The Secret Service finally got Sally to agree to a Chief of Staff if only to give the agents a heads up when she set her mind on going somewhere or doing something. Do you remember when she turned the tables on one of the vulture press always trying to catch her in an embarrassing picture?”

“I could never forget that; she went for a walk with her detail, when the press followed her, she reached into her bag pulling out a camera. She turned around and started taking pictures of the reporters. She turned around and started walking towards them asking them question after question about their families, their private lives all while taking their picture. I understand her protective detail almost wet their pants.”

“The press gave her a little room after that. She sure had guts. She didn’t take crap from anyone.”

Rod’s eyes turn very sad, fluid starts to build in his eyes. He says, “Five years later one morning she just didn’t wake up. I couldn’t wake her. I felt her neck and knew. I dialed 911, when the EMT’s arrived they told me her heart had stopped while she was sleeping. She had passed away in her sleep, thank God she never felt a thing. It devastated me; I didn’t leave our house for a year. Ted, we were together for 45 years. My life isn’t the same. It never will be.”

Ted places his drink on the table. “Rod, I’m so sorry for your loss. Everyone who knew Sally misses her. She was a good woman, a special woman.  I wish I could do something to take your pain away.”

“Ted, thank you. I have nightmares that I shortened her life because I became President. I feel that the stress we lived with every day for three years was more than she could handle. She never said anything; however, I knew she didn’t like being in the spotlight. She didn’t like the press following her everywhere. She didn’t like living in the White House. Ted, by becoming President, I killed her.”

“Rod, you shouldn’t have nightmares or second guess what happened. You led the country through the craziest of times. I think anyone else would have either stumbled into a major world war or sat in the office allowing the country to break into many parts. You led the nation through a period that could have terminated the American idea. You quickly converted our monetary policy to the gold standard; you rebuilt confidence in our dollar; you made us energy independent within 36 months. You increased the standard of living for the average American. Rod, you saved the country. You saved millions of lives. I’m so sorry about Sally. At least she never suffered. My dad lingered and suffered from cancer for two years. I don’t wish having to watch a loved one die a little every day on anyone. Rod, you can’t blame yourself.”

“Ted, think about all we don’t know about the LSA. I don’t think their lives improved much. In fact, I think their take home income has decreased.”

“Rod, twelve years later, we know less about our neighbor than we used to. When they built the wall and RF blocking electronic fence, they became totally internally focused. They surprised most of the world by turning completely inward.”

“Ted, I was the only President, who stood by and allowed the breakup of America. I was in office when Obsma and Reid split the country in two. That damn Obsma, a complete fraud, he caused the country and the world more problems than a world war. Even now, twelve years later, I wonder what would have happened if we had pushed for Obsma’s impeachment much earlier. What would have happened if our lawyer, what was his name? Hadn’t found Obsma’s hidden files. Twelve years has flown by much quicker than I thought possible. Twelve years that changed the world, I’m not sure it was for the better or worse. Ted, do you have any regrets?”

“I don’t, we did what we had to do. I think we did a good job. I know we left the country better off than when we started. I say we because I look at my terms in office as an extension of yours.”

“Including what we did to the Secretary-General and President Puten? Or what we did to President Reid and Polsi?”

“Rod, we did what we had to do in order to save the country, to save the world. If you hadn’t given the orders you did, there would have been an all out invasion of America. Millions would have died. Our country would have been covered in the blood of our people. We would have ended up in a nuclear war with Russia. Rod, you saved hundreds of millions of lives.”

“Ted, if I hadn’t said so before, thank you for signing the secret Presidential clemency for any acts I may have committed while in office.”

“Rod, you’re welcome. I couldn’t be sure that one day the left wouldn’t have someone in the office who would have opened your files so they could go after you. Many on the left consider you the anti-Christ for forcing the impeachment of President Obsma. You published his background which brought down their savior.”

“Well, let's toast the old times. As Dickens’ wrote, ‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.’”

The two clink their glasses together.

Ted sips his bourbon, “Mr. President; it was all of that and more. Looking back, I wonder how we made it, how the average citizen made it. I wonder how we’d lucked out and didn’t destroy the world.”

“Ted, don’t call me Mr. President; I held office for three years, thank God you were elected twice. You provided a steady hand when the country needed it the most. Did I tell you President Brownie reached out to me on Sally’s death?”

“It shows he has some class. Did he bring up any of the old issues? I’m surprised you took the call, considering how he went after you after the terrorist issue.”

“That was another decision that haunts me every day. I still have nightmares of that day. He kept the discussion to small talk and his condolences for Sally.”

“I really didn’t believe he would leave office after his one six-year term.”

“Neither did I. I never thought he or any progressive would willingly step down from power. He really surprised me. When he stepped down, I called him to wish him well. I told him I was proud of him for keeping his word.”

“Rod, what are your thoughts about the special program being produced by Wolf News Network and the Continuous News Network?”

“Ted, I found the entire concept very interesting. I can’t believe the two news networks agreed to work together, they couldn’t be further apart in their views, yet there they were sharing production staff and funding to produce the program. Both networks agreed to broadcast the very same program at the same time. Do you know I was invited to have a major part in the program? At first I refused it, I like to stay out of the public eye. Wolf News Network wouldn’t let it drop; they called, they even came to visit me at my house. I spent an entire day with the production staff to look at their goals. I questioned them for hours. I agreed to be a consultant and part-time host; I donated my pay to the Wounded Warrior charity.”

“Of course, I know about the program, when they kicked the program off, it’s all anyone talked about for a while. I knew they were approaching you. I didn’t know you had agreed to be part of the program. They never released that fact. You all kept that one in your vest pocket. They asked me to be a part of it. I refused because I was still in office. Can you share anything with me about it?”

“I can tell you it’s a very interesting program. It should open a lot of eyes on both sides of the border. It sure surprised me and opened my eyes. I was very pleased the two organizations agreed to produce a very honest view of the two systems and the two countries. They didn’t script the two families. The families get to say whatever they want to. The networks got thousands of family's volunteering. It took the producers three months to select the final two families. I got to meet with the two families before the production started; I agreed they picked two families who are the typical average family from each country. I’m very much looking forward to seeing the people’s reactions when they see the differences in the two families’ lives.”

“The previews of the program don’t show you in the program.”

“I’m going to be sort of a surprise.”

“Rod, there goes your ability to hide away from the public eye. You’re going to have to have your protection detail increased soon.”

Laughing, Rod says, “Have you looked to your right or left, those are parts of my new protection detail which started yesterday. They weren’t pleased with the two of us meeting for a public dinner. Have you noticed no one else has entered the restaurant since you arrived?”

“No, I didn’t notice.”

“The Secret Service bought out Morton’s tonight. After the Senators leave, we’ll be alone for the evening.”

“Are they going to open the restaurant to normal diners when we leave?”

“No, it’s closed for the night. Dennis didn’t object. Because we’re here, the Secret Service purchased all of the tables. Dennis will have the only restaurant that is sold out on a cold, snowy Monday night. Most of his staff will be paid to go home early. He loves it when we book a reservation.”

Laughing, Ted says, “I can see your timing sucks. You’re not going to be able to drive yourself anywhere. I bet that’s going to hurt. With this snow, your brand new Corvette C8 is going to have to sit in the garage for a while.”

“I will miss not being able to drive it. I went to the factory and watched my ‘toy’ being built. I got to sit in it on the factory line; I was the first person to start it. I even got to drive it off the production line. The entire experience was something I’ll never forget. I’m not sure who had the most fun, me or the production workers who took hundreds of ‘selfie’ pictures of us together. I signed shirts, hats, pants even sneakers. Hell, I was asked to sign one of the robots and the entrance wall into the factory. I got all of the workers to sign my engine fuel rail covers; they sealed them so their signatures won’t fade in the heat. After leaving the factory, I drove it back to Virginia. I had a blast.”

Laughing, Ted says, “I heard you drove the Secret Service crazy, there’s a rumor you drove away from your protective detail at 175MPH, and you even pulled away from their helicopter. When I was told the story, I laughed so hard I dropped my drink.”

“Guilty as charged. I’m waiting to get it on the track to check out the top end.”

“Rod, you know damn well, the Secret Service is NEVER going to allow you on a track. And if you try it on the interstates, the Secret Service and police will go crazy, how are they going to deal with you when you cross 200MPH? Make sure you have the car’s camera on; I think the videos will be priceless. By the way, when do I get my ride?”

“After the program wraps the Secret Service promised me they would give me a partial release, I’ll drive it down to Texas.”

“I can see the headlines right now, ‘Two former Presidents get pulled over for breaking 200MPH!’ That ought to be fun. I’m going to hold you to it.”

“Ted, do you plan on watching the program?”

“I don’t have a choice; I’m sure we’ll both be bombarded with thousands of questions as soon as it airs. When does it start?”

“Tomorrow night, both networks are going to run it at the same time, Tuesday through Friday, 8:00PM to 11:00PM for four evenings.”

“How does it end?”

“I can’t break my contract and spill anything; you’re going to have to watch it. Some of it was filmed in advance, most will be filmed live. I’m hoping people watch the program with an open mind and see what happens when progressives have no one to stop them. Here’s a surprise you might not know, President Brownie will be making an appearance, and they are covering President Reid’s conviction. They even got him to agree to be interviewed in the program.”

“Please tell me, you’re not the one interviewing Reid since I bet he doesn’t hold you in high esteem.”

Laughing, Rod continues, “He refused to be interviewed if I was even in the building. He still blames me for his imprisonment. To this day, he continues to claim the images on his laptop weren’t his. He claims he was framed. He blames me for somehow getting the files onto his computer. You remember the one that never left his sight. He was in LA; I was in DC, how could I have installed files on his computer?”

“Shit happens. Well, at least he’s sticking to his story. He signed the bill into law in the LSA that jailed pedophiles for life. No one believes him. The one person no one ever suspected turned out to have thousands of child pornography pictures and videos on his laptop.”

Both men laugh and order another round.

Ted sips his second drink saying, “It’s too bad Polsi isn’t around to have been interviewed.”

Rod replied, “The shock of losing everything she owned and her jail sentence broke her, she died in her cell from a heart attack. She couldn’t figure out what happened, how one minute she was in line to be president of the LSA and the next she found herself in an 8 by 8 cell.”

“Who else is in the program?”

“Most of the key players in mine, yours and Brownie’s administrations. Of course, the two families and their friends and co-workers. President Bloomberg tried to kill it. I understand he gave the producers a very hard time. When he saw the proofs, he wanted to kick broadcast crew out of the LSA. He demanded hours of changes or he would outlaw the broadcast. He didn’t get very far with that. Wolf News told him if he blocked the broadcast they would flood the web with videos from the program. They also promised to send DVDs to every home in the LSA.”

“In that case, I’ll make it a point to watch it.”

“Rod, by the way, I got a call from a friend of yours last week.”

“Oh? Who might that have been?”

“A certain retired colonel.”

“Grover?”

“None other.”

“I haven’t heard from him in a few months.”

“I know, he told me. I understand he paid you a personal visit when Sally passed. He provided, shall I say, security in your time of grief.”

“He and a small group of his friends were my house guests for a while. He made sure the press and everyone else left me alone.”

“He told me that he and a few of his best friends moved into your house and protected your privacy. There’s a rumor that he also intercepted two teams of FSB agents Grameniko sent to extract revenge for President Puten.”

“Also true. He and his people were the perfect house guests. They kept the press away. There’s a recording of two of his men on my roof holding a Stinger towards a press helicopter. The media got the message; as soon as the pilot saw the missile they turned away and never returned.”

“You know what they say, you can tell a man by his enemies. In your case, more than half of the world hates you. You’re still being blamed for bringing down the United Nations.”

“It needed to be done away with for a long time. The United Nations swayed too far from the lofty goals it was set up to accomplish. Why we supported it for so long is a wonder to me. I’m constantly in touch with the Council of the Fourteen. They’ve informed me they have been approached by many other countries to join the council. I’m not sure yet how I feel about that.”

“I think it’s a good thing for the council to expand as long as it remains true to its founding goals and doesn’t drift off to the left as the United Nations did.”

“Ted, how long are you going to be in town?”

“A few days, I have a couple of meetings in DC and at the Pentagon.”

“Ted, why don’t you extend your trip and stay at my place. I’m sure we can find a few ways to occupy our time during the day. Just think how crazy the media will go when they hear the two of us will be spending a week together.”

“I like it, let me call my assistant to move some meetings. I’ll check out of my hotel tomorrow and show up at your front door around 11:00. Being you’re so much older than me, are you up by 11:00AM?”

“I may be an old man but I still get up every day at 5:30 AM.”

Both men laugh, Ted says, “Let’s finish our steaks before they get cold.”

The two men enjoy their meal. Before leaving, the few Senators also in the restaurant, approach the two former Presidents asking for permission to take pictures. Rod and Ted agree. When dinner is finished, the two walk into the kitchen to thank everyone for a great meal. Their protective details are waiting for them in the front of the restaurant with their cars. The men agree to meet at Rod’s home tomorrow at 11:00 AM, the two protective details coordinate the visit. Both teams are pleased with the visit because Rod’s home has been hardened to protect it against a terrorist attack. Plus the Secret Service has a communications suite built into his home. It’s easier to protect the former Presidents at Rod’s than at any hotel. In addition, there are always a few of Colonel Grover’s men hanging out at Rod’s house.

Rod and Ted pause before entering their cars to shake people’s hands and take pictures with people on the street. Hundreds of selfie photos with the two Presidents fill the pages of Facebook. For a day, fifteen people are world famous because they were in front of the restaurant at the right time.

Chapter 2

At the same time in Sterling, Virginia, a couple is getting ready to attend a special celebration.

“Kathy, are you ready to go?”

“Brad, yes, calm down, we’re not going to be late for the ceremony.”

“If we were, Ron would never let us live it down.”

“Brad, honestly, you’re more nervous than Ron is.”

“Well, my best friend is being honored on his retirement from the force.”

“Brad, it is something isn’t it. He spent eight years as Sterling’s Chief of Police. Under his watch Sterling led the country for five years in a row with the lowest crime rate. I don’t know how he did it and found time to get married. Honey, I think it’s very romantic Ron is retiring on his five-year wedding anniversary.”

“Ron said he and Bev are leaving for a second honeymoon tomorrow: they’re going to Las Vegas.”

“No wonder he says it’s a second honeymoon, Las Vegas can be cold in the winter. I’ve been there when it’s snowed. I never saw so many accidents in one block. No one there knows how to drive in the snow. I hope they’ll be safe.”

“Kath, they will be, both the USA and the LSA have agreed that Las Vegas is an open city, residents of either country can freely come and go in Las Vegas. There are sections of the city that cater to one side or the other. With Atlantic City and the other gambling areas of the LSA all going bankrupt eight years ago, anyone who wants to play has to go to Las Vegas. I’d like us to go soon. I hear the new Wynn is something to see.”

“One of my friends, Crystal, went last month, she visited the Wynn, she said it's better than the pictures show. Its fifty stories of anything you can think of or want. They have everything from gambling to twenty restaurants to VR rooms that are similar to what Star Trek had. I think we should plan to go. We can save the cost of the flights by driving.”

“Let’s see what Ron and Bev say when they return, maybe we’ll go there next year.”

The light snow kept enough people off the roads so that they were on time.

Kathy and I arrive at the hotel where the ceremony will take place, followed by a cocktail party. As soon as we enter, Ron comes over to us. Before he can say a word, I say, “Hey Ron, congratulations. Hell of a way to end your career.”

“Kathy, Brad, Bev and I are so happy you made it; we were worried the snow might keep you away.  Let me introduce you to the Mayor and the Captain of the State Police.”

Kathy and I followed Ron through the room, along the way, we ran into Bev and dragged her along with us. The four of us were like two couples from high school on a double date, only this date was a banquet room in the Hyatt with every local big wig attending. They came to honor Ron’s service on the eve of his retirement. We’re holding hands and laughing when a hand grabs my shoulder, spinning me around; I’m about to say something very rude when a hand reaches out to me.

“Brad, it’s nice to see you again without having to arrest you.”

Ron, Bev and Kathy all spin around; Ron slaps the man in front of me on the back, “Captain, it’s good to see you again.”

The two of them bear hug each other. Ron repeats, “Captain; it’s good to see you again.”

“Chief, didn’t I tell you Brad would get you in trouble, see what he’s done now? He’s gotten you to retire.”

Both men are laughing.  Ron turns to me, “I see you don’t remember the Captain; he was the one who arrested you at the mall for shooting the terrorists who were attacking the shoppers. He released you to my custody.”

Recognition slowly spreads over my face. I hold out my hand, “Captain; it’s good to see you again too. I have to say, I prefer seeing you in this environment more than the last time we met. What was it, twelve years ago?”

“Brad, thirteen, I never forget a face. I’m sorry for the way we treated you that day, if I remember correctly; you were the only one to respond quickly. You beat all of us there. How many of them did you get?”

“I got four of them.”

“Ron hear that, he finally admitted it, someone get me a set of handcuffs.”

All of the color drains out of my face, I just realized I admitted to shooting people in a room full of police officers.

The captain breaks out laughing, he says, “Brad, don’t worry about anything, in fact, you were fully cleared of any wrong doing a long time ago, I’m surprised Ron never told you. “

Looking at Ron, “You knew all this time?”

“Hell, I had to have something to hold over your head, and bust your balls with.”

“I ought to punch you.”

“Go ahead, I deserve it, by the way, look around, almost everyone in the room is wearing a police or first-responder uniform, whose side do you think they’re going to be on?”

We both laugh, “Ron old buddy, no problem, I’m not pissed. And it’s not me who may call the security office at Dulles to tell them you’re carrying drugs on your flight to Vegas.”

When it dawns on Ron what I said, everyone around us laughs. The Captain thanks me again for helping with the terrorist attack.”

“Captain, I’d tried to forget about that afternoon. At the time, I was hyped up on adrenaline. If I’d thought about it, I would have realized you were right, I was acting stupid in trying to stop the attack.”

“Brad, you must be the luckiest SOB I’ve ever met. I replayed the events of that day many times; to this day, I have no idea how you survived.”

“Captain, thank you for saving me.”

“Brad, I’m not sure we saved you. We know you saved many lives, you should have been awarded a medal for what you did. The President’s Chief of Staff turned the request down because you fired on the so called ‘peaceful protestors’ who went shopping with AKs. We should have thanked you versus arresting you. I heard you also ran into a problem along Route 95 when you tried to take on the Russian army. I guess you just attract the wrong kind of attention. Please tell me you didn’t bring any weapons to tonight’s party.”

“Captain, no weapons, I promise. I learned my lesson when I got shot in the leg fighting the Russians.”

“That was a stupid and also a very brave move, fighting tanks with the armor of a cotton uniform, how’d that workout?”

“Not so well. We did slow them down enough for the real heroes to arrive.”

“Brad, you are one of the real heroes. I’m proud to say I know you. You ran towards the gunfire when most people ran away from it.”

We shake hands and move towards the bar. I turn to Ron, “Ron, when do the ceremonies begin?”

“About thirty minutes, just enough time for everyone to get drunk.”

Hugging Ron, I tell him, “Ron, it’s been an honor being your friend. Thank you for all of the help you’ve given Kathy and me all these years.”

“Brad, when DHS blew my house up, I had no place to live. If it hadn’t been for the two of you, I would have cracked. You saved my sanity, plus you gave me a free home to live in. The two of you fed me for a year. You never let me pay a penny towards the food.”

“Ron, it wasn’t free. You helped us put our house back together after DHS searched it. Who would try to rob us knowing you lived with us?”

“Got a point there.”

“It’s going to be very strange not seeing your police car parked in the neighborhood anymore.’

“I wouldn’t worry about that; you’ll see when we return from our second honeymoon.”

“Are you and Bev going to be able to watch the program about the progress both countries have made in the past twelve years?”

“We wouldn’t miss it. We land in Vegas at 1:00 PM local, we’ll have plenty of time to have fun and watch the program. One of the jokes going around tonight is there won’t be any crime in either country the next four nights because so many will be watching the program.”

“Kathy and I will be two of them.”

The ceremony is both funny and sad. The Mayor, the Captain of the State

Police, our Representative and even our two Senators, made a surprise visit. The Governor surprised all of us by calling in with a live video link to thank Ron. I never realized Ron was so well known. I’m very honored to be friends with him. He was given a couple of funny awards plus a few serious ones. One of the most moving awards came from the local PTA, who thanked Ron for keeping their children safe. Ron led the movement to place armed off-duty and retired police and military people in the town’s schools. One of these people stopped a teen carrying a shotgun from entering a school full of young children. At first Ron caught a lot of flack for the move, later he was held up a model police officer for having the foresight to save the children.

I was surprised when, after the local militia commander awarded Ron an award, I was called up to the podium. I was surprised and worried as to what the Mayor had planned. The Captain joined Ron; they told the story of my fight with the terrorists at the mall and my efforts to stop the Russian invasion. They reached behind the speaker’s stand to pull out a large round medal they place around my neck. Looking at it, the entire room broke up laughing. It was a large bull’s eye. The Mayor said next time don’t be a target. They also handed me a letter signed from President Brownstone thanking me. I was shocked and at a total loss of words. I just stood there while the audience applauded me. Kathy and Ron escorted me to my seat. I don’t think I could have made it without their help. I was moved to tears. Sitting down, everyone patted me on the back or asked to shake my hand. Ron came over saying, “See, I told you it was important you be here tonight.”

“Ron, you had a hand in this?”

“Guilty as charged. The Captain and I send a letter to President Brownstone. We were surprised when he called us to discuss it. He’s asking President Brand Paul to award you the Presidential metal.”

“Oh my God, I don’t know what to say.”

“Don’t say anything.”

As the evening ended, Bev, Ron, Kathy and I held onto each other in a group bear hug.

Bev said, “We love you guys.”

Kathy responded saying, “We love you too, take care and have a great time in Vegas.”

“We will; we may never leave our room.” She replied winking her eye at Ron, who smiled back.

@@@@@

Tuesday evening at 8:00 PM, millions of families tuned to one of the two broadcast stations or their internet sites. The screen opens showing the logos of both broadcast stations and the title, “USA and LSA twelve years after separation. Meet the Joneses and the Smiths” Two news anchors, sitting next to each other announce, “Wolf News Network in partnership with CNN (Continuous News Network), are proud to have produced the following program: an in-depth look at the LSA and USA twelve years after the split.  The program will run for the next four nights, twelve hours in total, with very limited interruptions for commercial breaks.

“To understand the differences between day-to-day life in the LSA and USA we’ve selected two average families, one from each country. We’re going to broadcast live interviews with our two families – the Smiths and the Joneses. We’re also going to take live questions from you, our viewers. Log into either of our websites, there you’ll find two boxes, one labeled, ‘Question for the Jones family’ and one labeled ‘Question for the Smith family.’ Tap the corresponding box for the family you’d like to ask a question.

“Both families were selected from thousands of volunteers. We selected two families that closely mirrored each other, each has two children, a boy and a girl, each family earns a similar level of income. Each lives in similar types of homes. Both families are of similar ages. We didn’t script the program. Each family agreed to let us ask them anything in their homes with their children. We want to remind you, both families have young children, so watch the language you use in your questions.

“In addition to our two families, we’re honored to have two very special guests to help explain various unique activities, please join us in welcoming President Brownie from the LSA. President Brownie took over the reigns after the LSA founder President Obsma died, and President Reid was arrested and jailed for possession of kiddie porn. President Brownie promised to serve a single six-year term, which he did. President Brownie has said that due to a very tight personal schedule he will not be able to spend all twelve hours with us. He’ll spend most of his time on Saturday evening in our review where he and our second special quest, President Brownstone, will discuss the separation of the two nations. President Brownie was succeeded by President Bloomberg, who has refused our request to join us, as has the current President of the USA, President Paul. We understand why both of the current Presidents have had to turn our requests down.

“President Brownstone really needs no introduction, however, in case any viewers don’t remember the previous twelve years; President Brownstone oversaw the impeachment of President Obsma. He took over the leadership of the USA during the split of the LSA and the USA. He made a number of promises to the citizens of the USA, and unlike many politicians, President Brownstone kept almost all of his promises. He will take us through why he made the decisions he made, why he selected the staff he did and why he allowed the LSA to split and secede from the United States. President Brownstone was kind enough to join us as a guest host for the entire program; we look forward to hearing his comments and thoughts.

“We invited President Cruise to join us. President Cruise declined because he was still in office when we started this program; he didn’t think a sitting President should be part of a commercial program, which is the same reason President Paul gave us. We respect their decision. President Bloomberg demanded changes to the program and wanted to review and have approval of the questions going to be asked the Smith family before he would join the production. We couldn’t accept his request as it would ruin the spontaneous back and forth we’re looking for.  We have offered both Presidents to join us anytime during the broadcast of the program this week.

“Both networks decided that this program is so important and informative it should be broadcast without commercial interruptions. As such, we will have very limited commercial breaks. The program is going to run over four nights. On Saturday, we plan to hold a live call in town hall meeting to discuss the issues discussed on this program. Our hosts for the call in town meeting will be President Brownstone and hopefully, President Brownie.

“We’re going to broadcast the program at 8:00 PM every evening on both channels and our websites. We, the two broadcast stations, each selected one anchor who is going to be a host for all five evenings. Representing Wolf is Sean Hannd. Representing CNN is Wolf Bracken. Both Sean and Wolf worked out a sharing agreement in advance of the filming of the program. Both hosts will share the interviewing. Each will be allowed follow-up questions.

“One bit of information both Wolf and CNN would like to make very clear is neither station is going to make any statements on whose system is better or why. We’re going to report the events and let you decide; we’re going to report how the average family in each nation is getting along twelve years after the split.

“Sean and Wolf agreed that each will be pointing out aspects of our families’ lives during the program. Each will also act as a representative from their respective country.”

Both Sean and Wolf stand facing the television cameras, “Ladies and gentlemen, we’re going to start the program in three minutes, this would be a good time to grab some snacks, or use the restroom because once we start, you won’t want to miss a minute.”

The next three minutes are filled with images of the headlines and videos from twelve years ago; the headlines lead up to the split. When the screen shows the headline from the New York Slimes, “USA to be split apart,” a large screen behind the anchors comes alive with the theme of the program. It changes to show the flags of the LSA and the USA, and then shifts to two different homes on what appears to be any normal subdivision street. Each house has a neatly trimmed lawn. There are two cars in the driveway. Both houses are well kept in clean neighborhoods. From a distance, one would be hard pressed to see any difference between the two. Only when looking closer do some different details become clear. An example of the differences is one home has two micro electric powered cars in the driveway, the other has a medium sized SUV and a sports car. One house has metal bars covering its windows, and one doesn’t. Children’s voices can be heard playing behind one of the houses; the other is quiet.

Sean and Wolf look at the images behind them, they jointly announce;

“Thank you for joining us. To start our program off, we’d like to introduce our two families:

“From the West Coast, living in Beaverton, Oregon, the Smith family; Jason, his lovely wife Sharon, and their two children, Scott, 14 years old, and Sissy, who’s 7.” The screen shows pictures of the Smith family, each member of the family waves to the camera.

“From the East Coast, living in Burlington, North Carolina, the Jones family; Robert, his lovely wife Carol, and their two children, Leon, 15 years old and Elizabeth ‘call me Beth’ aged 6.”  They also wave to the camera.

“We followed these two families for three months; we wired their homes, their cars, their offices, their playgrounds, everything and themselves. We recorded over 15,000 hours of video and audio which we’ve cut down to twelve hours that we’re going to broadcast three hours a night over the next four nights. Before you ask, in order to respect the privacy of our two families, we are not going to release the hours of recordings we didn’t use. Both stations and our two Presidential consultants helped select the images to show. We tried very hard to ensure the same questions were asked of both families. As the program developed, we decided to change the format and use the recordings we collected as background. We made a last minute decision to turn the program into a live interview. We’re going to start off tonight with the Smith family, tomorrow we’ll meet the Jones family, Thursday we’ll be back with the Smiths and Friday the Joneses.

“We’re going to try to show the differences and similarities with both of these common American families, one living and working in the LSA and one in the USA. Right up front we’re going to tell you, we were surprised by the differences and also the similarities plus the core values our two families share.

“To start our program, we’ve asked President Brownstone to join us. Before we get into the details of our families’ lives, President Brownstone will discuss why he allowed the country to split. Most of the world thought the question of states seceding had been settled in the civil war of 1860.”

President Brownstone enters the stage from behind Wolf; the audience gives the President a warm welcome. President Brownstone waves at the crowd, he walks with a cane that surprises many people who haven’t seen him in public for many months. He takes his seat at the empty chair between the two anchors.

Wolf and Sean shake the President’s hand. “President Brownstone, our deepest condolences on the loss of your wife. The news hit the entire country very hard.”

“Thank you Sean and Wolf, I’m trying to learn how to live alone after being together for 45 years.”

“I’m sure you’re not completely alone, doesn’t the Secret Service provide you a protection detail?”

“Yes, it’s a bit of a game, I see if I can ditch them and they see if they can anticipate where I’m going.”

Wolf says, “Mr. President, are you OK? Frankly seeing you walk with a cane is a surprise to us, and we’re sure most of the audience.”

“Thank you for asking. I’m OK, just age catching up with me. My old back needs some additional support.”

Smiling, Sean says, “There’s a wild rumor going around the internet that you left the Secret Service behind and even outran one of their helicopters behind in your new toy, is this true? And is it true - did you really drive up I-95 at over 175MPH?”

“Sean, I won’t admit to breaking any laws on television.” says President Brownstone smiling and laughing.

Wolf laughs saying, “Mr. President; I didn’t hear you deny it either. Hypothetically can your new car reach 175MPH?"

“Wolf, it’s rated by GM to hit 205.”

“Mr. President, did you buy a GM car because of the bailout?”

“Of course not. I’ve always liked Corvettes.”

Sean says, “Mr. President, I think we’d both like to book a ride with you in your new car.”

“It’ll have to be one at a time; it’s a two-seater. If you get sick in it, you buy me a new one.”

“I think we can agree to that.”

“Mr. President, we really want to thank you for your time in helping us put this special program together. I know first hand that you put in many hours ensuring this program is fair and truthful.”

Sean asks, “Sir, to kick off the program, when you first heard about President Obsma wanting to form a new nation based on progressive theories what was your reaction?”

“I can’t say it on air; it might be insulting to our neighbors in the LSA. I, too, thought the question of secession was settled in the 1860s. I was wrong.”

“Mr. President, it’s been twelve years.  To be honest, when I first heard about it, I thought they wouldn’t survive two years.”

“Sean, my first reaction was to laugh. I laughed because I thought someone was pulling a joke on me. My second was to cry, cry because of the destruction of the United States of America. America isn’t just a country. America is a way of thinking. America is something that’s inside each and every one of us. America was set up so that everyone would have an equal chance. Everyone would be free; the freedom of our press was built into our founding documents. America is one of the few countries that has a change of government without bloodshed. Had America never won its freedom, the world would have become a very different place. Many of the freedoms we take for granted would never have happened. The French revolution most likely wouldn’t have happened if the American Revolution hadn’t succeeded. Without America, Germany would have won the First World War. Can you imagine what a world that would have been? There are many who’ve said America stole resources from the Native Americans, from the slaves and later the world. If anyone studies the real history, not a populist view, but the real history, they will learn none of these claims are true. America is a unique country. I couldn’t believe how far away from the country’s founder’s view the country had moved. When I heard about the LSA, I realized I was facing a worse decision than President Lincoln faced.

“Third I was worried what the overall impact would be to those left behind in the USA. If you remember, the Russians and Chinese had just dumped the American dollar, the stock market crashed, our real unemployment rate was over 20%. Our dollar was becoming worthless; jobs were disappearing at a faster rate than any other time in history.  There was a real chance we’d go to war with Russia and China. We might have to fight the LSA plus Russia and China. I assumed President Obsma would ally with them to oppose us. He would have given them bases to attack us from; most likely bases that used to be American military bases. The country was being defocused by the establishment of the LSA. It was a distraction we as a nation couldn’t afford. At first I thought this was a normal Obsma distraction for some other plan that we hadn’t seen yet.  My cabinet and advisors discussed the pros and cons for two long days. None of us slept in those initial 48 hours. I finally decided if we didn’t allow Obsma to try to set up his progressive nation we would end up with a very bloody civil war, one that would have destroyed the American dream. The second civil war would have ended up destroying both America and the LSA. We might have had the Russians and/or the Chinese join Obsma against us. If this happened, there was a good chance the civil war would turn nuclear destroying America and most likely, major areas of Europe, Russia and China, if not the world. I was faced with a decision of allowing Mr. Obsma to break the union or potentially watching hundreds of millions of people die. Which path would you have taken? To be fully honest, I didn’t think the LSA would last five years. I thought their expensive overhead would collapse their own system. Trying to create a new nation and do so in the middle of an international currency battle and potentially on the eve of World War 3, scared me. I decided to let the LSA go and try to form their own nation because my heart was broken thinking of families once again having to take the field of battle against each other. I couldn’t send boys and girls to fight their brothers and sisters. It’s one thing to send boys and girls to fight the nation’s enemies, but our own neighbors? Our own families? I studied the Civil War. Over 300,000 northern soldiers died. How many would die this time? We almost didn’t make it back from the brink the last time we fought each other. The various issues that developed at the end of the Civil War almost tore the country apart. To this very day, there are many people who think the Civil War was a mistake. One President Lincoln shouldn’t have fought. There are many in the south who still hold a grudge 162 years after the end of that war.

“In the founding of America, the states came together to form a central government. Some historians believe the states had the right also to secede from the central government. President Lincoln said he was moved by God to free the slaves. He had to go to war to save the nation. I felt I had to let the country split in order to save the nation. I could not imagine a war fought with todays weapons between neighbor and neighbor. Can you imagine one of our cities being bombarded by hundreds of rockets every day? Can you imagine one side using chemical or biological weapons against another of our cities? Wouldn’t a nuke soon follow? We’d be looking at the destruction of both the USA and the LSA. We’d be looking at over 100 million dead Americans. I couldn’t allow it. Those dead souls would be on my head. It was my decision to make; I made the only one I thought that had a chance of saving the country.”

Wolf responds, “Thank you Mr. President. I’m sure your insight helps answer the question that’s in many people’s minds and hearts. I, for one, think you did the right thing. I think had you fought; it would have been the end of America. We would have destroyed each other, and if we somehow survived the war, we would have hated each other for generations.”

Chapter 3

Wolf pauses before adding, “Mr. President given what you just said, did you seriously consider using force to keep the union together?”

“Wolf, I did, I decided not to because no one would have won. By the time Mr. Obsma was impeached, the country was so polarized right and left that neither side accepted anything the other side said or did. It would have taken a miracle to force the two sides to work and live together. A new civil war wouldn’t have been one just between two armies; it would have also included millions of armed civilians. The death rates in modern wars fought between trained armies has actually declined. A war fought between untrained civilians would have resulted in millions of deaths and injuries.”

Sean picks up the discussion, “Mr. President, do you think there was a way to sit around a table and talk out the issues?”

“Sean, the media’s left bias was so pronounced that even if the right performed a miracle the press either wouldn’t have reported it, or they would have turned it around saying the left gave the right the background required. Had the media vetted Mr. Obsma like they did with any other candidate he would never have been elected, the country would have been completely different had he not been elected, we wouldn’t have had the nightmare we faced twelve years ago. The press decided he was their man. They protected him; they covered for him. They didn’t report anything negative about him. Take for an example the issue with his birth certificate. Anyone who knew anything about Adobe knew the birth certificate was made up. The press mocked those people. Even an Adobe expert was mocked by the media. The media were President Obsma’s not so secret weapon.

“Remember back when we as a nation suffered through the rollout of a nationalized health care that wasn’t ready to provide benefits. Months after people signed up and made their payments, they couldn’t get medical treatment. When they were able to get treatment they soon learned what a high deductible meant. People had to pay thousands before their insurance covered one penny of their coverage. In many cases, this left the poorest with less disposable income than they had before the nationalized health care system.  The very people the system was designed to help ended up being crushed by it.

“Mr. Obsma fought a war against the average American citizen; he closed coal mines and coal fired power plants which caused massive brown and black outs, while at the same time he ordered more electrical powered cars to be made, putting additional stress on the electrical grid. The EPA killed jobs at a faster pace than any other time in history. Food prices rose to their highest amounts in the country’s history and yet the media ignored all of it. Every negative reaction was blamed on someone else. No one in Mr. Obsma’s administration was adult enough to take or accept responsibility for any of their actions. They all came up in the educational system which believes in a perfect society where everyone was perfect, and everyone acted with respect to everyone else. The government could support everyone if only the rich paid a little more in taxes. The reality is the top 1% paid almost 60% of the taxes paid.

“Our nation, on the eve of the LSA formation, was staring into the abyss. As a nation, we stood on one toe on the crumbling edge watching the nation on the verge of collapse. A war would have pushed us over the edge. We would never have been able to rebuild. The United Nations or the Russians would have allowed us to hurt ourselves seriously, and then they would have stepped in to protect us from ourselves. It would have been the end of America. The LSA wouldn’t have been born. It would have ended up being the end of the American dream.”

Sean replies, “Mr. President, are you saying, President Obsma was working against the average American family?”

Before President Brownstone can reply, Wolf jumps in, “Mr. President, I don’t buy your argument. I think the plans President Obsma tried to pass would have helped the average American family if he hadn’t be fought at every turn by the Republicans and the Tea Party.”

“First of all, how can you use the title President when the Supreme Court has already ruled Mr. Obsma shouldn’t have been on the ticket, he shouldn’t have been elected? The court looked at the issue of the votes he received, the facts, yes let’s deal with facts, show that he should never have been allowed to be on the ticket. Wolf, if you think his policies were good for the country, which policies were good for the average family? The ones that increased their costs? The ones who destroyed the world’s best health care system? The ones that killed hundreds of thousands of jobs? The ones that put some animal ahead of water for farmers? Come on Wolf be honest. We agreed not to play normal politics with this program.  We could have saved hundreds of thousands of lost jobs and homes. We hopefully wouldn’t have passed multi-thousand page bills that no one read before passing. I’m surprised the outside authors of these massive bills didn’t sneak in a clause or two dismissing congress. We would have suffered through the President sending Congress home, and we might have avoided a financial war with Russia and China. Minot, North Dakota, would be standing, the thousands injured or killed would still be with us. The LSA wouldn’t have been born.

“The media acted as Mr. Obsma’s personal press department; they hid the dirt and reported anything he did as if it he was the second coming. The media carried Mr. Obsma’s water; they pushed his progressive agenda; they helped push his desire for both class and race wars. The media, and there I count you Wolf,  wanted violence, thinking the country would crack under the pressure, once cracked the people would have no choice but to beg the government to take care of them.

“Mr. Obsma opened the borders; he flooded the country with hundreds of thousands of people who didn’t speak English, who could only hold the minimum, basic job, if they could even get a job - jobs that could have gone to Americans begging for any job. They added to the drain already on the government’s entitlement programs. Mr. Obsma had a master plan to break the back of America so he could rebuild it in his own image. He ran the national debt up to $20.5 trillion, more money than existed in the world. While he spoke about pivoting to add jobs, his executive agencies like the EPA issued rules which increased companies’ mountains of paperwork, most of it in conflict with other agencies. The EPA alone issued thousands of pages of regulations that were never vetted by Congress.

“We went from a constitutional republic to a dictatorship. His simple act of sending Congress home should have been proof that he didn’t care about our traditions or our future.  He only wanted to expand his own power. He issued executive orders; he ordered his agencies to issue regulations that bound the country in mountains of red tape. He increased the taxes on the wealthiest to the breaking point while increasing entitlements so that 57% of the population, the population, not just citizens were on some sort of government program. The programs themselves often made no sense, he had the HUD offering mortgage assistance, but then he tightened the mortgage requirements so high that most single-family homes were purchased by corporations and rented out.

“By the time of Mr. Obsma’s impeachment, the labor rate was it’s lowest in 50 years, we had more than 101 million people unemployed while he kept the borders open to pull in additional illegals adding them to the labor force which was already bloated. Average wages fell year after year. Household incomes, home prices and net worth dropped more than 30%. Mr. Obsma kept his campaign promise to transform the country; it may have been the only promise he kept.

“By the time I took office the country was split. We were already a left and right. If I didn’t allow the LSA to become their own country, we would have been fighting each other in a bloody civil war. We had 300 million firearms in the hands of civilians before he confiscated them causing even more tension; we know now over 150 million firearms were never turned in.  These would have come out and been used against other civilians. Not many were trained in how to fight a war. I let the LSA leave to preserve the union and to save the lives of the citizens of both the LSA and the USA.

“I’ll repeat, if you, the media, had done your job, I’d never have been President and would never have to have made the decisions I did. Frankly, I blame the media for most of the country’s issues. If the media had been a truly independent fourth estate, they would have informed the public. They would have educated the public that Mr. Obsma couldn’t have run for the office. They should have shut down his campaign before it got started. I also blame the power hungry Democrat party who ran a black person knowing he’d win based on the color of his skin.”

Sean asks, “Mr. President, do you really believe a civil war would have started if you didn’t allow them to go?”

“Mr. Obsma laid the foundation for a class and race war. He wanted one. Once such a war started he could call upon the United Nations to put down the war leaving him in a position to rebuild the country. He would have the United Nations behind him, allowing him to gut the Constitution. I remember someone once asked me if I thought Ross Perot would have made a good president, I told them no, but he would have made a good emperor. Obsma ruled as if he was a dictator.”

Wolf jumps in, asking, “Along those lines, do you have any second thoughts about pulling the United States out of the United Nations? We were a founding member of the organization. Wasn’t pulling out admitting the UN failed?”

“Wolf, the United Nations did fail, it was established to stop the war. Do either of you know how many wars of some sort or another were fought between 1945 and 2015?”

“Mr. President, no I don’t, how many were there?”

“Wolf, over 250! There were more wars after the United Nations was established than before. We paid trillions of dollars into the UN to solve nothing. The United Nations did nothing but provide a stage for every country to skim funds and too bad mouth America. It accomplished nothing. The United Nations was a deep black hole. Countries followed only the regulations they wanted to. The United Nations, like most-progressive ideas, are a good idea IF people are basically good, if people all want the same things. As we all know, people aren’t basically good. People are greedy; they are taught how to work around rules. Take the progressive mantra for gun rights. Guns kill, so guns have to be banned. Chicago and Washington, DC, had the strictest gun control laws in the nation, in fact, there wasn’t a single gun store within the city of Chicago, yet these two cities had the highest number of people killed with guns. Why didn’t they realize it was because guns were outlawed in Chicago? The reason is criminals don’t follow laws, which is why they’re criminals. You on the left never grasped this one simple fact.”

“Mr. President, the USA was joined by thirteen other nations in walking out of the United Nations, how is this new group working together?”

“Sean, the Council of the Fourteen which is made up of United States, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Holland, Switzerland, Canada, Georgia, Guatemala, India, Poland, South Africa, India and Israel, and recently China, making it now the Council of the Fifteen, is working very well. We’re working together as the United Nations should have functioned. We work together to ensure no major wars are fought. An attack against any one of the members will automatically bring the other members in. Our militaries are working together. We’ve standardized on common rifles and other hardware so the logistics of any potential war is much easier. NATO never learned this. Had we ever gone to war against the old Soviet Union we would have had a serious problem in logistics. Each NATO country used a different rifle, different tanks, and different aircraft. None of our military equipment could use the other’s parts. We most likely would have lost the war in Europe.”

Sean’s face drains of color. He asks, “Mr. President, do you really think we would have lost? If so, I’m sure the Russians knew the problems so why didn’t they ever attack?”

“Sean, the Russians knew if they attacked and we started to lose we’d resort to nuclear weapons. Once that genie is out of the bottle, it can’t be put back in. A war in Europe would have spread into a full-fledged third world war which would have killed a billion people.”

Wolf turns to the large screen which shows images of Russia and headlines of newspapers from around the world reporting the death of the Russian President, “Mr. President, what about Russia? When you left office Russia was forming a new government and still held control over most of Europe, there are still rumors that pop up on the web that you had the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Russian Federation President killed.”

“Wolf, this isn’t some James Bond novel. National leaders don’t give orders to have other leaders assassinated; we don’t have hit teams available to do our bidding, being President isn’t like being a mafia Don. No, I didn’t order them killed. There are laws that forbid any American President from having another National leader assassinated. I have no idea what happened to them.”

“Mr. President, did you ever find out who caused the destruction of the United Nations building and other assets in New York City? If so, why didn’t you do anything about them?”

“I thought that event was very clear. The group who was responsible publically claimed responsibility; they committed acts of terror in the LSA, not in the USA. Unless the LSA asked for our help, which they didn’t, it wasn’t our job to find those responsible and bring them to justice. It’s no different from a crime happening in London, unless our help is asked for; it’s none of our business; that is unless the group also threatens USA citizens or assets belonging to the USA or USA corporations and people.”

Wolf follows up, “Mr. President, New York City had just joined the LSA, you knew they didn’t have a military, you knew they couldn’t find those responsible. There are many stories that those responsible fled to the USA. Why didn’t you arrest them if they were in the USA?”

“Wolf, I have no proof they were or are in the USA. Again I’ll say the crime didn’t happen in the USA, we weren’t asked for help by the LSA. It was and remains none of our business.”

Getting angry Wolf presses his question, “Mr. President, do you know where the terrorists are? If the LSA asked for help would you help arrest them? This crime is a black eye worse than the 9/11 attacks.”

“Wolf, I’ve been out of office for over ten years. I have no idea where or who these people were. I suggest you have President Bloomberg ask President Paul for help.”

“I’ll suggest that to him. I think you know who attacked us, and you’re hiding behind an excuse of it’s not my backyard for not helping bring these people to justice.”

“Wolf, if you want these people brought to justice, why hasn’t the LSA asked for the USA’s help?”

“I don’t know they we didn’t.”

“I can tell you that no help was requested while I was President.”

Sean says, “Mr. President, I’d like to discuss the economy. When you left office, the unemployment rate was higher than the rate in the LSA, how do you explain that your programs worked?”

“Sean, we counted everyone who was unemployed in our employment numbers. By that I mean, we counted everyone who was out of a job for any reason and those underemployed. In Obsma’s administration they only counted those unemployed who collected unemployment insurance, once someone stopped collecting, they fell off of the system. They were no longer counted. The same carried over to the LSA. The key between us is not the published unemployment rates. The two of us counted differently. It’s not a fair comparison. I suggest you look at the employment ratio. We lowered the rate to be less than 50% while the LSA’s ratio increased to 64% of the population not having a job. We wanted people to be off of government programs; the LSA wanted people to be on government entitlements. Today, twelve years later, our ratio of employed is sitting at 42%. That means 58% of the available workforce is employed. It’s not where the current administration wants it, I know they are working on further tax cuts to stimulate the job market.

“The short answer about the basic difference between our philosophies are, the USA believes everyone should be equal at the starting line; everyone should have an equal opportunity, and the LSA believes everyone should be equal at the finish line.  If everyone is equal at the finish line, you remove all incentives. I don’t believe everyone wins a trophy for just showing up, I play to win, winning isn’t taught in the LSA. There people are rewarded for showing up and trying. They don’t have boys and girls sports teams; they have a single team that everyone plays on. Touch football has a new meaning in the LSA. President Cruise and I tried to remove regulations, to reduce government involvement in people’s lives; the LSA believes in more regulation and a greater involvement in their people’s lives. I used my executive powers to close the EPA, the Department of Education, I broke up the DHS and sent back the surviving departments to other agencies. We removed thousands of hours of regulatory paperwork and bullshit from our companies.”

Wolf asks, “Mr. President, don’t you think everyone should be treated fairly and the same? Should one class of people be treated differently than others? Shouldn’t everyone pay their fair share?”

“Wolf, I believe everyone should be treated equally; the laws of the land should be applied to everyone the same, it shouldn’t make a difference in one’s upbringing or their income how laws are applied to people. Wolf, the rich in America, did pay their fair share. The top 1% paid more than 60% of the taxes. The ones who didn’t pay their fair share were those on the bottom rungs of the ladder who ate at the government cafeteria and didn’t pay a penny into refilling it.”

Wolf continues, “Mr. President don’t you agree that people’s upbringing shapes their view of how they interact with the world, and different upbringings should have an impact in how laws are applied?”

“Wolf, I don’t agree, I see that reasoning as society making excuses for bad behavior. I see that approach as reinforcing bad behavior and building a society of different classes, one where once in a class it will become impossible to climb out of the class like it is in India. If people come to expect they can get away with a certain type of behavior by claiming their mommy didn’t love them enough, they will push to see how much they can get away with. You will end up with a class of people who know the basic laws of society don’t apply to themselves. You are, in the long term, destroying your own society.”

“Mr. President, this is one of the things this program hopes to explore. I think you’ll find some interesting differences.”

“Wolf, thank you, I am very interested in learning how the LSA has changed over the past twelve years. I admit I’ve never visited the LSA.”

“Mr. President, is there a reason you didn’t visit the LSA?”

Laughing, “I wouldn’t be welcomed there.”

Sean jumps in, “Sir, is there anything else that has caused major differences between the LSA and the USA?”

“Sean, there is one other major issue, the LSA has no military. They know as long as the USA has the world’s strongest military no one is going to take the risk of attacking the LSA for fear their attack may strike the USA, which will cause us to respond massively. The LSA gets the benefit of our 250 billion dollar military budget.”

“Mr. President, on the issue of defense, is it true that the entire US military is being refitted with, for the lack of a better term, with Sci-fi weapons?”

“Sean, if you mean lasers, particle beams and rail guns, the answer is yes. We learned a very nasty surprise when we almost went to war against Russia. Their new rifle and personal armor came as a very nasty surprise. I ordered DARPA to jump quickly over the next generation of systems and move into totally new types of systems that were in the prototype or design stage. We now have the world’s strongest military. We have personal weapons that can cut through the armor on main battle tanks. We have rail guns that can reach beyond the horizon and knockout anything in the sky. We’ll soon have a rail gun that can target and hit objects in space.”

Wolf wants to change the subject, “Mr. President, how has returning to the gold standard helped the US dollar?”

“Wolf, when we returned to the gold standard, our currency became one of the few that was directly tied to precious metals. This gave our currency real value. The dollar was being dropped as the world’s currency for commerce. Shortly after we returned to the gold standard, the dollar quickly returned to its position as the world’s standard. The value of our dollar has increased. We saved our economy and the assets of millions of our people. Since our return to the gold standard, some countries have dropped their own currency and use ours.”

Sean asks, “Mr. President, would you like to comment on the border situation?”

“A country without borders isn’t a country. When I took office, the borders were more porous than Swiss cheese. We had hundreds of thousands of people swarm over the border every year. I agreed with Governor Lawson to build a wall along the Texan border with Mexico. The Russians blew a hole through the wall during their short-lived invasion. The Texans quickly repaired the damage to the wall; Arizona quickly picked up the ball, expanding the wall across their border with Mexico. Since Mexico allowed their country to be used as a staging area, I cutoff all commerce with Mexico; this broke their economy. Mexico as you know broke into ten smaller nations, some controlled by the drug cartels. The USA’s border is secure on our southern line with Mexico. The USA’s border with the LSA is also sealed. The LSA decided to build their own wall to separate our two countries. The LSA decided they wanted to be separated from us. President Cruise and I agreed to allow them to build their wall. If they wanted to be left alone, we would leave them alone. We learned that the LSA also has radio frequency jammers which blocks all signals from the USA. President Brownie wanted to start over without us influencing his new country.”

Wolf looks up, smiling, he says, “President Brownstone, look’s who’s just joined us on a video conference. Welcome President Brownie. Thank you for joining us. Would you like to say something about the massive project you undertook as soon as you became President?”

“President Brownstone it’s a pleasure to see you again. Sean, Wolf, it’s my pleasure to join the program for a short time this evening. It looks like I picked the right time to join the discussion.

“In order for the LSA to succeed and prosper we had to separate ourselves from our old roots. One way to do this was literately to build a wall between our two nations. If our people could always walk across the border to get anything they missed, we wouldn’t have progressed as quickly as we did. Our people had to learn to fend for themselves. We, as a nation, had to decide what was really important versus what we would like to have. The building of the wall also enabled us to put tens of thousands of unemployed people to work. One change I made was welfare required work or at least the real search for work. A strong country is one where the people worked to increase the GNP of the country. Once we got the wall up, we were forced to depend on ourselves. Self dependence forced us to admit things had to be different. We needed a hard slap in the face to recognize things had to be different, and we were going to be different. It took some pain, but it has paid off handsomely.”

President Brownstone asked, “Mr. President, what did you do with all of the trained wall builders once the wall was completed?”

“We used them to build new factories. One of my goals was to be as self-sufficient as possible. We couldn’t be dependent on others to fulfill our basic needs. If the LSA was to grow into a standalone country, the LSA had to control our own destiny. We built factories to build commonly used products, so we weren’t sending trillions of dollars overseas. The wall drove the point home that we had to stand on our own two feet. It worked as your viewers are going to see when they meet our two families.”

Sean looked at President Brownstone, saying. “President Brownstone, we are very thankful that you agreed to join us in the production of this program. We know that you’ve tried to stay out of the public eye after you left office. Is there a reason you refused to give any interviews or make public appearances after you left office?”

“Gentlemen, I’m not a politician, I was asked to assume the office by the Senate. I did the best I could to improve the lives of the people of the USA. I promised not to run for another term. Once my term was completed, I needed to fade away and allow President Cruise to manage the country without any interference. If I had stayed in the public eye, President Cruise couldn’t have managed the country without everyone asking me what I thought of President Cruise’s performance. No President deserves to have his or her predecessor telling them what they did right or wrong. I had my 15 minutes of fame; I made my own mistakes, and it was time for President Cruise to make his own mistakes without worrying what I thought. As General MacArthur said, it was my time to fade away. Something I thought I had managed to do pretty well until the two of you and a hundred of your staff invaded my home.”

Sean and Wolf look surprised, “Mr. President, we didn’t invade, I’m not sure anyone could have invaded your property unless you allowed them access.  We saw heavily armed men on your roof. We saw heavily armed men patrolling your property. Frankly we weren’t aware former Presidents had a private army.”

“Not so much a private army as friends who took it upon themselves to look after an old man.”

Wolf shows a video of four heavily armed men in the woods outside of President Brownstone’s home. “Are these your friends?”

“Yes, they’re my friends. If I were you, I wouldn’t do anything to make them nervous. They don’t have the best sense of humor. Nor do they like their pictures taken. I’d erase that video if I were you.”  President Brownstone replies winking his right eye.

Wolf says, “OK, I didn’t mean to upset them or break their cover. Can you say who they are?”

“Wolf, I thought I did, they’re friends of mine.”

“Are there more of them at your property?”

“Maybe. Wolf, there’s no reason to tell anyone looking to do me harm, who’s at my house.”

Wolf, looking embarrassed, says, “Mr. President, I’m sorry. We’ll delete the video and any others of them we have,”

Chapter 4

Sean says, “Mr. Presidents, thank you both for your frank comments. If you don’t mind, let’s see how our two average families have fared under the different economic programs.”

President Brownie says, “Ladies and gentlemen, I’m sorry, but I have to take my leave now. As I’m sure some of you know, the LSA has an executive board that assists the sitting President. As the only remaining former President, I have many responsibilities as the chairman of the executive board. I promise to return tomorrow evening. For now, I’d like to say hello again to the Smith family who agreed to allow the world to see everything they do. I’m asking everyone watching this week’s historic program to listen to them, and watch with an open mind and see the progress we’ve made in the previous twelve years. The odds makers didn’t think we’d make it, not only did we make it, we improved the lives of our people - that is what the government should do.”

President Brownstone says, “Mr. President, it’s always a pleasure to see you. I agree its time to introduce the Smith family to the world.”

The image on the screen behind the hosts fades. A high altitude image appears, it’s like looking outside of an airplane window as the country side rolls by as it flies across the country. The images of the ground become larger, details can be seen, the high altitude image is replaced by images of a local street. There are rows of houses on quiet streets in Beaverton, Oregon. The camera zooms in on one particular house. From the outside, the house looks the same as all of the others on the street. Every house is painted one of three colors; every house is of a similar design. Each house on the street appears to be of the same size. There are solar panels on the houses’ southern facing roof. Lawns are neatly trimmed. It’s obvious the homes are well cared for. Older viewers are reminded of Levittown, Long Island, New York. Levittown was one of the first mass produced subdivisions built at the end of World War 2.

Most houses have one or two micro electric powered cars in their driveway connected to a bright green electrical charging pole that’s designed to look like a tree, mounted in the front of the driveway. Later on, people will remark that no one could remember seeing any cars parked in the street. The street in front of the homes have orange painted bike lanes. Some homes have play sets in their backyards; these have fences around them so that no one can gain access without permission, further ensuring children aren’t injured playing unsupervised. The thought that goes through many people’s minds looking at the images is sameness. All of the homes look the same.

The camera angle changes to that of street level, the image zooms in focusing on the home’s number, 27238 painted on the curb in front of the house. Another aspect of the house people notice is there is no mail box. A moment later Sean and Wolf are shown standing in front of the home’s front door. A smiling Wolf knocks twice on the front door. The door opens, revealing a smiling, well-groomed man in his early thirties. Jason Smith shakes Sean’s and Wolf’s hands. He’s smiling and nodding; he pushes his front door open as wide as it will go.

“Hello, I’m Jason Smith, welcome to our home. Wolf, Sean, and everyone watching, hello and welcome.” The camera follows them inside Jason’s home. Standing in the living room is Jason’s wife and children. Jason says, “I’d like to introduce my family, my lovely wife Sharon, Scott, our oldest, who is 14 and our daughter who was born after the split, Sissy age 7.”

Sharon says, “Welcome to our loving home. Wolf, Sean, would you like some refreshments? I’m sorry we don’t have enough refreshments to offer everyone watching.”  After Sean and Wolfe decline, Sharon continues, “Thank you for selecting us. We hope you learn from us as much as we hope to learn from the Jones family, our mirror image. It kind of reminds me of the old Star Trek episode, ‘Mirror Mirror.' You selected two families that are almost the same and yet also direct opposites. We look forward to learning as much as the world does. What would you like to ask first?”

Sean and Wolf thank the Smiths for taking part in the program, Wolf asks, “Sharon would you mind giving the audience a tour of your lovely home?”

“I’d be pleased to.”

Standing, Sharon says, “As I’m sure you can guess, we’re sitting in our living room, it’s pretty normal as far as living rooms go, we have the semi-standard 40-inch flat screen HD television with programming supplied by the LSA national cable company, we have 127 channels, or it could be 130, the channels seem to change monthly. One channel is a preview channel which I guess is normal on either side of the divide.”

Sean looks into the camera asking, “Sharon, you said the ‘divide,' what did you mean by that?”

Blushing Sharon replies, “I’m sorry, if the term insulted anyone watching. It’s a common term used here. I guess I need to be extra careful of slang. I guess I shouldn’t have used that term. I really didn’t mean to insult or cause anyone watching any discomfort.”

Sean responds, “Sharon, no, nothing like that. The term itself is not one everyone may recognize.”

“Oh, the divide is the wall that separates the LSA and the USA. I’ll try to be careful and use words that are common on both sides.”

Sean smiles responding, “Sharon, it’s not insulting or hurtful to anyone. We just want to make sure all of the terms used are ones everyone watching will understand. As time has moved on, some words and customs on each side of the ‘divide’ as you call it, have changed.”

Wolf says, “Sharon, I know the answer. However, I’m sure many in the USA don’t recognize the brand of your television, where was it made?”

Smiling, Sharon responds, “One of the key changes President Brownie implemented was to stop importing many of our basic products. He encouraged companies to open factories here in the LSA. We don’t import many products from the Far East any longer. We build and buy the products we make here. I’m very proud of what we’ve accomplished. All of our factories are very environmentally friendly. Everything is recycled; there’s very little waste. In fact, everything is recycled everywhere. Whatever can be reused is. Even our cars are made here. We have car factories in Oakland, California; Trenton, New Jersey; and of course Detroit, Michigan. We’ve turned Detroit around. Almost all of our trucks are built in Detroit. Bringing production home brought new middle-class jobs and increased tax revenue to support our social programs.”

Sharon continues, “Let’s continue the tour. To our right is our dinning room where we have our meals, next to the dining room is, of course, our kitchen. I’d guess it’s pretty normal, counter, sink, microwave and regular oven, bunch of cabinets. Nothing special, just like any other kitchen you’ve seen.”

Wolf jumps in, “Sharon, is that a computer display or TV built into the wall of the kitchen?”

“Wolf, of course, it is. I assumed every kitchen has a built in computer now; I use it for recipes and to order from the market. To the right of the kitchen we have a half bath and a laundry room.”

Sean responds, “Sharon, you electronically order from the market?”

“Of course. Anything I use is scanned and reordered, I go to the food store twice a week. That is if the food we’ve ordered is available and within our approved foods for a week. We have to make sure we all eat healthy.”

Sean says, “I’ll want to return to that in a few minutes, first let’s continue the tour. The first floor of your home is very nice, however it does seem a little small, how many bedrooms and bathrooms do you have?”

Jason responds, “We have three bedrooms, one for Sharon and myself, one for Scott and, of course, one for Sissy; we have two full bathrooms upstairs and then the half bath next to the kitchen here on the first floor. Our home, like the others in this and most subdivisions built in the past ten years, is 1,500 square feet. That’s 375 square feet per person.”

Wolf asks, “Jason, if you had three children, would your home be larger?”

“Wolf, as you know, we couldn’t have another child unless we already had the children before the population control act of 2020. If we had three children before the population control act, we would have a larger home but the average square feet per person would be the same. Of course, our tax base would be higher to pay for the required government services for the third child. I’m sure you know; the LSA is based on equality.”

Sean asks, “Sharon, what are your thoughts on the population control act of 2020?”

“Sean, it’s a very logical rule, one that should have been passed many years ago. If we had controlled population growth, there would have been many less people, and maybe no wars fought over the world’s diminishing resources. The amount of pollution would have been drastically reduced. The drain on the planet’s resources would have been reduced. We wouldn’t have needed to strip mine and destroy the environment. By limiting our population growth, we ensure every child gets the best education possible. We ensure everyone has a full stomach. We’ve just about beaten hunger in the LSA. We have controlled our growth and balanced it with the available resources. I’m 100% behind the law. We have a very small number of homeless people. Almost no one goes hungry or cold here.”

Sean asks, “Sharon, shouldn’t the decision to have children be made between husband and wife and not the government? Should the government have any say in your bedroom? I don’t want the government in my bedroom.”

“Sean, the government has to make the decision. They’re the only ones who can make it. They’re the only ones who know the level of resources available or the projections for the future. They’re the only ones who know the desired population levels. If we based the decision on your logic, gay or lesbian couples couldn’t have children, and others who can’t afford to provide for their children could have five or even ten children putting a strain on the community that would have to help support them. The poor children in families who can’t afford them would have a negative impact on their ability to enter the world. They will require more resources. It isn’t fair to the rest of us. Our tax dollars would be going to pay for education of children not ours. Everyone pays the same percentage of property taxes that go to cover education costs; if families were allowed to have as many children as possible, the amount of tax dollars available to the schools would be the same which would lower the quality of the education our children receive. How can life be fair if some can have as many children as they want? This doesn’t allow every child to be equal. It will harm the LSA in the future. Just so a couple can have an extra child or have unprotected sex? That is crazy.

“On the most basic of all levels, if there was no limit on the number of children, how would they be able to eat if the family can’t support the number of mouths to feed? Will some go hungry? Will the government have to decide who gets fed and who doesn’t? Will my tax dollars go to feed your children, reducing the total amount of dollars available for the truly needy? If our neighbors have five or six children, they will use up the resources planned for my children’s children. Is that fair? Since everyone pays the same amount of real estate tax for education, if our neighbors have twice the number of children we do, why should we be paying for their education versus our taxes going towards improving our children’s education?”

Sean follows up “What about if their religion doesn’t allow birth control?”

Sharon smiles, and says, “Which is why we as a nation are working hard to show people religion isn’t the answer. Religion makes people violent. Religion forces dietary rules on people. Some people may be allergic to the very foods demanded by a religion. Religion doesn’t make people equal, it makes people unequal. It puts some above and some below others; it creates different classes of people, and something we learned the hard way, doesn’t lead to peace. Too many wars have been fought over religion. We in the LSA are learning the mistakes of history. Our children spend a lot of time in school learning the lessons from history so they don’t make the same mistakes again. Religion doesn’t teach that we are equals. It teaches some are above others. Some are angels, some demons. Some people will go to heaven and some to hell. Some religions don’t have a heaven or hell. Religions break up friendships and marriages. No, that isn’t the right answer in the twenty-first century. We in the LSA are all equal. We’re working hard to have a single class of people, no upper, no lower. We’re working hard to have a single middle or new class of people that all have basically the same.”

Sean asks, “Sharon, is equality that important?”

“What a silly question. Of course, it is. Equality is the core of everything. Aren’t we all equal? Aren’t we all entitled to the same good life, aren’t we all entitled to an education, aren’t we all entitled to go to bed well fed? Aren’t we all entitled to have the same as everyone else? When some have more, others see the inequality and take it into their own hands to level the field. Crime goes up; people could get hurt. We’re all equal; the answer to almost any question is equality.”

Sean questions, “Sharon, what about artists? Not everyone can be an artist, not everyone can be an actor, or a doctor; aren’t some people born with special talents that others aren’t?”

“That’s one of the reasons our programs are designed for equality - anyone can try; the government supports many so they can polish their skills in hope their art meets the government’s standards. Some practice all of their lives, some hit a home run on the first pitch.”

“Sharon, the government sets standards for art?” Sean asks, in amazement.

“Of course. Can you imagine what would pass for art if it didn’t? Some people could paint pictures of porn; some pictures could be disgusting. Can you imagine if there were no standards? There would be no decency. Can you imagine the type of television programs our children would be exposed to? The national net would be filled with porn and filth. We should all be very thankful for the government in their wisdom for setting art, broadcast and internet standards of decency.”

Wolf says, “Sharon, I assume these decency standards are published, so people don’t run afoul of the law?”

“Of course. They are published at the courthouse and are broadcast every evening. All of the sites on our national web have a standards page.”

Before Sharon can continue, the television beeps, a picture opens on the upper right-hand side of the screen, a face appears. Jason says, “Please wait, as you can see, our security system is showing someone is at the front door. It’s automatic; every house has a built in security system that automatically turns on when anyone approaches one of our homes. In this case, it’s the package delivery service. Please give us a moment to sign for the package.”

Jason opens the door; a man in an LSA government package delivery service uniform is standing at the front door, “Mr. Jason Smith?”

“Yes.”

“ID please,”

Jason shows the deliveryman his government issued photo ID, which is scanned into the handheld computer.

“Right thumb.”

Jason presses his right thumb against the delivery man’s computer display where it’s scanned and matched with the prints on file with the central government. The delivery driver looks at the display of his portable computer saying, “Checks, here’s your package from Amazon, it’s been opened, checked and resealed by the censors from DepLIES (Department of LSA Internal and External Security). Enjoy. Have a wonderful day.”

“Am I to understand every shipped package is checked by the government before it’s delivered?” Sean asks.

Sharon smiles saying, “Of course, what if someone was trying to send a bomb or anthrax as a package? Before the government started checking packages a friend of my grandmother told me a story about someone who sent packages of manure to people he didn’t like, can you imagine getting a box of poop?

“The government is protecting us from someone using an Amazon box to poison or attack us. DepLIES is protecting us from inside or outside attack. Since they started this program, we haven’t had any package bombs which is all the proof I need to know the program is working.”

Sean continues, “Sharon, were there many instances of bombs being sent before the censoring law went into effect?”

“I really don’t know, there must have been, right? The package delivery service has been merged with the DepLIES, so every package is checked and inspected before delivery. It only adds a very small extra shipping cost, the delay is usually no more than three days, if you ask me it’s a very small price to pay for our security.”

Sean follows up, “Sharon, is it normal to have your ID checked before the package is delivered?”

“Of course. How else can the shipper know it was delivered to the right person and not just the address?”

“If you weren’t home would they have left the package by the front door?”

“Never! A package left behind is an invitation for theft. It would have been our fault if the package were stolen. We allowed it to be left in plain sight. We’d be guilty of inviting the theft of the package. We’d be fined for the theft, plus we’d be out the cost of whatever we ordered.”

“Wouldn’t the person who took the package be at fault for stealing it?”

“Sean, honestly, how could they be guilty if we tempted them by leaving the package for all to see? We might as well have a neon sign saying free packages over here.”

“But you didn’t make them steal the package.”

“Yes we did, we tempted them. We put temptation right under their nose. Who could have refused the temptation?  Could they have taken a package that wasn’t there? Of course not. Hence, we’d be guilty of having left it in plain sight. If we didn’t sign for it, then the shipper has no proof we received the package. We could claim we never got it, causing the shipper to either refund our money or send us another without us having to pay for it. We could claim we never got the first, we would have gotten the second for nothing, which we could sell at a low price, under the cost of the normal seller, causing them unfair competition and costing them profit, and the government lost taxes. We’d be liable for the losses because we stole it and sold it low. We cost money to everyone in the chain. But most of all we cost ourselves money because we cheated the government out of their due taxes. The government would have to increase taxes on everyone to make up the differences. Hence, we stole something, sold it for pure profit, which ended up costing everyone more to pay more taxes.  See how our system protects everyone?”

Sean responds, “Yes, I think I understand and I think our viewers will too. Sharon, do you have any concerns with the government knowing everything that you have delivered?”

“Sean, why would that even concern anyone? The central government knows what we earn, from whom and when; they know our medical history and level of our present health care. They know what national net addresses we’ve visited, what forums we’re a member of. Of course, they know what we order online, isn’t it their job to protect us from unfair sellers? Isn’t it their job to protect us from buying products that might be unhealthy or unsafe? Of course, they know what we purchase. They know what we purchase every week at the food stores. They have access to all of our charge and debit records. Why would I care if they know what we’ve purchased and had shipped to us? It’s not like we have anything to hide. We know the USA government listens into your portable calls and reads your emails, is it any different? I’m sure you know that our national security agency, the LSA DepLIES has cameras everywhere, they also have cameras pointing into our homes.”

“Whoa, Sharon, are you saying, that while we’re recording you, the central government of the LSA is recording us?”

“Of course! What would happen if I were the only one home, and I fall breaking my leg and I couldn’t get to the phone? How would I get help? I don’t have to. All I need to do is yell, HELP. And help will arrive. Or someone could break in without anyone being home. The government cameras will see them giving them evidence to arrest them.”

No one realized Sharon’s little demonstration worked better than anyone in the broadcast team suspected. Within minutes police sirens are heard screaming, coming towards the Smith house. Sean and Wolf look out of the front door as four police cars come to a stop at the front of the Smith’s house. Four officers, covered head to toe in black armor, looking almost like robots, with a K9 police dog, come running towards the house. Two are holding a strange looking stick.

Wolf stands with his hands over his head; palms open facing the police officers. He says, “Officers, it was a mistake, I’m sorry. We’re filming a special show and our hostess was showing us how the home security system functioned.”

“Sir, we have to check the house out. We received a valid request for help. Per standing policy, you all have to leave the home while we check the house. Will everyone please exit the house with your hands up, palms open towards us? Our dog is going to give each of you a good sniffing to ensure none of you are carrying explosives. Two officers waiting outside are waiting for you. Follow the officers’ instructions. They will check you for any weapons; they will also check your IDs. Do not interfere with them, respond with yes or no to their questions. You are going to be separated so your answers can be checked against each other. All cameras and any device that can record audio or video will be turned off and placed into the evidence box. Your devices will be checked, and if clean, they will be returned to you.  No one can leave the area without permission. If you attempt to leave the immediate area, we will assume you are guilty and treat as such. Is there anything I’ve said that you don’t understand? Do all of you speak English, nod yes or no, shall I repeat my instructions in Espanola?”

Sean tells the ranking officer, “Officer, I don’t think you understand, we were filming a program when our host demonstrated the alarm system…”

Sean is slammed against one of the LSA national police cars, the K9 dog jumps up placing both of his front paws against Sean’s back. “Sir, you are in violation of LSA National Police policy 12-159-864-Back Fox-2A, which means, you approached us and came within one meter, which is defined under LSA National law as our personal space, without our express permission. I advise you not to move, or our dog will think you’re being hostile to us.”

“I definitely won’t move.”

“Sir, do you have your government issued photo ID on you?”

“Around my neck.”

“Don’t move, we’ll check it.”

The first officer reaches around Sean to grab his ID, running it through their computer, the officer says, “Sir, your VIP visitor ID states you’re a visitor from the USA on a special assignment with the approval of the LSA executive board and our President.”

The second officer runs a wand-like device over Sean saying, “No explosives, no gunpowder, no known weapons on his person. Personal X-Ray shows nothing hidden under his skin.”

“Tommy, heel.”

The dog jumps off of Sean; he walks over to the first officer staring at Sean. The first officer tells Sean, “You can stand up straight now, do it slowly.” Tommy sits while keeping his eyes on Sean.

“Sir, you may put your hands down and turn around. Here is your ID back. In the LSA when a home alarm sounds there are policies that are followed. Talking, except for responding to questions, isn’t done. Being within four feet of an armed officer is also not allowed. We realize you didn’t know this. I understand you were given a packet of do’s and don’ts when you crossed the divide. In the future, follow all of the instructions given you by a member of the national police force or a member of the LSA DepLIES. Do you understand?”

“Yes officer.”

Sean looks the officers over; he notices while armed with some kind of stick; they don’t have any traditional side arms. He asks, “Officer is it permitted to ask a question?”

“Sir, that depends on the question, if your question crosses into the restricted area we are bound not to respond. What is your question?”

“I notice you don’t have side arms, do LSA police officers not carry weapons?”

“Sir, we carry ‘stun-sticks’ that will knock anyone of any size out, we also have knockout spray that can reach fifteen feet. We don’t carry firearms on our bodies so a criminal can’t take said weapon off of our person and use it against innocents.”

“What happens if you’re called to a crime scene where criminals are using firearms?”

“Sir, firearm usage has decreased every year since their total outlawing and turn-in, eleven years ago. If the situation warrants, we do have firearms locked in our vehicle. It takes both voice and fingerprint to open the secure safe where our firearms are stored. The opening of the safe sends a signal to our office. Every time it’s opened we have hundreds of pages of paperwork to fill out, I assume we’re not too much different from your local police; we hate paperwork, so please don’t tell us any of your crew from the USA smuggled firearms into the LSA.”

“No officer, we didn’t.”

“Good, we hate paperwork, and a firearm is many hundreds of pages of paperwork, we might have to let our dog play with you if we thought we were facing an all-nighter of paperwork. If you follow our laws, you’ll have a nice visit. Now we have to perform a quick check of the home. If we find nothing, we’ll be on our way within thirty minutes, and you will be able to return to your recording. Remember, no recording is to be performed while we are on site, or of us. It’s a breach of LSA national law to record peace officers or officers of DepLIES. Is that clear Mr. Hannd?”

Unknown to the LSA police, Sean had a microdot camera built into his glasses. It didn’t transmit. It recorded and stored the video on DDR7 micro memory bubble cells built in the frames. Sean didn’t say anything so the entire event could be recorded.

“Yes officer it is. May I ask, did you go house to house to take people’s firearms?”

“Sir, firearms in the hands of untrained civilians is a formula for disaster. We knew we had to remove these weapons from our streets if we wanted our children to have a chance to grow up safe. Unlike the USA, we in the LSA care about our children. We started with the registration act which ordered everyone with any type of firearm to register them. Months later we started using the list to call in the firearms, we purchased the firearms from their owners. We didn’t take them; we purchased them. If someone didn’t want to sell us their firearms, they could keep them and pay the new national tax imposed on the firearms. The tax started at 300% of the firearms value and went up 100% a year. It had to be paid in cash on January first. Most people couldn’t afford to continue to pay the increasing amount of tax. In addition, laws were passed making it illegal to sell ammunition to citizens. Gun ranges were outlawed so even if someone decided to pay the firearm tax, they couldn’t get ammunition for their weapons, nor were there any legal locations to use their weapons. Soon they owned a very expensive unusable weapon. By the seventh year, we estimate we recovered 98% of the privately owned weapons.”

“Officer, what about the illegal weapons, like the ones gangs used?”

“We collected them when we arrested someone committing a crime. We couldn’t search everyone walking down the street we thought was in a gang, which would have violated their rights. We installed cameras, microphones and a new technology which triangulated gun shots to locate street weapons. We later updated the cameras with ultra-wideband radar that can detect a gun on a person as they walked by a street lamp camera, we also got their picture which enabled us to pick them up at our convenience. We think we collected most of the weapons on the street.”

“Are these cameras and radar units still in use?”

“Of course, we’ve expanded the system to cover the entire area of the LSA.”

“Are you telling me, you have cameras looking at every inch of the LSA all of the time? Who could possibly check all of the images?”

“We use computers to scan the images. When an image is tagged for some reason, we send a car to investigate.”

“Is that how you knew someone in the Smith’s house yelled help?”

“Sir, every house has a security system that’s tied into the national system. Do you have any other questions? I need to assist my fellow officers in searching the house.”

“Officer, no other questions, thank you for your time.”

Forty minutes later the officers leave allowing the program crew and the Smith family to return to their home. The show starts broadcasting again and Sharon looks around saying, “They were very neat this time. Last time we had an accident they tore the house apart. Good thing you guys were here today. By the way, are you thirsty or hungry? Because of the show, we received extra ration stamps to provide you and your crew with refreshments. We didn’t know how many were coming. The government gave us enough of an increase to provide snacks for 10 people.”

Wolf, looking relieved, says, “Sharon, first of all, thank you very much. Please tell us how much you spent so we can reimburse you. Secondly, why don’t you explain the rationing stamp system? I’m sure those watching in the USA are interested in how the LSA minimizes waste and ensures people get the correct amount of calories and aren’t able to overeat. By controlling the amount of calories, we ensure people in the LSA don’t get overweight which causes health problems, increasing everyone’s health costs and reducing people’s quality of life.”

“Wolf, I’d be happy to…”

Before Sharon can answer, their home phone rings, the phone announces, “Attention, incoming call. Unknown caller, call disconnected. Call terminated.”

Wolf laughs, saying, “Sharon I think you should explain how the phone system works first, I can see Sean is confused.”

“Wolf, of course. Our phones don’t accept calls from anyone without a caller ID.”

Sean, responds, “I understand, you might not want to answer a call from an unknown number, but a mandatory disconnect, it seems to me that this takes away your right to decide if you want to answer or not.”

Sharon responds, “Surely I wouldn’t answer a call from someone I didn’t know, our phone system is programmed to do it for us. Why would anyone call without a caller ID?”

Sean quickly responds, “If the telephone company system software fails, will anyone in the LSA be able to receive a call?”

“No they wouldn’t.  However, that happens very rarely, and people just call back.”

Sean asks, “Which telephone supplier do you use?”

“Our telephone and all of our utilities are provided by the LSA national government.”

Sean follows up, “Do you miss the ability to choose your own supplier?”

“Why? Before the divide, all of the companies were the same anyway. With the government running the utilities, we know we’ll be getting decent service. Our government supplies us with everything we need. Our taxes go to things we can see, use and hold in our hands.”

Sean asks, “Jason, Sharon, with so much being provided by the government, do you miss the ability to choose and make your own decisions? Do you feel like you’ve lost a degree of your freedom in exchange for goods and services?”

The Smiths look at each other, Jason responds for both of them, “Why do we need to be bothered about making silly decisions about what service provider to use? They were all the same. Trying to cut through all of their bullshit was a giant waste of time. Do we miss having the freedom to decide? No, we see it as a burden lifted from us. Why should we waste our time listening to various sales pitches from companies all lying about their so called excellent customer support? None have any idea what customer support meant anyway. How many calls do you usually make in order to get the simplest issues corrected? The government has helped us. The national government has saved us time. They have enabled us to have more free time. They have removed a lot of stress off of us.”

“As a follow up, what about the government knowing every call you make?”

“They knew all the time anyway; nothing’s changed so what’s the big deal?”

“Jason, Sharon, do you miss the various options you used to have?”

“Not really, most of the choices we had weren’t really choices. We thank the government for giving us more free time to spend with our family or on our hobbies or doing anything else we’d like to.”

Sean asks, “Do you feel any remorse being totally dependent on the government?”

Bob looks at Sean with a confused look on his face, “Sean, why would we? The government, unlike a private company, isn’t going to go bust. They aren’t going to screw around like the private companies did. I remember before the split I had an issue with our cable TV provider, I wanted to cancel my service, they transferred me from person to person; they left me on hold for three hours. When someone finally answered the phone, they told me the billing department was closed. We don’t have these issues any longer.”

“Sharon, let’s get back to the ration system, can you explain to those of us in the USA how it works?”

“Sean, of course; none of us are hungry, we’ve reduced the numbers of people who are obese. While we’ve reduced the number of obese people, the USA and most-other first world countries has increased their number of obese people.”

“Sharon isn’t the reason you have a lower number of obese people is because the government limits the number of calories a person can intake a day?”

“The rationing system is designed to limit the number of calories a person intakes. It’s a well-known fact that food acts on the brain like a drug, hence we’re reducing food addiction. The government is limiting the types of harmful addiction we might encounter that would be detrimental to our health and well-being. It revolves around being equal. Every one of each age group is allowed a certain number of calories in a week. Everyone has ration software built into our ID cards. When I go to the food store, the shopping carts have scanners built in. I scan my ID card when I start shopping. My ID is set up as the primary shopper for food. I’ve entered Bob’s, Scott’s and Sissy’s IDs into the national system so when I shop the computer knows I’m shopping for four people - two adults and two children. Every item I drop into the cart is scanned against our IDs and our calories for the week. When our weekly caloric total is reached, my cart is automatically billed to my bank account. The computer on the shopping cart prints out the receipt, we can leave whenever we want to.”

“What happens if you want to place additional items into the cart?”

“The computer will not accept the item, if I try to leave the store with the not allowed item; the cart alerts the store’s management. I’ll be stopped and have to return the item.”

“Sharon, what about if you’re going to entertain, like with us?”

“Sean, that’s easy; I enter the dates and number of people into my kitchen computer it updates our allowable items.”

“What if there isn’t really a party, you were just adding items to your family’s pantry?”

“Sean, do you always look for ways to scam the system? I enter our guest’s names and the town they are coming from and the system checks their calendars. If those people are still home on the date of the party and we didn’t cancel it, the calories are deducted from my next week’s shopping. In your case, I didn’t know how many people were coming, or where you were from and since some of you are from the USA and not in our system. I simply entered the event into the system. The system knew of the program, so it was automatically approved, in fact it even suggested some items for us to purchase. You don’t have to reimburse us; the amount we paid is going to be applied as credits to our taxes. Since the government’s system is tied into everything, it’s a complete circle. It makes it so easy for me to plan a week’s menu and shopping trip. Anything I use up I scan in my kitchen computer which is automatically added to my shopping list.”

“May I have a follow up question? What happens when you go out to eat?”

“The waiter scans our IDs before seating us. Our IDs at a restaurant allow us to exceed the daily amount of food by a margin of 15%.

“Sharon, couldn’t you go out to eat every night and become overweight by eating 15% above the daily minimum calorie counts?”

“Sean, it’s not that easy. Everyone in the LSA has a caloric budget based on age, weight and level of physical activity. Most people can’t afford to eat out more than once a week. Those who can are taxed an extra 20% on their second night eating out in the same week. The third trip to a restaurant carries a caloric discount of 35%. We realized good health begins with what you eat. The more active one becomes, the more calories are allowed. By reducing the number of overweight people we’ve lowered the number of hospital visits, we’ve lowered the number of heart attacks and even strokes. You should really copy our system; your people would be much healthier.”

“I guess the rationing system doesn’t allow many preppers in the LSA does it?”

Sharon smiles replying, “Not really. In fact there are fines for holding more than 5 days of food. Before you ask about growing your own extra food, the DepLIES flies drones looking for small farms and vegetable gardens. One needs government approval to grow food. Fertilizer can be used as an explosive so it’s doled out by the DepLIES, permits and inspections are required. If a person gets the approval for a vegetable garden or small farm, they have a choice of giving the government 50% of the produce or having their rations reduced. This is to prevent people from hoarding food.”

“Sharon, the LSA is reducing people’s weight by starving some people and also you’ve outlawed many spices and flavorings so that food doesn’t taste the same as it used to. You’ve outlawed salt and most fried foods. I can’t buy anything larger than 8 ounces to drink. You’ve implemented laws to force people how they should eat and live. I purchased a Coke and had to pay a tax on it because it has too much sugar in it.”

“Sean, now wait one minute. Many of those flavorings, spices, and the worst two of all, salt and sugar have been proven to be bad for the body. We’re saving people. We’re extending people’s lives. Our system is healthy for our people. Look at the condition of your people compared to ours. Ours are in much better physical shape than yours.”

Sean excuses himself to use the restroom. He really didn’t have to go; he had to leave the room for a couple of minutes. Walking down the hall Sean thinks to himself, “If anyone ever told me how far things have gotten in twelve years I wouldn’t believe them.” He’s worried if the Smith’s are going to be believable. So many in the USA aren’t going to believe how far to the left the LSA is. As Sean washes his face he’s thinking, “There has to be something wrong I’m not seeing. These people used to be citizens of the USA, how the hell did they become like this? They think we’re wrong; they don’t see their loss of any of their freedoms as an issue. They’ve surrendered their free will to the government. How did this happen in only twelve years?”

Chapter 5

Sean is wondering how to keep the USA viewers interested in the program and continue to watch it. In the first two hours, Sharon has given the viewers so much information Sean wonders if anyone in the USA is going to believe what they’re seeing. There are so many differences between the two countries he’s trying to think of the best way to explain those differences.  He decides he’s going to complete the interview and see if he can get President Brownie to add some light on the early years after the birth of the LSA. Sean decides he needs to show the USA how the LSA people became sheep. He’s worried that if the USA isn’t careful they’ll follow the LSA down a similar path. Sean’s spent his entire career showing that government isn’t the answer. He’s spent his life trying to explain to people they can control their own density, or the government will take over their lives with the outcome being what he and the viewers have just witnessed. Sean feels sorry for the Smith family who don’t even realize they’ve lost what made them unique. They’ve lost their ability to reason and think logically. They’ve surrendered the simplest aspects of their lives to the government who is using its power to have total control over every aspect of its citizens’ lives.  The last couple of hours have made him sick to his stomach. He knows he should return to the living room and continue the interview. He wants to grab Jason and Sharon and shake them, asking them if they understood what they’ve given up in exchange for some simple conveniences. As much as he’d wanted to like Jason and Sharon, he’s having problems liking them. Sean doesn’t understand why they stayed in the LSA and became slaves of the state. He throws some more cold water on his face before he returns to the living room.

Sean returns to the living room saying, “Thank you and excuse me for being away for a few minutes.”

Wolf replies, “No problem old buddy. Sharon, we all thank you for your input and explanations.  I’m sorry we got distracted there for a little while. Why don’t you and Jason tell the viewers about your jobs?”

Jason responds, “Sure thing. Both Sharon and I work for the government, as does almost everyone we know. The government either owns or controls almost every company and service provider in the country. We’re both what you would call middle managers. I work in the department of energy; Sharon works in the department of national health care services.”

Sean asks, “Jason, how many people work for the national government?”

“Sean, they are by far the largest employer, employing over 85% of the population.”

Wolf asks, “Sharon, why don’t you start off and tell us what your average day at your office is like.”

Sharon says, “Wolf, I’d be happy to. I handle customer concerns. Things like when the computer system turns down their request, or says it’s not time to place a reorder for their medication, take up a lot of our time, the second most called about item is they report they can’t get an appointment with the doctor when they want. You know stuff like that. I have five phone operators reporting to me. We start work at 8:00 AM, and we end the day at 4:30 PM. We have an hour for lunch and two thirty-minute breaks. Most of us take four 15-minute breaks instead of two 30-minute breaks. I and my staff belong to the government health care workers union.”

Sean asks, “Sharon do you get value for your union dues?”

“Oh yes, last year they union got us a 5% raise and lowered our early retirement age from 66 to 64. Yes, they are worth every penny I pay them.”

“Sharon, do they make it hard to fire someone?”

“Yes, however I haven’t had to fire anyone in at least eight years.”

“Why is that? Is all of your staff that good?”

“No, I have written a few up, the union also represents my staff. We agreed that these workers who had a couple of issues would get extra training.”

“Sharon, is this training held during their normal work hours of after work?”

“Sean, all training has to take place during normal work hours. We can’t take them away from their families.”

“If they’re in extra training, who picks up the slack in your department?”

“Why I do of course? Who else would?”

“Sharon is that fair?”

“It’s only a short time; it’s better than having to fire them. I don’t really mind sitting in for them. It’s part of my job.”

Sean continues, “Sharon do you do the same if one of your staff calls in sick?”

“No, if one or more of my staff calls in ill, I’ll call the standby office and have a temporary replacement sent to me.”

“Are you saying you have an inventory of trained standby employees just waiting for someone to call in ill?”

“Yes, of course, we wouldn’t want someone who doesn’t know the answers to the questions our people will be asking. Most departments have standby staff who are constantly being trained in case I, or some other manager, needs them.”

“Doesn’t that increase your overhead?”

“I would suppose it does. However, our budgets are classified as Top Secret. So no one outside of the government can see the numbers.”

“Sharon, how do you know if you’ve satisfied your callers?”

Sharon responds, “We measure how many rings before we answered the call, the caller’s time on hold, how long my staff spends on each call, if the call is completed or has to be transferred to another department and if the caller is satisfied with our answers.”

Sean asks, “Sharon, what’s the number one problem your people deal with?”

“Usually people who have either used up or lost some of their medication, they don’t understand there are limits to what can be ordered and consumed in a thirty-day month.”

“Sharon, what about the months with 31 days?”

“We usually ensure people get 365 dosages of medicine for the year. If they lose one or waste a dose, we check the prescription to see if there are any other uses for the medicine and if it has a street value.”

“Street value?”

“Pain medications have a street value, some sleep medications and some antidepressants have street values; these are never extended because people might have sold them for extra pocket money on the street.”

“What about if someone really did lose a dose?”

“They are going to have to make do without. We can’t allow extra medications to flood the streets. We don’t want our children getting their hands on these medicines. We don’t want the medications to reach the street in an uncontrolled manner. They could cause harm to people who misuse them. I get many calls from the national police and the DepLIES checking people’s names on prescriptions to cross check if their medications are on the street. When I get these calls, I have to cross check the perpetrator’s prescriptions, when they were last filled, if they called my department asking for a special circumstance extension. Anyone caught selling their medications has their prescriptions cancelled. They can’t get a new prescription for at least 90 days.”

“Sharon, what if the person had their medicine stolen, sold on the streets and really needs their medication?” Sean asked.

“They should have taken better care of their medications so they wouldn’t have been stolen in the first place. We’re all working as hard as we can to keep prescription drugs off of our streets. Do you realize how many chemicals we’ve had to ban in order to stop the possibility of our children misusing various chemicals?”

“Sharon, the LSA bans many chemicals and penalizes people who lost a single pill and yet marijuana is legal in the LSA?”

“Of course it is, we banned cigarettes because they cause cancer, we made marijuana legal because it’s safe. Everyone knows it’s safe.”

“Didn’t you also lower the drinking age to sixteen?”

“Of course. Look at Europe. They don’t even have a drinking age. We educate our children to learn how to use alcohol and marijuana so they don’t get into trouble with it later in life.”

Sean smiles asking, “How is that working out so far?”

“We’re working a couple of issues.”

“Sharon, do employees have the right to take a marijuana smoke break?”

“Of course they do. Most offices request those who want to take a smoke break to do it outside of the office. Employees are allowed one 5 minute break per hour.”

“Do employees show up for work and do they work while high?”

“We frown on the word high. We don’t use it anymore. We say they're stabilized. You’d be surprised how much more civil my phone operators are after their smoke breaks. We used to have an issue with phone operators being rude but since allowing smoke breaks, we haven’t had a single complaint about my operators.”

“Sharon, does the government supply marijuana as part of the national health care system?”  Asks Sean.

“Sean, marijuana is sold in national pharmacies, government-owned drug stores and online through our national health care system. We do have many small Mom and Pop owned stores that cater to the crowd that likes different flavors of marijuana.”

“Sharon, does the government tax the sale of marijuana?”

“Sean, the national government taxes everything. We have a national income tax which is automatically deducted from our pay, we have a personal property tax based on our assets; we have a national sales tax and a national medical tax. Savings are taxed, and interest is taxed. There are very few exceptions or deductions from the taxes. Next year the sales tax is being replaced by a value-added tax. We don’t mind paying so many different taxes because most are tied directly to different services and support we get from the government. An example of this is the air security tax; we pay a fee of $15 per leg of air, rail or bus ticket to cover the cost of pre-boarding screening and boarding security.”

Sean continues by asking, “Do you also pay tax on the government supplied services?”

Sharon says, “Yes, we pay taxes on the services the government supplies us with. Since the government took over most aspects of daily commerce, they need the fees and taxes to cover their costs.”

“Sharon, if private companies ran some of these services, wouldn’t your tax burden be reduced?”

“It might, then again, the level of service might be reduced too. Right now we know what to expect from our government. If private companies ran the service industry, we wouldn’t know what to expect.”

Wolf interrupts, “Let’s get back to your job. Do you have a big issue with illegal medicines?”

Sharon responds while staring at Sean, “We’d have much less of one if the USA would control their distribution along our borders.”

Wolf asks, “Do many people cross the border to acquire medications?”

“Yes, in the early days of the divide, many had to cross the border because we didn’t yet have our own production of so many needed items up and running.  As time went on, and we became able to supply our people with what they need, the only people who crossed the border to shop were those looking for black market goods or illegal medications. Medications, I might add that we have to cover the costs of when people overdose on those drugs. You sell too many drugs over the counter, many which can harm our population. Many, which like cough medicine, can be abused. You sell allergy medication to anyone with a photo ID, really do you have any idea how many illegal drugs can be made from over the counter medicines?  You allow drug companies to transfer drugs from prescription to over the counter if they can ‘prove’ they’re safe. The way the USA sells drugs is causing many deaths here in the LSA. Sean, do you think that’s fair? Don’t you think the USA should cover the costs of the pain and suffering your so called free market inflicts on others? The USA is selling drugs to LSA citizens with the goal of helping us kill ourselves.”

“Sharon, that’s not a goal of the USA, it’s never been one.”

“Yes it is. Otherwise, you wouldn’t sell your drugs to anyone who walked into one of your drug stores.”

“Sharon, we don’t sell anything to just anyone. People have to have a valid prescription and a photo ID.”

“Sean, we both know how easily IDs can be made. We also know many of your drugs are sold online that is easy for others to steal. This is a big reason we moved to a biometric ID – driver’s licenses also carry encoded information so people can be more easily matched with their ID card.”

“Sharon, doesn’t your nationally mandated education system teach the children about the dangers of drug use or driving while drinking?”

“Sean, our education system is the best. We’re still dealing with poor children who, due to no fault of their own, have some issues that have to be taken into account when passing judgment.”

“Sharon, can you expand on this point a little?”

“Sean, everyone knows that children are a product of their environment. We’re only twelve years into the divide. Many children were already in school not getting the proper education. These poor children started growing up without knowing everyone is equal. When they are caught stealing or bullying, we teach them they are stealing from themselves, we teach them being a bully is only hurting themselves. Watch our evening news programs, you’ll see many of these poor children who don’t realize they’re only hurting themselves. They grew up without knowing the facts. Many grew up without proper supervision; they were allowed to do anything they wished after school. They watched programs that twisted their still developing minds. What they're doing now isn’t their fault. The poor children don’t know any better. We set aside many of the punishments for these poor souls. It’s not their fault they didn’t get the best education. They were entering or already in their teenage years when we split. They didn’t get the benefit of a good progressive education.”

Sean looks surprised, “Sharon, do I understand you have two different legal systems?”

“Sean, I wouldn’t go so far as to call it two different systems. We accept that the legal system has to recognize who the perpetrator is and their background before passing judgment.     How can it be their fault for not following our rules when we failed them in not providing them with the proper education that would have taught them right from wrong?”

“Sharon, what about other people who break the law?”

“Sean, the same can be said about many minorities who didn’t receive the best the state could offer them. Many people think they are owed things because of how their ancestors were treated. Some think that because their ancestors might have been slaves, the nation owes them compensation. Our high court is currently studying this issue. They are due to rule in a month. So far it looks like the government is going to recognize this debt and compensate those who claim their ancestors were mistreated or were slaves. Human slavery is horrible. It’s a blight on the world. These people have had their self-esteem taken from them. They feel they are unworthy. This feeling of being less worthy and being owed has been passed down for generations. If we don’t address it now, it will return in the next generation.”

“Sharon, do you really believe that a minority is acting badly because a very small percentage of their ancestors might, key word is might, have been a slave? Most of the slaves were in the southern states, there are no southern states in the LSA. How could these people be suffering if there were no slaves in LSA held states?”

“Sean, many of these people moved after they were freed. Who’s to know how many moved to the Northeast or West Coast? I’d say that the feeling of inequality has been passed down generation to generation. Certain people have carried the feelings forward for over 150 years. The cycle has to be stopped.”

“Sharon, do you know that there were many blacks who held slaves?”

“Sean, that’s a lie Republicans spread 50 years ago.”

“Sharon, it’s not a lie, it’s the truth. Do you know that in the 1960’s it was the progressive left who wanted to block civil rights?”

“Sean, again another lie. I really wish you’d study your history before you toss around lies. Every school child in the LSA knows the real history of America, not the lies you teach in your schools.”

“Sharon, I think it’s your history books that are in error.”

“Sean, our books have been reviewed and accepted by the best minds at Berkley, they have to be correct.”

Sean is confused, “Sharon, may I see one of your history books?”

“If you have a tablet or e-book ready I’ll transfer one from Scott’s inventory to you. We don’t use paper books. Paper requires chopping down trees to make the paper. Remember everything we do is green.”

Sean says, “Let’s return to the different aspects in your laws again.

Sharon smiles saying, “Sean, it’s really very clear, if their ancestors hadn’t been put in chains and made slaves they wouldn’t have found themselves in their current mental state. They were taught since childhood they weren’t equal to everyone else. It’s not their fault; it’s ours. We, as a progressive society, are trying to change this. We’ve altered the law so those who feel they’re not equal gradually get to see their impressions are wrong. So in a way you can say we have two legal systems, one day in the future, after all of our people realize we’re all equal, we’ll return to a single legal system. We won’t need a system to assist those who think they’re not equal. Education will cure this problem within a generation.”

@@@@@

I’m about to burst; I turn to Kathy; my face is red from holding in my anger, “Kathy, can these people really think they make sense? They’ve been played by their own system. I can’t believe they really think that it’s their fault and not the person committing the crime. Somehow they’ve bought into the bullshit of ‘it’s not my fault, I grew up in a broken home.'

“They’ve gone so far as to change their legal system to give additional chances to those who, in their opinion, didn’t get the right education. Their own progressive system created the problems they cry about. They passed laws to encourage single parents; they created welfare programs that paid high amounts to babies having babies. I have a friend who taught school in one of the inner cities, he told me the girls would brag about how many times they got pregnant; their goals were to have as many children as possible so they could collect as much welfare as possible. None intended to get a job; they saw their job as having children. Their parents taught them how to game the system; they only went to school only to check a box on a form.

“The progressives never understood giving money away doesn’t build self-esteem. Without self-esteem, these kids don’t care about themselves. They wonder why they should ever be productive since they get paid to do nothing. Unearned money means nothing. They don’t care for their homes because it was given to them; none of their own sweat and blood was ever spent improving their lives. So what does the LSA go and do, they expand the very system which almost brought the entire country to our knees. I don’t understand how these people don’t see the problem they’re causing.”

“Brad, she told us, it’s all buried in their education system. They’ve dumbed down their schooling, so everyone is equal. Equally dumb. They’re not preparing their kids for the future; they’re preparing them to accept whatever the government tells them.”

“I’m telling you it’s a shame; they are killing an entire generation.”

“There’s nothing we can do about it.”

“We can learn, so we don’t repeat their mistakes on our side of the divide.”

“I hope this program opens some people’s eyes. I hope it doesn’t sway some to think they’re right, and we’re wrong.”

“If it does, it may be time to move.”

“Smartass, where are we going to move to?”

“I don’t know; I can’t accept we still have so many people that think the LSA is on the right track and we’re wrong.”

@@@@@

Sharon continues, “Sean, you on the other side of the divide think your freedoms are the most important aspect of your lives. I can tell you; you’re wrong. Our children and their future are what’s most important. We may have to do with less money and rights today to ensure our children’s children can grow up safe and equal. Your rights don’t trump our desire to be equal.”

Sean replies, “Sharon, we believe very strongly in our rights; we also want to have our children and their children grow up in a safe environment. We in the USA accept the fact our children are our future.”

“Well, from this side of the divide it doesn’t look like it to us. We all know about the crap that fills your airwaves. It costs us plenty to block your transmissions. We don’t want our children growing up being covered with the filth your entertainment industry spills out.”

“Sharon, no one forces anyone to watch any program.”

“Our kids think they have to watch the filth that pours over your airwaves to be cool.”

“Sharon lets pause here and return to the comments you were making before about the flood of drugs entering the LSA. I’d like to comment on this issue: no one is forcing anyone to buy the medicines, no one of forcing them to take more than the daily recommended dosage. These people are making their own decisions. Are you saying the people in the LSA aren’t intelligent enough to read the warning labels and follow the directions? If they did and got harmed, then they’d have recourse against the manufacturer, if they exceeded the recommended dose, then they have no one to blame except for themselves. I’m sure you agree with that.”

“Sean, how can I agree? I have a friend who works in the emergency room; she deals with the cases caused by your free market. I have to handle the calls that flood in our help line caused by you selling anything to anyone. You have to stop selling over the counter medications. Follow our example, we’ve stopped almost all over the counter sales of drugs. Everything requires a trip to the doctor’s office to be seen and get a written prescription. This way we can ensure only those with a real need have access to these medications. We remove the temptation from staring weak willed people in the face. Our system works. Yours doesn’t, it's that simple.”

“Sharon, you know that’s not true.”

“Which is why so many of your doctors have set up offices right across the border, anyone can walk in with cash in hand and walk out with the magic little white paper which enables them to buy anything. They return here causing us to deal with the aftereffects of your actions.”

“Actually Sharon, you’re dealing with the actions and decisions made by the individuals, not the USA government or people. If your people decide to use medicines to get high, that was their choice. We believe in free will and enabling a person to be able to make their own decisions about their own care.”

“I remember that system, it didn’t work so well when we lived under the ‘Stars, and Stripes,' so many went without, so many went to bed hungry, so many made choices they weren’t able to comprehend the ramifications of. I saw the overweight gorge themselves at fast food restaurants getting more overweight increasing their health issues, all while your government stands by doing nothing. The first duty of a government is to protect its people, you're not doing that very well.  I like our system better, the major decisions are made for us.”

Sean decides to change the subject, “Jason, why don’t you tell us about your job?”

“Sure, I work in the department of energy. I help manage the rationing of fuel. As I’m sure you know, we’ve transitioned from the majority of cars being owned by private persons to the majority being owned by the government.  All of which are electric powered. ”

“Wait a minute, do you and Sharon own the two cars in your driveway?”

“Of course not. They’re our government issued cars. Our positions within the government entitle us to the free use of a government vehicle. Most of our neighbors who work in the government also have government issued cars.”

“Why is that?”

“After the divide, new taxes and use fees for privately owned vehicles were introduced. These fees and taxes are very high because of the shortage of fossil fuels and the damage to the environment done by cars. In fact, they’re so high that most people can’t afford to own a car. I’m sure you remembered how congested many of our cities were, now with mass transit and much smaller cars, we have much less congestion. Los Angeles, for an example, has almost no smog now. The central government of the LSA discourages the ownership and use of private fossil fueled transport. We’ve spent hundreds of billions building mass transit systems and installing electric car charging stations all over the LSA. Oil is too dangerous to drill, fracking damages the ground water supply; offshore oil drilling can damage the environment for hundreds of years. Ground spills can destroy farm land. Refining gasoline from oil pollutes the atmosphere, spills are extremely flammable, shall I go on? We decided it was better to be safe than sorry. We’re sure the day will come soon when the USA also sees what we saw and decides to change over to electric power for all of your cars and trucks. A major side benefit is the high cost of owning and operating a personal vehicle has been lifted from our shoulders.

“Jason, was your income also reduced because you no longer had your vehicle costs?”

“Of course, it was. However, we don’t have to worry about the declining value of the vehicles or breakdowns. This is another example of how the government has lifted a crushing burden from us. Our government has made our lives much easier to deal with.”

“Where does the extra electrical energy come from to charge your cars and trucks?”

“We have huge solar farms, plus we burn trash and believe it or not we burn dead bodies for fuel to generate electrical power.”

Sean sees a couple of woman holding hands walking along the sidewalk while a little girl skips ahead of them. Sean asks, “Sharon, Jason, I’d like to ask what are the laws or definition of marriage in the LSA?”

Jason looks through the front window, he sees the two woman, “Sean, I assume Jane and Susan raised your question. The answer is easy; we believe marriage is a civil agreement between people.”

“Jason, are you saying, the LSA has removed God from the equation?”

“Of course we have. We’ve downplayed religion in our society. We’ve found a way to lower the divorce rate. We have three levels of marriage. Anyone over the age of 18 can enter into an ‘Alpha’ marriage which is a civil agreement for a term of one year, it can be renewed for an additional period. A ‘Beta’ marriage lasts for three years and can be renewed for an additional period of three years. Of course, we have regular marriage that has no fixed term. However, everyone under the age of 25 who wants to marry must start with either an Alpha or Beta marriage.”

“Why do they have to start with an Alpha or Beta marriage?”

“Divorce rates reached 65% in new marriages; people rushed into marriage too quickly. This enables our young to try marriage before having to commit for a long term.”

Sean looks at Sharon and Jason asking, “So two people can enter into a limited term marriage and at the end of the term just walk away?”

“Of course, that’s the entire construct of the Alpha and Beta marriage.”

Sean asks, “Is marriage still between two people?”

Sharon blushes, responding, “No, it can be between as many as they want it to be. One of our neighbors is in a marriage of three people, two women and one man. Since our courts have ruled that marriage is a civil contract, the courts ruled that any number of people can enter into a marriage.”

Wolf says, “On that note I think this is a wrap for tonight. I want to thank everyone for tuning in and thank President Brownstone and the Smith family. We’ll be back tomorrow at the same time. You can log on to our website; www.12yearsafter.com to take part in the discussion about tonight’s show.”

Chapter 6

Kathy and I were two of the millions sitting in front of our television screen for the past three hours; we hadn’t moved. When the program ended we sat in a trance staring at the local newscaster who started off the nightly news program by saying, “All I can say is WOW, I never knew.”

I answered the newscaster saying, “We agree, we didn’t know either.”

Kathy laughs responding, “He can’t hear you.”

It’s been a small joke forever between us that when a newscaster says something I don’t like, I usually end up yelling at the ‘talking-head,' Kathy always reminds me to yell louder because they can’t hear me at their broadcast station from our family room. Turning to look at her I ask, “Kathy, do you think that was all true? Was that really unscripted? Can those people really believe all of that?”

“Brad, if you looked closely at their faces, it really looked like the entire dialog was unscripted. I’m sure the LSA department of truth, or whatever they call it, selected the family to represent their side of the argument. They picked their family really well. These people totally believe the government line.”

“Honey, why wouldn’t they? Look at it from their point of view. Many in the LSA were liberal, they wanted a progressive government. Some even thought President Obsma didn’t go far enough. Many started off being upset with us in the USA. As the LSA central government consolidated their power, they handed out benefits and money buying the allegiance of their people. The absorbed all of the utilities and other service providers. They say they don’t even think about their government controlling their utilities, I bet they’re right because they don’t give a moment’s thought to everything their government has taken control of. I bet they don’t give a minute’s thought to the government listening into their every call, or that they read everything the people are reading or writing. Based on what we’ve just seen, the LSA knows how many people are home at any one time due to the amount of energy being used. They know where everyone is at any moment. These people have accepted a society where the central government knows everything about everyone living within their borders. They’ve exchanged their freedom for what they see as services and security.”

“Brad, we stopped paying attention to the LSA years ago, as long as they left us alone, we left them alone. We’ve been busy with our own lives, our jobs, our friends and families. Most people thought the LSA was going to implode at any moment. As time marched forward, the friction between the two countries lessened. Someone once said that fences make good neighbors; they must have been correct because as the wall along the border was raised, the tensions between our countries lessened. Each country has developed their own entertainment programs. We can get a couple of their channels; however, most of our cable providers don’t want to pay the LSA the high fees they demand to carry their programs. Hence, over time we’ve lost touch with what they’ve been doing. They haven’t bothered us, and we haven’t bothered them. There’s many in the USA who still hold a grudge against the LSA for splitting off.”

“President Brownie and President Cruise reached an agreement to seal the borders between the two countries. People crossing the border require a visa. President Bloomberg increased the visa requirements making it even harder for us to enter the LSA or his people to enter the USA. He doesn’t want his people visiting us. He claims we polluted his citizens’ minds and bodies. He didn’t want our entertainment or sports programming in the LSA. He was able to get all of the rules he couldn’t get passed in New York City when he was Mayor, made law in the LSA. In his mind, he’s created the perfect society, where he knows what’s best for everyone. No sugared drinks over 8oz are allowed to be sold and even then, only three a day are allowed, no tobacco, no salt, no firearms. Everything the citizens of the LSA do and purchase is recorded on their national ID cards. Bloomberg pushed through the daily maximum allowable caloric intake to ensure people weren’t overweight. He hates overweight people.”

Kathy smirks while responding, “Well, he did get everyone to lose weight, they have the lowest percentage of overweight people in any first-world country.”

“But look at how he did it. He starved his people until they lost weight; he brainwashes them in school. He’s outlawed entire classes of foods. He forces kids to walk up to two miles each way to school. He enforced bike lanes be placed on every road creating more car traffic because he took a lane away from cars. He taxed gasoline powered cars. Kath, I couldn’t live there, I like my doughnuts too much.”

“Ron taught you the wrong things; you could stand to lose some weight. I guess you don’t want to vacation in the land of ‘The people’s republic’?”

“Not me, I don’t need to be watched 24/7. If we’re going to be recorded in bed, I want to be the one doing the recording.”

“Bradly, you’re too old for such games.”

“Want to bet? Now I like this idea of two women and one man being married for a set period of time and being able to walk away at the end of the term.”

Kathy sits down staring at me, she has a frown on her face, “Bradly, what are you saying? Am I not enough for you? Where did this come from? Is there something we need to have a serious talk about?”

“Honey, I was joking, Honey it’s a JOKE.”

“You’d better have been joking! Can they really be serious? Their marriage can be between any numbers of people?”

”Kathy, it’s the logical end of the argument the progressives were making before the break up. They argued that marriage is between two people regardless of their gender. I can see their courts ruling that since marriage is a civil contract, it can be between any number of people. I think it would take some getting used to.”

“Brad, I wonder what else is they’ve changed?”

“Kath, I would assume, based on where they started, we’re going to learn they have moved much further to the left than we ever imagined. Even with their government running everything, their standard of living appears too similar to ours. They have a nice home, two cars and all of the modern appliances. The LSA did bring manufacturing jobs back from China. I think they have done some things pretty good, I just couldn’t accept the total government control and surveillance of everything.”

“Brad, do you think they even realize what they’re missing or what they’ve given up?”

“Nope, they think they’re safe and being taken care of by the government. Tomorrow’s program should be interesting when the USA family is introduced to the world.”

“Brad, do you know how the USA family was selected?”

“The networks said over ten thousand families applied, they screened the applications through a supercomputer for the ‘average’ USA family. The finalists were interviewed by a group made up from both broadcasting networks.”

“I want to see the differences between the children and their schools; their schooling is what’s going to determine the future for both nations.”

“We’re going to have a very interesting few nights.”

@@@@@

The ratings for the first night’s program breaks the broadcast record of 105 million viewers held by the last episode of ‘MASH’ in 1983. The early returns say 200 hundred million people tuned in to watch. These numbers shocked the other broadcast executives who laughed at the program when it was initially presented to them. The morning after, network board rooms are filled with shocked directors and program managers who didn’t think the interview program would draw ten million viewers. ABX thought they had the best formula; they broadcast the latest James Bond movie for the first time on television; it drew only a five share which is going to cost ABX millions in refunds to the advertisers who purchased air time based on a promised number of viewers. The presidents of ABX, NBX and CBZ, call each other to see if they can quickly come up with a way to slow the ratings of the Wolf/CNN broadcast. The president of CBZ says, “If tonight’s broadcast equals the same ratings, or God forbid increases, we’re going to lose hundreds of millions of advertising dollars. It’s going to destroy our quarter if we can’t quickly recover. If they win tonight, they will slide through Thursday, Friday and the live town meeting broadcast on Saturday. The Sunday morning programs are going to be filled with nothing but comments about the program. We won’t get a chance to recover until Monday. If the ratings hold and I were running Wolf or CNN, I’d run a series of follow-up programs with outtakes next week ensuring people tune in. They could crush us for another week. They ran the program during ‘sweep month’ they will build up their advertising rates for the balance of the year at our expense.”

The president of ABX replies, “I agree, who the hell ever thought Wolf and CNN would agree to partner with each other on anything. They’re about as far apart on every issue as black and white. When I first heard about their plans I laughed. I thought this might be the program decision that breaks Wolf. It must have cost them a large fortune in bribes to get permission to film in the LSA.”

The president of NBX quietly says, “How did we miss this? How did we miss the fact the average person would have so much interest in a show about how the other side is living? I bet Randolph Mandake, the founder of Wolf, thought this up and approached CNN; this isn’t something that CNN would develop. CNN doesn’t have a creative person on their staff. Randolph most likely thought if he partnered with CNN, President Bloomberg would go along with it because he could exert some control over CNN. CNN went along because Randolph would foot the production costs.”

ABX responds, “We should have seen it coming, we all blew it. Each of us could have done the program; we could have put together a better production than these two did. However, we’re now faced with the fact that if we went off the air tonight no one would notice. Wolf may be able to use the program to pass all of us in the new season. We’ll lose billions that will go directly into Randolph’s pockets enabling him to expand and kick our teeth in next season.”

“I’ve decided that NBX is going to broadcast an evening of repeats; there’s no reason to waste new programming when no one will be watching.”

ABX asks the president of NBX, “How do you plan to deal with your advertisers?”

“I’m going to have a call with them in an hour and offer them a reduction in price plus additional slots after the Wolf/CNN broadcast ends. I’m also going to rush into production a series on how we got to where we are. I’m going to directly call President Brownstone to see if we can engage him as a special consultant.”

The president of CBZ says, “Good luck with that one, when he was in office, we all blasted him for everything he did and said. He won’t agree to be a consultant for any of us.”

The president of NBX replies, “We lose nothing by trying, its only money. He did agree to consultant and even be a part of the Wolf/CNN program. CNN blasted him worse than we did, so why won’t he work with us? We’ll make him an offer he wouldn’t be able to turn down.”

“Doesn’t he earn $400K a year for life?”

“Yes he does, but everyone can always use more. He must be paying a fortune for the paramilitary security force he has protecting his property.”

The president of CBZ says, “I heard a rumor that the paramilitary group isn’t so ‘para,' they’re all old friends of his. Don’t say anything negative about them when talking to him. Also assume anything said to him is being listened to.”

The president of ABX suggests, “Why don’t we all ask, maybe we can do a combined three-network show which will outdo the existing production.”

“We’ll have to find another angle; the ‘man on the street’ angle is being done.”

“We agree, I suggest we get our program people to work jointly on it ASAP.”

@@@@@

Wednesday morning the media in the USA jumped on the bandwagon from the previous night’s program. Almost every news program led their programs with the equality issue. ABX kicked off their morning news program with a discussion concerning the word ‘equal.’ Their anchor looks into the camera saying, “What’s wrong with everyone being equal? Why shouldn’t we all start and end up being equal? We learned last evening that the LSA government has fully embedded itself in every aspect of their people’s lives. Look how they turned out. The people we met last night are happy, well educated and happy. The LSA has no military that absorbs so much of the USA’s budget. Can you imagine where the USA would be if we didn’t have to spend hundreds of billions on the military every year? The LSA educates their people to recognize they’re the same. They don’t dwell on the differences of their people; they stress how everyone is equal and as such, how and why they should all get along. They have very little homelessness; they have reduced pollution levels, and their people are healthier than ours. I for one am pleasantly surprised. I think there’s a great deal we, as a nation, can learn from the LSA.”

People wake finding thousands of posts on their favorite social network sites talking about the merits why people should be treated as equals. FB soon announces a major policy change which is they will begin blocking all posts that attack others or preaches one group of people is better than any other. Social media is alive with pro and con concerning the initial broadcast from the LSA. For many, this is the first time in years they’ve had an in-depth view behind the divide. Any who try to comment that equal means communism find themselves being trash-talked. Many try to get them banned from the various sites. FB agrees to a ban, only to find a wave of protest builds against them, within an hour they reverse their decision.

Talk radio is overwhelmed with callers discussing the program; just under a half of the callers say they don’t believe a word of the program. It had to be a set up, a phony family of actors setup by the LSA government. Many callers couldn’t understand why so many happily exchanged rights that had been hard fought for, rights that many died for, in exchange for what many said were a handful of silver coins. Many callers said President Bloomberg was Lenin reincarnated.

One group that was very quiet after the first program was the US Congress. Most members refused to answer any of the media’s questions. Many members and their staffs were also surprised by the program.

US President Paul was asked if he had watched the program, “Yes I did. I found it very interesting. I, too, was surprised by the Smith family’s acceptance of the LSA central government in every aspect of their lives.”

“Mr. President, James Wilcox, AP, do you think the LSA brainwashed their people?”

“No, I don’t think the entire country can be brainwashed that easily.”

“Sir, what about Germany in the 1930’s?”

“Germany wasn’t brainwashed; they wanted many of the things Hitler offered them. They wanted their pride back. Hitler played his people perfectly. He gave them what they wanted; he delivered on his promises. He made Germany one of the strongest countries in the world.”

“Mr. President, Hitler also ended up destroying Germany.”

“If you’re asking if I think President Bloomberg is going to follow Hitler, my answer is no. I don’t think so. He always stated what he wanted. Once he got the power to enforce the policies he wanted and thought were the best for everyone to live under, he quickly pushed his policies across the LSA. I don’t think it’s about President Bloomberg taking personal power. The office of President in the LSA is different than in the USA. He has more personal power than I do. I like the separation of powers, he doesn’t. He thinks he knows what was best for everyone. He now has the power to reshape the country. He was able to transform the LSA in a very short period of time.”

“Mr. President, Roger Wilson, AOL News Channel, were you surprised about the definition of marriage in the LSA?”

“Frankly, yes I was. I assumed they would have removed the definition of marriage being between a man and a woman; I didn’t expect them to have moved to a position where marriage is simply a civil contract that can be entered into between any numbers of people and even set for a period of time. I think when marriage is nothing more than an agreement between people of how they will share obligations and assets; it loses what I’ll call ‘the magic.' A key aspect of marriage is an obligation, marriage is two people working to stay together, to raise a family to bring stability to society. The LSA has changed the basic core values behind marriage which spreads through their entire country.”

Chapter 7

Preparing for the second night’s broadcast, hundreds of restaurants offered home delivery. Restaurateurs figured if their customers wouldn’t leave their homes to come to them, they would deliver to their customers. Home delivery food orders broke every Super Bowel record. As the hour of 8:00PM drew closer, the streets in both countries emptied. The only people on the streets were delivery people who didn’t have a choice in the matter. Many hotel lobbies and bars added additional televisions all set to broadcast the program. Many companies that were required to have evening staffs installed large monitors so their workers could watch the program. In the LSA, all central government offices and factories are given the night off with pay. President Bloomberg makes sure his announcement is broadcast over the LSA and world-wide-web so he can take the credit for leading a government that puts his people’s interests first.

Wednesday evening at the stroke of 8:00 PM, people in both the LSA and the USA come to a pause for three hours. Restaurants without televisions are empty, pizza and other food delivery shops do a record business. No one wants to move away from their televisions. Families sit together watching the first actual program that lifted the veil over the LSA. What people in the USA had seen the first night surprised them, some were shocked, and everyone who watched the first episode became quickly hooked. Everyone is waiting for the second episode. The show was the only thing discussed in millions of coffee shops that Wednesday morning. People debated and discussed the program all day.

Everyone in the USA now saw and heard the LSA had moved far to the left, many people in the USA realize the LSA had turned away from the path the founders planned for America. Very few in the LSA had any idea that direction the USA had gone. Some thought the country turned sharply right; gun ownership would be mandatory, some thought the country reverted to the racist 1950s where minorities lived in their own communities. Some thought that religion would be the dominating aspect in people’s lives. Some even thought the USA cities would be covered in thick smog and the water supply polluted with toxic chemicals. There were discussions on LSA talk radio that the USA was most likely suffering under serious global warming because the USA relied on fossil fuels versus converting to green energy like the LSA had done.

One unforeseen and highly appreciated impact of the broadcast is the lowest crime rates in both countries. Crime set new levels for the lowest number of reported crimes for a weekday night since records were kept. This will be discussed for months on both sides of the divide. Local police are hoping tonight’s broadcast results in the same low number of 911 calls.

The dual network broadcast opens with Sean, Wolf and President Brownstone sitting in front of the cameras. Sean starts off the program. “Ladies and gentlemen, the three of us, our production crews, the staff of our networks and, of course, the selected advertisers who run the limited number of commercials would like to say thank you. We’re frankly overwhelmed with the ratings. We knew people would be curious about how each side lives and works. However, we didn’t in our wildest imagination expect over two hundred million people to tune in. We promise to do our best to bring you the information and answers you’ve tuned in to see. Speaking for the Wolf News Network, thank you. Wolf?”

“Sean, I couldn’t have said it better myself, so I’ll only add, speaking for all of the employees of the Continuous News Network, we thank you for the trust you’ve shown in us. Mr. President, would you like to start tonight’s program off?”

“Wolf, Sean, people in both the USA and LSA, welcome to the second of four interviews with the Smiths and the Joneses. We hope that our program brings a better understanding to both sides of the divide. The better we understand each other, the better we learn to live together with each other as good neighbors.  Tonight we’re going to meet the Jones family who lives in Burlington, North Carolina, a small town near Greensboro. The Jones family is comprised of Robert and his lovely wife Carol. They have two children, Leon, 15 years old and Elizabeth who, as you’ll see, wants to be called Beth, 6 years old. I’m sure that last night’s episode was an eye opener for those watching in the USA. Tonight we think will be the same for those watching in the LSA. A surprise we’ve been holding off announcing is, on Friday night’s show, the two families are going to interview each other live. Neither of the two families or us will have advance access to the questions. The individual families will compose their own questions for each other. So make sure you tune in for our special on Friday evening. I’m getting this television announcer job down pretty good. I may have found a new career.  Without further delay, I wish I could have said that when I was President, it’s our pleasure to introduce to you the Jones family.”

The image on the large screen behind the hosts changes to show an overhead view of a small community, a street with homes lining both sides of the street. One of the first differences people notice from the similar street in Oregon is there are cars parked on the street, there are children riding bikes and skateboards up and down driveways. The cars are mostly two to three year old SUVs and four-door sedans. There are a few BMWs and Mercedes sprinkled in with the SUVs. The homes are painted in shades of white or blue with a few yellow homes sprinkled in. All have different landscaping. All of the lawns are neatly trimmed. Many of the homes have unfenced play sets. Two homes on the street have swimming pools, one pool is above ground, and one is an in-ground. The camera zooms in to show a front walk lined with multicolored flowers and solar powered lights. There’s a large weeping willow tree in the center of the front yard. Another noticeable change is there’s a mailbox in front of the house. The screen image moves up the walk to the front door; the image on the screen zooms in to show a nicely varnished front door with a bright green ‘WELCOME’ mat in front of the door. They knock on the front door; a young man in his early thirties opens the door. A large smile lights up his face. “Hi, we’ve been waiting for you. Welcome to our home. Welcome to our lives. Come in.”

Sean and Wolf enter the camera’s view, “Hi Robert; it’s very nice to meet you face to face.”

“You can call me Bob, almost everyone does,” a pretty woman in her early thirties enters the picture, Bob says, “This is my wife Carol.”

“Welcome to our home, would you like something to drink? I made some fresh lemonade. We also have coffee, tea, water and some diet sodas. And yes, we have the large 44-ounce bottles just for you Wolf.” Carol said, winking and smiling.

Sean and Wolf laugh over the little joke. “Fresh lemonade sounds perfect.”

Carol carries in a tray with a pitcher of lemonade and fresh baked cookies. Just as she places the tray down on the living room coffee table, almost like magic, a little girl walks into the living room saying, “I smell the cookies, Mommy, is it time to have the cookies now?”

“Yes, come in Elizabeth and meet the nice people we talked about who are here to learn about us. Do you remember us talking about them visiting with us for a while?”

A small dark haired girl with bright smiling blue eyes grabs a cookie off the plate saying, “I like to be called Beth, not Elizabeth. Call me Beth.” She jumps on the loveseat across from her parents. “Hi everyone, can you see me?” She waves up and down.  “Do you know I have a dog? Her name is Holly she’s is a Chinese Shar-Pei, I think that’s how you say it. She’s not really from China; she doesn’t have slanted eyes. She’s all wrinkled like my Papa used to be. She’s hiding right now; she’s a little shy around new people. She’s watching you right now. Want to see her?”

Before anyone can respond, Beth calls, “Holly, come. Holly, cookie, cookie.”

Beth runs off to grab her dog who really wanted to remain hiding under the bookcase.  Holly tried to get away from the strangers in her home. She loved Beth, but like many dogs, she didn’t understand the invasion of the security of her home. However, she understood the word cookie.

Sean and Wolf both laugh, Sean says, “Beth, I’m sure everyone can see you and is falling in love with you right about now. You can leave Holly where she is. She’s just a little scared right now. She’ll warm up to us in a little bit. It’s normal with dogs. How are the cookies?”

“Very good, did you know I helped Mommy make them? We used the real chocolate chips because Mommy said you were ’portant people. Holly doesn’t want to come out and say hello, she’ll come out later when she gets used to you. What’s ’portant people mean?”

Sean responds, “Beth, I think your Mother meant important.”

“Same thing, can I have another cookie?”

Before anyone can respond, a teenager enters the living room saying, “Hey, I thought you were going to call me when they got here. No fair, she’s hogging all of the air time and all of the cookies.” Turning to face the cameras, he makes a peace sign, “I’m Leon. Any cute girls out there who want to be friends can find me on my FB page.”

Bob, motions for Leon to sit and be quiet.

Sean and Wolf say, “Bob, we thank you for agreeing to be part of this program and for allowing us to invade your lives for a few days. Why don’t you give everyone an overview of who you are?”

“Sure, we would like to welcome everyone into our home and family. We bought this house two years ago when I got my current job at the lab. Carol landed a job in a biomedical start-up shortly after we moved here. We moved to Burlington from northern Virginia. Frankly we were surprised at the low housing cost and the friendliness of the people. Our house was brand new. Its 2,500-square feet, which works out to 625 square feet for each of us. To give the rest of the country an example of the costs, the house cost us $200,000. The same house in Northern Virginia would cost of $550,000. We moved to be able to provide a better life for our children. We have four bedrooms and three bathrooms, a living room where we’re currently sitting; we have a dining room, kitchen and family room. In the back, we have a patio and gas grill. Upstairs are four bedrooms; we also have a large bonus room that’s over the garage.”

Beth says, “One of the bedrooms and bathrooms is mine, please use the guest bathroom if you have to go number two. Don’t smell up my bathroom.”

Everyone laughs at her statement.

Bob continues, “We have a two-car garage, Carol drives a Mercedes-Benz C 300; I drive a BMW 3 Series, I guess my parents would have called us yuppies. I don’t care; we earn enough money so that we can afford a new house, and enough disposable income left over to both enjoy ourselves and put some money away for the kid’s education. We take weeklong vacations every year. Our next big family trip is going to be to visit Disney in Florida.”

Beth jumps up and down, “Yea, Mickey and Minnie, I’m going to Disney, why don’t all of you join us, we can have a party.”

Bob tells Beth, “Honey, remember what we talked about, wait until you’re asked a question to talk.”

“‘K, daddy.”

“We work long hours, typically, each of us put in 50 or more hours which include work done on the weekends. However, the payback can be huge. If Carol’s company succeeds, she’ll stand to win big on her options. As the lab expands and acquires other companies my stock options also grow.”

Wolf asks, “Bob, how do you feel about you having to pay for your children’s college and your neighbors in the LSA don’t have to?”

“I don’t mind; I was raised believing on standing on my own two feet. I’ve never taken a handout in my life.”

“Bob, did you takeout a student loan when you went to college?”

“Wolf, Of course, I did, who didn’t?”

“Do you realize student loans are government programs?”

“Not really, it was a loan that I paid back with interest. It wasn’t a handout.”

“I bet there are other government programs, you’ve used too, did you drive on I-85 to work today?”

“Sure, it’s the quickest way. Why?”

“The interstate highway system was paid for by the government; they built it for people like you to use. Does Carol use the interstate to get to her start-up job?”

“Usually.”

“Well, that start-up that may one day payback big dividends to you is using the government paid for highway system. I’m sure Carol’s start-up also uses technology licensed from the government. Anything they develop will have to be approved by the government before it can be sold. The government, even here in the USA, isn’t so far removed from your lives as you think they are.”

Bob turns to look directly into the camera’s red light, “Wait a minute there Wolf, I know the government collected the money to build the interstate roadway from my fuel taxes. So you can say I paid for it myself. The government may have issued the contract, but I end up paying for it, I pay for it with every tank of gas we buy. We’re using the roads we help pay for.”

“Bob, many people think they can live very well without the government. However, they can’t. Let me give you some examples, without the FDA there wouldn’t be any food safety. Carol’s biotech startup wouldn’t be possible if the FDA didn’t work with such companies on the release of new drugs. Without the DoD, there wouldn’t be a military to protect the country. The government provides libraries, schools, roads, clean water and electrical power just to name a few. I hope you see that you can’t function without the support of the government. Even if you go back to the so-called ‘wild west’ the government supplied the sheriffs that brought order and protection so towns could grow. The government protected the land for the railroad crews. Without the government, there wouldn’t have been the expansion west.”

“Is that why the LSA doesn’t have a national military, because they don’t care about protecting their people?”

Wolf continues, “Bob, no, they don’t have a national military because they have no enemies.”

“Wolf, I disagree, they hide behind that statement, and the truth is they can get away without having a military because the USA has such a strong one they know no one will attack them without us responding. It is no different with Canada when they were still a separate country. Many of us think the LSA should be paying a percentage of our military costs since you’re hiding behind it.”

“Bob, there’s no reason to go down this old wives’ tale. Let’s discuss your family’s normal day, why don’t you walk us through a sort of a day in the life of the Joneses.”

“Sure, we’re not much different from most families. We wake around 6:00 AM. Coffee is set on a timer, so it’s ready when we come downstairs; Carol is usually the first one up to make sure the kids have a hot breakfast before they leave for school. While the kids eat their breakfast, she makes and packs them lunch.”

Wolf asks, “Leon and Beth don’t buy their lunches at school?”

“No, they brown bag it. Carol likes to make them lunch.”

“How do you know they’re getting the right mix of protein, carbs, vitamins, etc.?”

Carol jumps into the discussion, “I know what my kids like to eat, I know what’s good for them, I don’t need the government to tell me how to feed my family, or spend my tax money on them. There are families in the area that are short of income; I don’t see anything wrong with the government helping those who need help. However, I don’t agree with the idea of the government telling me what I have to feed my children.”

Wolf gets on his soapbox and asks, “But Carol aren’t you being party to a situation where the children know who’s needy and who isn’t? Aren’t you really helping to continue and expand class discrimination? The poor get free school lunches; the kids just have to look around and see who’s eating the school lunches and whose brown bagging it. By sending your kids to school with their home made lunches you’re putting them in a class above the needy, hence taking self-esteem away from the lower class. You think you’re doing right by your kids, yet you’re harming the self-esteem of the less well off. Those poor kids most likely also see your kids come to school dressed differently and better. This added to what happens in the lunch room, creates additional class stress. You’re encouraging class warfare. I bet all of your friends do the same, as such when the lower class comes home from school they are depressed. You think you’re doing the right thing for your children, yet what you’re really doing is building the foundation of a future class war. You blamed President Obsma for starting class warfare, yet here you are, an average middle class USA family laying the foundation towards a future class war and destroying millions of young people’s self-esteem. I really hope you’re proud of yourselves. Years from now when the situation in the streets has gotten out of control, remember the seeds you’ve sown.”

When Wolf finishes, Carol and Bob look at each other and Sean, the camera operators wonder if some sort of secret communication is being exchanged between the three of them. Bob lifts his head and looks into Wolf’s smirking eyes, saying, “Wolf, thank for the left wing commercial. I’m sure none of the viewers has ever heard it before. If I remember correctly, these are some of the core arguments used when Obsma pushed his programs which increased our national debt, the same arguments your side has been using to standardize schools for years. It sounds similar to the entire standardization of the nation’s education and school lunch program that Mrs. O attempted to mandate.

“Let’s look at the First Lady’s school lunch program, it wasted hundreds of millions of dollars worth of food. Students hated the food; it left them hungry, most of them complained they couldn’t eat the food, they went to their afternoon classes hungry; their grades went down; their test scores went down. The First Lady went on national television to say she had numerous college degrees and still had trouble determining what to feed her kids, yet she knew what to serve all of the nation’s school children? Before she and her husband had to leave office, she tried to mandate how people could shop for food. She succeeded better than she realized, we learned from her what doesn’t work; we gave control of our schools back to the local school boards. The USA no longer has a national department of education; President Brownstone closed it. Our states followed suit closing county departments of education and moving control over our children’s education back to us in the community. Our students’ test scores have increased year after year; our dropout rate has decreased, and our kids do better when they compete in international competitions. You came here to learn about our typical day, we hope you don’t plan to take every opportunity to preach or question our system. We volunteered because we thought we were being given the time to show off our system. We didn’t think we were going to have to defend it on air at every turn.”

Carol continues, “Let’s review how well some of those programs worked out. Your side mandated Common Core, which was, you said, required so that we, the country, could be sure all of our students were equal, all were starting from the same starting line, all had the same common education. The result of Common Core was it lowered the knowledge level of our kids. It discouraged reading and self-thinking. You confused children; you destroyed the ability of teachers to teach the children.

“Children have been getting help with school lunches for years, it’s only been when you on the left started using that data to tell those who are receiving the aid that they were entitled to more, they should be taught differently because of where they grew up. You created two different systems; you pulled the aid participants and pushed them above everyone else. You turned the pyramid upside down. Before you used the school lunch program as part of your propaganda, no one had an issue with it. Your policies damaged children's self-esteem, and you shamelessly used the very children you claim to want to help. You would use anyone and step on anyone to further your aims. I think you have what you wanted, it’s called the LSA. I suggest you take your ideas and keep them on your side of what you call the divide. You came to us to learn how we live, if you came to try to convert us, we’re asking you to leave our home.”

While the adults were talking, Leon and Beth quickly got bored and left the living room. Playing in her room, Beth hears the adult’s voices rising; she decides she wants another cookie, so she silently enters the living room to ask for another. Her parents are deep in discussion, not paying any attention to Beth. Beth decided that if her parents were too busy, she would just take the cookies. She worried about the angry tone of her parent’s voices. She grabbed the cookies placing them in a zip lock bag. She decided to go play with a friend versus staying home and listening to whatever her parents were upset over. Beth slipped out of the house with her bag of cookies in one hand and a doll in the other.

A very embarrassed Wolf realizes he’s been caught. In order to save the program, he turns to face Bob, “Bob, I apologize to you and your family. I realize I may have gotten carried away with my thoughts and comments. You’re correct about the goal of this program. I’ll try to withhold my somewhat more emotional comments. I do want to contrast the differences between you and the Smiths and as such I have to do a little interaction with you and question your lives as it compares to theirs. Do you understand?”

“Oh yes, we understand, we hope that you understand we’re going to push back whenever we feel you're trying to drive your agenda over the goal of the program. By the way, is this discussion going to be on air?”

“Yes, almost everything is going to be shown, it has to in order to make it real.”

Bob asks, “Can my family take a short break before we continue? We’d like to check on Beth and Leon.”

Wolf says, “No problem, is five minutes enough?”

“Yes.”

Bob smiles saying, “Thanks.”

Wolf joins Sean in the kitchen where he’s getting a glass of water. “Wolf, did you learn anything? I didn’t push my agenda when we were at the Smiths. We’re hosts; we’re not supposed to be the show, just help guide the questions and help the two families if they get nervous on camera. I really hope you didn’t push Bob and Carol over the edge so they decide to leave the show. Our two networks have spent months jointly reviewing and selecting the right two families.”

“Sean, no worries, everything is going to be OK; I’ve apologized to them. I’ll keep my remarks as neutral as I can. I promise to be a good host.”

“Great, nice home they have here isn’t it?”

Before Wolf can respond, Bob and Carol return, Bob says, “We’re ready, by the way, has either of you seen Elizabeth?”

Sean, looking very concerned says, “We thought she was with you, isn’t she in the house?”

Carol replies, “We thought so, but we haven’t been able to find her. Leon is in his room playing video games, he said the last he saw her, she was getting another cookie and said smoothing about going outside to play, we checked the play set; she wasn’t on it.”

The four-start calling, “Elizabeth, Elizabeth where are you?” Sean and Wolf dash outside calling for Elizabeth, their director asks them what’s going on. “Have you seen Elizabeth come out of the house?”

“I’ll have to check the various camera feeds in the truck; we had most of our assets on Bob and Carol.”

Bob asks, “Please check ASAP.”

Returning to the control truck, Sean starts reviewing the various camera feeds, one of the producers says, “Sean, camera twenty-one caught her leaving the back door holding a plastic bag full of cookies, we lost track of her when she moved out of that camera’s range.”

“Thanks.” Sean calls out, “Carol, I think she’s next door.”

Sean walks across the lawn to the neighbor’s house calling, “Elizabeth, Elizabeth where are you?”

The neighbor opens the front door. “Hello Sean, it’s a pleasure to meet you, I assume you’re looking for a very playful six year old?”

“Yes, did you happen to see her?”

Opening the front door all of the way, Sean sees Elizabeth sitting on the floor sharing the cookies with her friend.

“Elizabeth, why didn’t you answer when we called?”

“I told you to call me Beth, I don’t like Elizabeth. If you’d called my name I would have answered, I was just going to share the cookies with Susie.”

“Beth, will you come home with me now?”

She takes her mom’s hand below

Carol runs next door saying, “Elizabeth are you OK?”

“Mommy, course I was, I went to share the cookies with Susie. I told you to call me Beth. You can leave the cookies with Susie; we have more at home.”

Carol reaches her hand out to Beth, “Beth, take my hand and come home with me. You know better than to leave the house without telling me.”

Beth says, “Susie, save me a couple, see you later.”

A few minutes later the group is resettled in the living room. Wolf says, “Well, so far we’ve had an interesting introduction. Bob, Carol, let me ask you, weren’t you very scared Beth could have run off or been taken by someone?”

Carol responds, “No, we have a community watch group, we all know each other, someone would have seen her and called or stopped her and brought her home. Our kids all play outside with each other.  Kids sometimes try to run away; none makes it. An advantage of living in a small town and on a street like we do, is everyone protects each other. We had one robbery attempt a year ago; the watch group noticed a strange truck parked at a driveway and checked it out, knowing the homeowners were at work. The police were called, who quickly arrived to arrest the robbers. The only little issue was two of the watch group beat the police here by four minutes, one of the robbers tried to shoot it out with the watch group, one robber was killed before the police arrived.”  Wolf looks shocked, “Are you saying one of your neighbors had guns and killed an un-convicted person with the police already on the way?”

“Wolf, our laws allow for the armed protection of our homes, neighborhoods and our families, if we wanted to, we could openly carry a weapon all the time. We live under the original American Constitution, which gives us the right to own guns. The robbers were caught in the act; it was all legal, the police took the watch group’s statements; they took pictures and in the end they released the watch group. The lone robber was arrested, given a trial within five days, his court-appointed lawyer pleaded him guilty, he was caught in the act. He was sentenced to five years of hard labor.”

“The trial was held within five days? How were his lawyers able to prepare a defense? Do you know where he was sent to serve hard labor? I think I’d like to interview him.”

Carol smiles responding, “Wolf, we’re promised a speedy trial; five days are more than enough time; he was caught inside the home with stolen property in his truck, how much time does it take to build a defense for someone caught red-handed? As to where he is, he’s serving his time where all hard labor cases serve, Minot, North Dakota helping to clear the ruins of the city after the nuclear explosion.”

Wolf screams, “No! That’s totally unacceptable. Minot is still radioactive he might develop cancer, or he could die if he went into the wrong area.”

“Yes, bet he thinks twice about committing a crime again.”

“Has everyone in the USA turned cold hearted? What happened to mercy, what happened to mitigating circumstances? What about the perpetrator’s rights?”

“Wolf, perpetrator’s rights, have changed a lot in the past twelve years. We’ve decided lowering our crime rate was one of the most important things to us. We realized we had to return to simpler times. Trials had to be held closer to the time of the crime; sentences had to be carried out quickly, not years after the fact, they should be public, and they should give criminals pause.”

The color drains from Wolf’s face; he decides to change the subject, “Leon, what subject do you like the most in school?”

“Other than lunch or gym?”

“Yes, how about science or math, history?”

“History. I like learning how things changed and how things happened. Like when we went to the forest looking for Indian arrowheads and civil war bullets.”

“Leon, do you study war in history?”

“Wolf, of course, war is a major part of man’s history. We’ve been at war longer than anything else. We’ve fought over everything.”

“Do you think we should fight with each other? Aren’t we all equal? Aren’t we all the same?”

“No, someone always wants what others have, it might be money, or land, or food.”

Wolf uses this to ask, “Leon, if school children like you are taught that everyone is equal and everyone is similar or equal as everyone else, wouldn’t that limit the amount of war in our future?”

“Mr. Wolf that all sounds good, but it’s not human nature. People always want more. Unless someone figures out how to change people, people are people, like do you know what I mean?”

Sean responds, “Yes we do. You answered very well.”

Wolf interjects, “Leon, you are very smart, we in the LSA believe it’s an education issue. If we teach equality and people being happy with what they have, we’re hoping the risk of war and violence decreases.”

Leon replies, “Sir, I may be a teenager, but your education only applies to your students correct?”

“Of course, why?”

“Then what will you do if, no, when, you’re invaded? We’re taught that we won’t come to your aid if we’re not at risk. You have no way to protect yourselves from outsiders.”

“We do have a national police force which has been trained to use heavy weapons if required.”

There is a long silence when Carol, says, trying to change the subject, “My turn. The kids return from school around 3:30; Leon has a key; he opens the house for Beth. He makes Beth a snack and watches her until Bob returns at 5:30, I usually get home around 6:30.”

Wolf asks, “Carol, do you think it’s safe for Leon to parent Beth?”

“He’s not her parent; he’s her brother. He can watch her for a couple of hours until Bob returns. I don’t see anything wrong with it. I used to do the same for my little sister.”

“What happens to poor little Beth if Leon is late or held up, or if Leon wants to play at one of his friend’s homes?”

“Don’t call me little or poor, I’m not!”

“Excuse me Beth, that’s not what I meant.”

Carol replies, “If Leon is late, Beth, what do you do?”

“I go across the street to play with Sally. She’s home schooled, so her mommy is always there.”

Wolf asks, “Carol, your neighbor home schools her children?”

“Yes, I would like to, however I have a job outside the house.”

“Don’t you think home school isn’t fair for the children?”

“Sorry, I don’t understand your question.”

“Well, home schooled children don’t have the same interpersonal skills others do.”

“Who says so?”

“Everyone knows this. They can’t because they don’t interact with other children.”

“I think if you really studied the question, you’d find your statement isn’t true.”

Bob interrupts, “If Carol is going to be late, I grill something for dinner. I make the salads and usually side dishes.”

Carol adds, “After dinner, we review the kid’s homework. The kids are free to watch TV until their bed times. Beth goes to bed at 8:30; Leon goes upstairs at 10:00.”

Wolf asks, “Isn’t that a little late for a fifteen year old?”

“We don’t think so. If he wakes up tired then he’ll learn to put his video game, or tablet away earlier.”

Leon looks at his mother, “You know I don’t go directly to bed?”

“Honey, we’re not that old.”

“Carol, the kids can watch whatever program they want?” Wolf asks skeptically.

“Of course, why wouldn’t they be able to?”

“Do you have the parent censor chip in your TV sets?”

“No, nor do we have the violence chip. We understand sets built in the LSA have software that allows parents to review and program the content their children view.”

“Carol, that’s correct. Our parents can program the sets to switch or pause in mid-word so our children aren’t exposed too much violence or other bad issues.”

“Wolf, we believe life isn’t all roses for children, children should be allowed to be children. Both of our kids have fallen, they’ve had broken bones, cuts and scrapes, it’s all part of being a child. We’ve taught our children to get up and try to overcome their failures and try again. Not all of their misses are failures. We believe they’ll grow up better balanced to deal with the real world if they’re allowed to fail once in a while.”

At the studio, President Brownstone interrupts the program saying, “I think this is a good place to pause and discuss some of the differences between our two families.”

Chapter 8

Two hundred forty million have tuned in watching or recording the second episode of the program. Beth stole everyone’s heart. She had her own fan club startup before the end of the evening’s episode. People on both sides of the divide held their breath when Beth went missing. Children always evoke strong emotional outpourings. People cheered when she was found next door. People started posting on FB asking for Carol’s cookie recipe. Carol received over 30,000 new friend requests in a few minutes, breaking Sharon’s record of 28,000 requests within twenty minutes.

Bars and restaurants are packed with customers cheering when their country’s hosts drove their point home. They pumped their fists up and down when they thought their host won his point; they booed most of the other side’s host’s comments. There was as much excitement as if they were watching a major sporting event. There had already been three different petitions posted on the LSA “Gray House” site, asking the LSA president to intercede in the program by having Sean removed as a host. At the same time, the White House website had two petitions with over a million signatures demanding the removal of Wolf from the program. Neither petition meant a thing since both the Gray House and the White House agreed that neither would interfere in the program.

When the Jones family was introduced, every voice was quiet, everyone wanted to meet the USA’s family. Many in the LSA thought their home was a waste of space, some remarked they wanted their cars, many missed their German built luxury cars.

When it was announced that Carol worked for a start-up, many sat silent. Start-ups had begun in Silicon Valley, California, but today there are very few new private companies started in the LSA. The progressives held that the government controlled employment and technology. Silicon Valley, under the LSA, lost their birthing hand at bringing new companies and technologies to market. The new laws and regulations implemented for starting a business in the LSA surprised many of the venture capitalists, 80% of them requested visas to move to the USA. The new process for starting a private company in the LSA is for a new company’s technologist to approach the LSA government technology committee with their proposal. If the committee approved the proposal, the LSA central government funded the launch in exchange for 90% of the company. Employment numbers and location of the new company were then agreed to. Every new company had to agree to hire a certain number of people every year and locate where the government told them. The LSA central government took an ownership position in any IPO and all patents. No company could go public without the central government’s approval which was usually withheld, to avoid a new class of “Nouveau riche” which would break the “everyone is equal” philosophy of the LSA. The founders had to sign a formal employment agreement that included a non-compete and an agreement to assist the company even if they quit, for a period of five years.

This differed from the start-up process in the USA, which followed the “Silicon Valley” model; which funded start-ups with the intent to take them public or sell them to larger companies within five years, hopefully realizing a large return. In exchange for the risk of the start-up capital, the venture funds usually took between 51% and 65% of the company’s shares. Many of the people’s goal in the United States is to become quickly as wealthy as possible. One of the largest differences between the LSA and the USA is based on how they view people. The LSA wants all of their people to be equal at the finish line; the USA wants their people to be equal at the starting line.

Sean says, “From my perspective, it looks like the Jones family is a normal, healthy USA family. They’re teaching their children how to grow up to be responsible adults.”

Wolf says, “Wait a minute Sean. How can you say they’re raising their children to be responsible? They’re not home when their children arrive home from school. Someone could snatch them. I think the LSA has a much better system with automatic day care after school. Then we have the issue of Mrs. Jones making her two children lunch versus buying it at the school. Her children don’t get the benefit of a hot meal, nor are we sure the two are getting the best available lunch.”

Sean picks up on Wolf’s points, “Wolf, who says Carol doesn’t know what’s best for her own children?”

“I don’t think the raising of children should be left to just one or two parents. The children are our future. I think the LSA has the better idea. The entire community supporting and assisting the children in the town is a better idea.”

Sean replies, “That’s one of the questions we hope the people watching will have to decide. Both countries have taken a different path in preparing for their futures. Let’s rejoin the Jones family.” Returning to the living room Sean asks, “Bob, what do you do in your job?”

Carol interjects, “We’re both also very active in the local PTA program, I also try to help Beth’s teacher as an assistant class mother.”

Wolf jumps back into the discussion, “Carol, do you have an education degree?”

“No, my degree is in micro-biology, I thought I was clear on that point on our application.”

“It’s just why do you think you’re qualified to be an educator or assistant in Beth’s school? Don’t you think education is the most important thing right now in your children’s lives? Don’t you think only educated and qualified people be allowed to teach and interact with your children in school?”

Bob asks, “Wolf do prospective parents in the LSA have to pass a test before they are allowed to be a parent?”

“Bob, of course not.”

“Why not? Isn’t it the same logic as saying only qualified people should interact with our children? I’d say that logic goes further and should be applied to people who want to be parents.”

“Bob, that is something I understand President Bloomberg is looking into, it hasn’t been started yet. I do see the line of your logic.”

“It’s not mine; it’s yours.”

Bob continues, “We think caring and loving our children are very important. We let our kids fail; we let them lose. We feel it’s important for them to learn that life doesn’t always provide you with apple pie. Life isn’t fair. Leon wanted to be a little league baseball pitcher; he just wasn’t good enough as a pitcher, he was told he could make the team in another position, like right field, where most never hit a ball to. However, he couldn’t pitch until he could meet the minimum standards.”

Wolf responds with, “Bob, I think that’s dangerous to Leon’s development as a young adult. I think he should have been able to make the team as a pitcher if that’s what he wants. He’ll learn he needs to improve; he’ll push himself to do better.”

“Wolf, no he won’t. He’ll think he’s good enough even if he can’t get the ball over the plate. Life isn’t fair. Not everyone wins; not everyone gets their dream job; not everyone wins at everything. In fact, I’ve learned more from my failures than I’ve learned from my wins. We don’t give awards for showing up, awards here mean something. It takes hard work to win here. It builds confidence.”

Wolf shakes his head no, “Bob, sorry, I don’t agree with you. Kids should play games as a game, not a competition to win. It puts too much stress on the kids to win. We want our children to be kids without all of the stress. It helps them learn they can all do anything.”

Carol says, “Wolf, that’s one of the major differences between us, we believe not all kids can do everything. Not every child is a genius, not every child can grow up to be a super actor or a rock star. Not every child can be a pro-athlete. People are different. We value the differences. It’s our differences that make us stronger.”

Sean tries to push the discussion forward, “Bob, Carol, we seem to be going all over the place, why don’t you tell us about your jobs?”

Carol replies, “Sounds like a good idea. Otherwise, we’re going to be going down a rabbit hole we won’t be able to get out of. I work for ‘Bio-Pure’ a two-year-old biomedical start-up working on new ways to clean wounds of any type - from a scrapped knee to gun shots. Our patent pending material cleans and seals wounds in one step, enabling wounds to heal quicker.”

“Carol, such technology sounds wonderful, since it can aid all of mankind, shouldn’t it be in the public domain to help everyone?”

“Wolf, no, I don’t think so. We spent two years and eight million dollars developing the technology, why should we just give it away?”

“Well, maybe not give it away, but shouldn’t it be available to all who need it?”

“We hope so! We’re hoping the FDA gives us approval to launch human trials in the fall.”

“Carol, assuming the product works, shouldn’t the FDA just take it over?”

“Where’s the fairness in that?”

“The fairness is your product can help everyone and should be available to everyone.”

“We’re hoping so too, it should sell for less than $15.00 a box of four patches.”

“So in your view, only those who can afford your product should have access to it.”

“No, $15.00 is a very low cost for the benefit.”

“Carol, you’re not getting it. Not everyone can afford $15.00. If the government took over your product, they could make it available to everyone for a much lower cost, it will be included in the covered medical products. Your market would be larger.”

“Until your government decides to make it in-house and gives our formulas to one of your favorite companies to copy, producing it for less than us because we had the R&D.”

“Which is why the government should manage the R&D. Don’t you agree?”

“No, I’ve read reports on the number of new medical products released in the LSA, about a tenth of those released in the USA. You took the incentive out of the formula. Without any incentive why would anyone risk capital or resource?”

“To improve the human condition.”

Sean smiles saying, “Wolf, you’re such an idealist. You know that’s not the way the world works. Risk and incentive drive progress. When there’s no profit motive, when there’s no chance of any incentive, there’s no extra effort put in.”

@@@@@

The presidents of Wolf and CNN meet to discuss the program. Randolph, the CEO of Wolf, starts off the discussion. “John, we have over many hours of background video, the ratings for the first two evenings have broken every record. I suggest we announce before tonight’s episode we’re going to expand the program. We haven’t even officially met the Smith’s children yet. We were supposed to meet them in the first episode; however, we ran out time with the interruptions. I think we can easily carry the broadcast into next week.”

“Randolph, I agree we can easily expand the program, what do you think about Friday night’s program of having each family interview the other?”

“I think we should continue to go with it, we’ve already announced it on air. We can then go back to the explanations on Monday.”

“Do you still want to air the on air town meeting on Saturday?”

“No, I think we should end the program with the town hall meeting as we planned. It’ll be a nice wrap up.”

“I agree, we can make a joint announcement this evening before the program kicks off.”

Both presidents issue a joint press release that they are going to make a major announcement before Thursday’s program.

Rumors spread across both countries; the web is wild with all kinds of wild suggestions, and everything from the program is being canceled to its being remodeled into an ongoing reality show. Lies and anger flood every forum and social site.

Social media sites have over one hundred new sites pop up with support for either the Joneses or Smiths. Many want to see more of the kids. Leon and Scott discover they have over fifty fan sites spread over various sites. Beth is leading the “race” with seventy-five different sites devoted to her. Even Holly has five sites dedicated to her. Little girls all over the world want a dog just like Holly. Pet stores quickly run out of Shar-Pei dogs. Out of nowhere, wrinkles are in. FB runs contests for the most-wrinkled dog. Newspapers run photos of people, dogs, anyone with wrinkles.

Wolf is concerned that Beth’s cuteness is swaying the show. No matter what’s said, she’s so cute she’ll win the hearts of all of the viewers. He decides he has to risk a major move to make the Smith family look better and win hearts. Sharon didn’t even allow her kids to speak while Carol used Beth to win over the viewers. He never even considered using a dog; he figures Sean pulled that one out of his ass. Who the hell ever heard of a six-year old owning a Shar-Pei? He knew that somehow Sean got an advance notice of who the family was and set things up; there couldn’t be anything else to explain it. The CEO at CNN had made it very clear to Wolf his major task was to make sure the audience loved the Smiths. His task was to ensure the LSA came out ahead in the program. President Bloomberg hoped the good showing of the LSA would encourage others to move to the LSA. He also counted on the still left-leaning press in the USA to show the LSA in the best light. He hoped the sacrifices his people made would reflect the better lifestyle they had.

At the stroke of 8:00 PM on Thursday two, hundred fifty-seven million televisions are tuned into the third episode.

Chapter 9

The first two nights broke every viewing record for a broadcast program. Advertisers tried to outbid the existing advertisers to be associated with the program. CNN broke their existing contracts to increase their revenue; the highest bids reached $4 million for a 30 second advertising spot. Wolf refused to accept new bids saying they had existing contracts in place. Wolf News Channel issued a press release stating they had signed contracts, and they were honoring the contracts. They thanked their advertisers for their faith and support. All had signed up for the program sight unseen. The Wolf News Channel Board of Directors was upset over the station’s refusal to take the higher advertising offers. Randolph stands at the head of the Board Room saying, “Let CNN and others break their contracts, let them upset their supporters, we signed contracts, we’ve built this network on having truthful and balanced reporting that is why we came up with this program. We needed a progressive partner in order to get the LSA’s approval. I won’t break my word for a handful of additional dollars. We’re going to be in a stronger place when the program is over. We have advertisers lined up downstairs wanting to sponsor our next special program. I’m being told, just name our price. They haven’t even asked what the program will be. By honoring our agreements, we’ll come out much stronger than any other broadcaster. We’ve reached an agreement with CNN to expand the program for most of next week. If the ratings hold at 50% of their current numbers, we’ll have won the YEAR in two weeks. Our existing advertisers have gotten a huge windfall, don’t think they don’t know it, and they’ll remember us. I signed a contract; I stand behind my word. We’ll be sitting pretty for next year. We’ve won the night every night the program has been broadcasted. If this continues, we’ll be the number one station.”

A board member asks, “What about increasing the rates for next week’s program? We could make hundreds of millions in extra revenue.”

“Mathew, I offered the existing partners the right of first refusal for next week. I did increase the rates 20%. Every partner agreed within seconds. We’re sold out for next week. We have a waiting list of companies who want to advertise if any of the current partner’s back out. Given the initial ratings I don’t expect any to back out. I do expect the current partners to remember who supported them, I think we’ve built a new core group of advertisers.”

“Randolph, you’re the CEO, our job as your Board is to advise and represent the shareholders. As such, we think you made a mistake in not increasing the rates more than 20%.”

“Mathew, the 20% increase provides us with our highest fees for a 30 second spot; we’re getting over $3M per spot. I’ve heard your comments, let’s wait to see how next week’s ratings are. We could end up being the most trusted news channel in the country.”

@@@@@

President Brownie and Brownstone are holding a private call to discuss the potential of the program expanding. President Brownstone opens the discussion, “Mr. President, I assume you’ve heard that the networks want to extend the program for another week, are you supportive of their decision?”

“President Brownstone, I am, I think they are doing a good job of showing the two families. I’m pleased with the quality and honesty of the program so far. If you will have me, I’d like to join you at the broadcast center for a couple of days next week.”

“It’ll be an honor.”

“Which broadcast location are you using?”

“We alternate between the CNN and Wolf and their broadcast trucks. At first there was discussion about building a new studio for the broadcast, but neither of the two CEO’s could agree on a ‘central location’ so we alternate. It’s a pain to move every day; my security team doesn’t like it at all.”

“I’m sure mine will be upset too. How about I meet you for dinner on Sunday evening?”

“That will work for me, say 7:00 PM?”

“Works for me, I’ll have my security team contact yours for assistance.”

“You can stay at my place if you’d like; I have a security team on site.”

“Yes, I’ve heard about your on site security team, I think the team’s leader may have visited the LSA once or twice, plus I understand he’s a world traveler.”

Laughing, President Brownstone replies, “I never ask where they went or where they go on their vacations.”

President Brownie laughs responding, “I understand, I wouldn’t ask either, some things are better left unknown. Are they going to have any issue with me staying at your home?”

“I’ll talk with them. I still have the rooms the Secret Service built for their agents; your security detail can stay there.”

@@@@@

Thursday evening at 8:00 PM finds 257 million people fixated in front of their televisions and computers, everyone is curious what tonight’s program will cover. Everyone is waiting for the program to begin. The program begins with the two broadcast channel’s CEO’s standing in front of the cameras. The screen behind them shows the great divide. The wall is like the one built in ancient China that separates two nations. A thousand years ago China built a wall to keep the ‘hordes out.' The official stated length of the Great Wall is 8851.8 kilometers (5500 miles). The LSA spent ten years using 100,000 people building a series of walls that measured 4,500 kilometers (2,790 miles) on the west coast and 2,900 kilometers (1,800 miles) to separate the LSA from the USA on the east coast. The divide can be seen from space. It looked like a scar that was cut into North America. The great divide enabled the LSA to seal their borders from outside influences; RF and broadcast signals are jammed so the LSA central government could control the message and put their ‘Great Plan’ into action. Twelve years later the results of the LSA master plan is being shown around the world.

The two CEO’s announce the open town hall meeting will be the closing program and the live interview between the two families will be the next to the last program. They say they hope the viewing public enjoys the upcoming programs.

The CEO’s announce that the program has had so much interest it is going to continue into the following week. The audience watching is overjoyed with the announcement. Social media sites are filled with the news before the executives even complete the announcement. The senior executives at the other broadcasters are depressed over the announcement; they realize their ratings and earnings for the quarter, and maybe the entire broadcast year, are finished. They were caught by surprise; they have nothing to respond with. The President of ABX suggests filing a lawsuit against Wolf and CNN for becoming a monopoly. The other two executives agree this course of action might have merit, they each assign a group of their legal teams to review and if possible file a federal suit in both countries to stop the destruction of their networks.

@@@@@

The third episode returns the viewers to the LSA and the Smith family. Wolf and Sean takeover the screen saying, “Tonight we’re going to spend most of our evening with the two children. Scott Smith, who is 14, and his sister Sissy, who is 7. We’re going to learn about their school, how they spend their days and what they do for fun.”

The image on the screen changes to show the Smith living room with two children sitting on the love seat across from the two hosts. Wolf opens the evening’s program; “Scott, Sissy, thank you for joining us. Don’t be afraid or worried about the people with the cameras. Just be natural, you’ll soon forget the cameras are even there. So many people would like to get to know more about the two of you and your average day, which one of you wants to start off?”

Scott looks around the living room; everyone can see the beads of perspiration on his forehead, “Mr. Wolf, it’s hard to talk with the cameras, I feel funny. What if I say something wrong? Will I get into trouble? Could I get kicked off of the school sports team?”

“Scott, you know no one can be removed from the school’s team, everyone who wants to play can play. What sport do you play?”

“I play football, also called soccer. I like it a lot; I don’t want to be punished.”

“Scott, don’t worry; I think you’re safe from any issues. What position do you play on the team?”

Scott replies, “I play forward.”

“Scott, I know some of the viewers are going to be interested in the make up of the team, could you please describe it?”

“Huh?”

“Scott, is the team an all boy team?”

“Mr. Wolf, of course not, nothing is all boy, girl or transgender here, we are all equal. Whoever wants to play can play, everyone who asks to join the team will be on it, not everyone may play the same amount of time, but everyone will play.”

“Scott, do you play for trophies?”

“No, we play for fun. We play for the sport and for the fun of it; we usually play to a tie because each team is equal.”

“So you have boys and girls on the same team?”

“Yes, we have boys, girls and transgenders who are kind of mixed up, whoops, I’m not supposed to say that. They are self-declared genders.”

Sean asks, “Scott, is there any issues playing on a team that is open for everyone?”

“Of course not, we practice and play to stay in good shape and for fun. We learn teamwork by playing together. We learn how to work together in different teams.”

Sean asks, “Scott when the game is over do you share a common locker room?”

“Yes, all of us share the same locker room and showers. We’re all equal so why wouldn’t we share the same facilities?”

“Does anyone feel, ‘funny’ sharing a shower together?”

“We share bathrooms; we share gym class we share everything why wouldn’t we share showers?”

“Is there any funny business in the showers?”

Scott turns bright red, “I don’t think I should talk about what goes on in the locker rooms, after all that’s no one’s business. It might hurt some people, so I want to pass. Some people are embarrassed they don’t shower, they just change and go home.”

Sean says, “Scott, am I to understand you share common restrooms at school?”

“That’s right; we’re told we’re all equal. At first we had boys and girls rooms, then we had people who decided they were boys or girls, they were allowed to use either restroom, and then it was decided we are all equal and seeing the human body is a natural thing, so we now share everything.”

“Do you get embarrassed?”

“Not anymore, it’s fun. We’re taught the human body is natural and a beautiful thing, they got that right.”

Everyone laughs at Scott’s comment; he blushes a deep red. “I guess I shouldn’t have said that.”

Sean smiles, responding, “Scott, you’re correct, the human body is beautiful. God created us in his image.”

“Mr. Sean, that’s not what we were taught. We’re taught how the big bang started the universe and how we evolved, we learned there isn’t a God; man created God, so he had someone to blame or pray to when mankind faced problems. The prayers aren’t answered because there is no God.”

“Scott, there are a lot of people who disagree with you on the topic of there being no God.”

Wolf jumps in, “Sean, here in the LSA we don’t teach or discuss religion, we don’t discuss God, we only discuss science. Science only recognizes evolution and that is what we teach. Students wouldn’t advance far in the real world if they put their faith in an invisible, unreal force that no one has seen or heard from in thousands of years. If there were a God, where has he been in the last two thousand years? Nowhere because he never existed. We found religion held people back. Religion separated people; religion caused suffering and wars; our people are much happier without it. Please don’t bring it up again. Please remember we’re talking to impressionable children.”

Sean responds, “I’m sorry if I crossed the line in the sand.”

Wolf responds, “No problem, I didn’t want us to cross into any areas that would cause issues with the central government. Let’s get back to our discussions.”

“Scott, what subjects, do you study in school?”

“I have English, social history, science, gym, computer lab and of course biology; we also have one period where we do volunteer work.”

Sean asks, “Scott, what’s social history; it’s a subject I’m not aware of.”

“Its the history of the social interaction between people and their government, we learn about the great people in history and their contributions, a couple are Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels, Charles Fourier and of course Charles Hall, whose book we’re reading now, The Effects of Civilization on the People in European States. We learn how the progressive and socialist programs cared for the average person while capitalism exploited the working class making their lives very bad.”

“Scott, do you study the history of the USA?”

“Why would we? We don’t live in the USA that would be like us studying the history of Finland or someplace else.”

“What do you study in biology?”

“We learn reproduction, we learn self-satisfaction and how animals do it.”

“When do you start learning human reproduction?”

“When we enter school. We learn about all of the ways people have relationships together, I never realized there were so many different types of people.”

Sean says, “Let me interrupt here a moment. Jason, do you think it’s the state’s or your task as his parent to teach him about the birds and bees?”

Jason responds, “Sean, we think it’s the state’s responsibility, so all of the children learn about the birds and bees at the same time in the same manner. I learned more on the playground than I did from my parents, we don’t want that to happen with our children.”

“Jason, Sharon, do you think it’s OK for your children to share the same bathroom? Do you think it’s a good idea for teenagers to shower together?”

Sharon responds, “Its better they see the human body for what it is, versus something to be hidden. If they learn at an early age, there’s nothing ‘dirty’; there are bound to be fewer rapes and less discrimination against those who may think they’re different. We’ve found that if they grow up together not seeing anything about the human body is dirty; there will be less porn and fewer problems later on in their lives.”

“Jason, do you agree?”

“To be honest, it took time for me to get with the program, however, I now understand and it hasn’t harmed Scott at all. We think he’s much better adjusted this way than if he grew up someplace thinking seeing each other was a dirty thing. We’re proud of our education system; our kids grow up well adjusted. We’re working towards reducing sexual crimes and property crimes to close to zero within twenty years.”

Sean says, “Thank you for clearing that up, I’d like to get back to discussing school with Scott and Sissy. Children, do you wear uniforms to school?”

Sissy answers, “At last one I can answer. I’ve been waiting here for a long time to say something. Of course, we wear uniforms to school. Otherwise, we would look different, and we would be different. Some might wear jeans while others would wear shorts; people will notice the labels. Everyone would know those rich from poor.”

“Sissy do you like being equal?”

“Duh, of course, we all are equal, how could we be anything else?”

“Sissy are boys and girls the same?”

Giggling Sissy says, “Mr. Sean, you know they’re not. I’m old enough to know boys and girls are different.”

“Sissy, does it bother you to have boys in your bathroom at school?”

“Boys are gross; we learned about the differences in first grade.”

Wolf asks, “Sissy what do you study in school?”

“Arithmetic, reading, social issues, biology, lunch and gym.”

Sean asks, “Sissy what do you have for lunch at school?”

“Ugh, it’s usually really bad, but we have nothing else, we have yogurt, fruit and sometimes pita bread. Sometimes we have soup. I don’t like most of it. Most of the food doesn’t have any taste. We also have rice and sometimes fish.”

“You mean tuna fish?”

“No, we never eat tuna, they’re getting close to us in their smarts. That would be like eating a monkey.”

“Sissy what time do you get to school in the morning?”

“Usually at 8:00, we start with breakfast of cereal and skim milk, some days we have an apple or orange too.”

“When do you come home?”

“After the school afternoon program is over around 5: 00PM.”

“Why don’t you tell everyone what the afterschool program is?”

“Everyone knows.”

Jason whispers to Sissy, “Honey, not everyone whose watching has an afterschool program, so tell the nice people.”

“’K daddy, the afterschool program is play and homework, we first do our homework, then we play in the area in the gym.”

“Does everyone play together?”

“Course, where else would they play?”

“Sissy, I mean do all the different school grades play together?”

“No silly, some are too big to play with us. They play in their own area. Sometimes you don’t know anything.”

Sean smiles, “Sissy, that’s because I don’t know many things about where you live. Why don’t you tell everyone what you like to eat?”

“I really like peanut butter, not the chunky one, the smooth one. I like it on everything with jelly and even plain.”

“Do wish you would have peanut butter sandwiches for lunch?”

“That wouldn’t be healthy; we have to have our greens and fruits.”

“What about deserts?”

“Fruit or sometimes we have pudding, and Jell-O.”

“No cookies or ice cream?”

“Only on very special days, if we ate that every day, we would be big and fat. No one likes big fat people. We have to be careful what we eat. If we ate sweets all the time, we’d get sick. No wants to be fat.”

“Sissy, how do you know that?”

“Silly, everyone knows that.”

Wolf looks at the family saying, “I think this would be a good time to take a short break. I don’t know about our viewers at home, but I have to use the bathroom. Sissy laughs, “Its right down the hall to the right.”

The program breaks for one of the very few commercial breaks. Just as Beth stole everyone’s heart the night before, Sissy is stealing everyone’s heart tonight. Wolf thought to himself, “it was wise to lead with Scott and end with Sissy, everyone will remember her. Sissy's cuteness will make forget Scott's remarks about school and joint gym classes.”

Wolf and Sean return to the living room, they test their microphones, they check the producer’s time card and get ready to start again.

Sean looks into the camera, “We hope you’ve enjoyed the first part of tonight’s program,  we’re going to return with Sissy and talk about her friends, then we’re going to talk with Scott about his computer skills and how he interacts with his friends online.”

“Sissy, when do you play with your friends?”

“You really don’t know anything do you? We play together in the afterschool program.”

“Do all of your neighbors go to the same school?”

“Of course this way we’re with our friends all of the time.”

“Do you use a computer yet?”

“I don’t have my own portable phone yet, I do get to use Mommy’s computer sometimes.”

“In the USA we have social media we use to stay in contact with our friends, what do you use here?”

Scott answers, “We have an application called, ‘My friends’ we use it to post messages, pictures and videos to our friends.”

Sean asks, “Scott is the application censored?”

“You mean like if you post something nasty or something that may be hurtful to someone else? In that case, the people behind the software stop our posts, if we try to post it three times we get banned from the site for thirty days and a social worker comes to visit.”

“Scott, what does ‘a social worker comes to visit’ mean?”

“To make sure we do not feel things we shouldn’t be feeling. It’s not right to hurt someone on the internet. We don’t want to hurt someone because we called them a name. Name calling isn’t accepted. We are all equal; we learn to treat everyone equal.”

“Scott, do you have kids of different colors and religions in your class?”

Jason jumps in before Scott can answer, “Sean, please drop the part of the question about religion, I thought we were clear, we don’t discuss anything about religion. Some might, however those discussions are private and are never to be spoken about out of the privacy of one’s home. People are free to practice any religion they would like; they can pray to any God they want to. What they can’t do is to show any public displays of religion, one can’t try to convert another or openly discuss religion with others unless they’re inside a recognized house of religion.”

“Jason, do you happen to know who issues permits for officially recognized houses of worship?”

“Sean, I’m sorry, I don’t.”

“It’s OK, just curious. Scott, I’m sorry; I didn’t want to cause you any bad feelings, can you answer my other question?”

“Yes Mr. Sean, we have people of different colors and ones who talk a different language, we’re taught in social history to treat everyone as equals. When I was in lower grades, everything was spoken in English and Spanish, now it’s all in English, those who can’t understand English are provided with translating software application for their smartphone or tablet.”

“Scott, you said some classmates speak different languages, what language is spoken in class?”

“English and we have a student teacher who translates everything into sign for those who might not be able to hear.”

“Do you have any students who are deaf?”

“No, but in social history, we learned we shouldn’t ask, and every class should have a translator.”

“Doesn’t that slow the class down?”

“I don’t know.”

Sean asks, “Sissy, do you have any students who are deaf?”

“Mr. Sean, what does that mean?”

“Sissy, anyone who can’t hear?”

“No, and we too have translators in my class.”

“Sissy what about on the playground or the gym?”

“We have translators there in case someone can’t understand.”

“Kids, are those students in your class who don’t speak English taught English?”

Scott responds, “No, the translation software helps them; they don’t have to learn to talk in English.”

“Scott, don’t you think everyone should be able to speak English if they live here?”

“I don’t know.”

“Have you ever spoken to anyone who couldn’t speak English?”

“Yes at the couple fast food restaurants that are around here.”

“What happened?”

“I asked if the restaurant had a translator; they did, so she told the order taker what I wanted.”

“Scott is there any issues with gangs at your school?”

Wolf jumps in saying, “I think we’ve tired out Scott and Sissy enough for one evening. I suggest this is a good time to pause. Sharon, why don’t you show us your garden in the back yard. Also, why don’t you have any pets?”

“Wolf, we couldn’t get a permit for a pet, there were already too many in our local neighborhood for any additional permits to be issued. We have to wait for at least five existing pets to die before we can apply to get one. There is a limit to the number of pets allowed per kilometer.”

“What happens if a pet has puppies?”

“Can’t happen, every pet is sterilized before it can be taken home. The LSA Department of Animal Control sees to it. Every pet has to be purchased from the Department of Animal Control. You can’t buy a pet from a friend; we wouldn’t know if the pet was ill when we bought them. Having the Department of Animal Control check them, every pet is checked and cleared by the government. Every pet is neutered, so their population is held under control. Pets released into the wild hurts the pets. Pets are emotionally wounded when they are dumped. They might be carrying any type of disease which could harm other pets, or even jump to humans. It’s another example of how the government is protecting us.”

“Does Scott and Sissy want a pet?”

“Sissy wants a dog, frankly I don’t see it happening. We’re low on the list; there are others higher on the request list than us.”

Sissy says, “Mr. Sean, I’m right here; you can ask me a question. I understand what you’re saying. I want a puppy. I have a friend who has one; I don’t know why if everyone is equal she can have a puppy and I can’t.”

“Sissy, tell you what, we’ll look into getting you a puppy.”

“Really? You know who to call to tell them they're not equal?”

“Sissy don’t worry about it. I’ll see what I can do. No promises, let’s see how lucky I am.”

“Please Mr. Sean, I’ll take care of the puppy. I promise I will.”

“Sissy, let me see what I can do. Let me talk with your mother.”

Sean asks, “Sharon how is the local crime rate? I ask because I noticed the first-floor windows all have bars on them as do other homes on the street.”

“Sean, there are still many who haven’t yet realized we’re all equal, stealing from us is the same as stealing from themselves. We, like many others, have installed security bars to ensure we don’t tempt anyone. We try to use tinted windows that block most of what anyone outside can see looking in. We don’t want to be accused of tempting people who haven’t fully accepted the new order of the world.”

“Why are the bars on the inside and not the outside of the windows?”

“If they were on the outside the poor misguided people could remove them and gain entry, when they’re mounted on the inside they can’t unbolt them.”

“Is there a lot of crime in the neighborhood?”

Wolf quickly jumps in saying, “Sean; there’s no reason to dwell on crime committed by a few misguided mentally challenged people. They are a minority; the LSA is doing all it can to educate these poor people they are wrong. They are given time to think over their crime against their fellow citizen and asked if they will try to improve and learn stealing from themselves doesn’t improve themselves or anyone else.”

Sean responds, “Wolf, I think a discussion of crime is important to all of the viewers.”

Wolf stands to tower over the sitting Sean saying, “Sean, we’re not going to discuss the very small amount of crime that may exist in the LSA, we’re all equal here we’ve changed the legal system to help any of the misguided people who may not understand the reality of life.”

Jason checks his watch, “I think we’re going to have to pause so we can put Sissy to bed.”

Wolf responds by saying, “Jason, I think we’ve taken up enough of your time for one session, we’ll return tomorrow to continue our discussion. Signing off for the third episode is Wolf, Sean and the Smith family.”

Chapter 10

Kathy looks at me sitting still staring at the television screen, she asks, “Brad are you OK?”

“Are you shitting me?”

“Brad, what did I say?”

“Not you honey, they’ve gone nuts; religion is outlawed, but children as young as six share common bathrooms and showers. Man I wish I had gone to high school there. I spent two years trying to see Jenny’s chest.”

“Brad, who’s Jenny?”

“Some girl from high school, she developed very early. Every guy tried everything to get a look or touch of her chest. My stepmother used to say she was very sorry for Jenny because she had a permanent chest cold; her chest was swollen.”

“Bradly, you were a dirty young man and you’re a dirty old man now.”

“Yup, guilty as charged. But really, without religion where does their moral compass come from? Do they even have a moral compass? What or who determines right and wrong? It appears that sex is smiled upon, and prayer is frowned upon. I’m confused how they hold their society together. They hold it together by the central government providing everything to their people, they’ve become the parents to everyone. The central government determines what’s right and wrong. They determine what’s allowed. They control employment; they listen to everyone all the time. I’m not sure if the LSA is a progressive dream or a glorified prison camp.”

“Brad, do you really think it’s like a prison camp?”

“Yes, they remind me of how North Korea operated before it fell apart and South Korea took over the entire peninsula. The only thing I didn’t see was posters calling Bloomberg the “Dear Leader.”

Kathy smirks saying, “I bet they’re there someplace; his ego is too large not to have huge posters of himself all over the country. What do you think about how Wolf handled tonight’s episode?”

“I think he was on the verge of losing it a couple of times. I’m sure he’s been given instructions by the LSA DepLIES to steer the program in the direction they want.”

“I wonder where the LSA expels people who don’t live up to their potential or break with the government. Russia used to send people to Siberia. They used to call it sending people to count trees.”

“I bet they’re sent to what used to be northern Canada, most likely dropped off and forgotten about.”

Kathy looks up then says, “That’s an interesting point. If that’s happening I wonder if what the communities up there look like. I wonder if they’re still progressive or if they’ve changed.”

“It’s too bad the program won’t ever show these communities, the LSA denies they even have prisons.”

Kathy says, “I don’t know why they deny or try to cover up crime stats, there’s crime everywhere.”

“Honey, if they admit to having a crime problem, then they have to admit their program of equality doesn’t work as well as they claim.”

“I can’t believe they really accept everyone is equal.”

“Of course Bloomberg doesn’t believe it. He made his billions and then became progressive. He wants to decide what’s good for everyone else. He’ll do what he wants. However the LSA citizens have to do what he says. The old do as I say, not as I do.”

“Hey, my mother lived on that saying when I grew up.”

“Yea, most parents did.”

Brad continues, “Kathy, seriously tell me, don’t you think it’s wrong for kids to share restrooms and showers?”

“Yes, I was shocked. I wonder what else they’re not telling us yet.”

“Guess we’ll find out in a night or two. I’m glad they extended it, it’s the most interesting program I’ve watched in years.”

“I agree with that.”

@@@@@

Social media sites explode with messages and posts,

“No cookies!”

“No birthday cakes?!”

“No pets?”

“Bars on the windows? Crime must be much worse than they’re saying.”

“Shared showers?”

Hundreds of thousands of teenage boys volunteered to change schools and enroll in high school n the LSA. Within five minutes of the episode ending, there were over 160,000 posts from teenage boys about the LSA school shared gyms and showers. Pre-teen and teenage girls in the USA took a position against the shared locker rooms and showers. Most were disgusted with the idea. Some said they would refuse to attend school if that were the policy.

Twenty-one new FB pages launch all protesting the lack of the people’s ability to own a pet when they wanted to.

Talk radio in the USA is jammed with callers talking about the lack of moral right and wrong in the LSA. Some call to say Sean has sold out and should be removed from the program. A caller gets in from a prepaid cell phone calling from the LSA in New York City. He goes on a rant over the poor way the Smith family and the entire LSA is being portrayed. He accuses the media of distorting the truth. Before Glenn can respond, the caller goes on a rant about religion and how man made up God. Glenn can’t get the man to pause or even take a breath, so he cuts him off hanging up on him.

The LSA Minister of Truth decides the LSA isn’t being treated fairly, he tells his staff to call every talk radio program in the USA and bombard them with the truth about the LSA. The Minister gives his entire department the rest of the day off to make the calls. Shortly thereafter, every talk radio station in the USA is overwhelmed with over one hundred thousand calls. Web site servers crash, phone lines are jammed to the point no incoming or outgoing calls can be made to the talk radio programs.

The Minister receives permission from President Bloomberg to go on LSA National Television to make the case the USA has broken the joint agreement in the treatment of the material in the program. The Minister makes the claim the USA set up callers to call talk radio to say horrible things about the LSA. The Minister demands equal time; he demands to be allowed to call and have his call unedited and broadcast over talk radio and the USA television networks. The Presidents of the three other major networks quickly agree to give the Minister a thirty minute time slot to make his case before the people of the USA.

Wolf and CNN protest the Minister receiving a thirty minute time slot on the other stations claiming this violets the agreements signed with President Bloomberg and the two networks. Wolf and CNN quickly file a legal motion requesting a temporary restraining order to stop the broadcast of the LSA minister. The federal court in Washington, DC, agrees to hear the case on an emergency basis. The three judges listen to the lawyers from Wolf and CNN for twenty minutes. The Minister isn’t able to arrange his lawyer to attend the hearing due to how quickly the case is heard. The three-judge panel looks at a single issue which is the contract between the networks and the LSA giving the two networks the exclusive rights to the program and follow-up broadcasts for an additional thirty days. The three judges rule in favor of Wolf and CNN after taking less than an hour to review the case.

ABX, NBX and CBX rush to court to get the temporary restraining order lifted. They can’t find a federal court who will agree to quickly review and potentially reverse the existing order. The networks are given a court date in the federal appeals court 90 days later. The three agree they have to cancel their evening program with the LSA minister of Truth.

Upon hearing his thirty-minute interview is canceled and receiving an electronic copy of the restraining order, the minister decides to wait a couple of days to see how the next two episodes are received. He continues his instructions for his staff to flood USA talk radio with calls and complaints jamming their networks so no calls can be heard on the various programs.

Pet owners in twenty-two USA cities take to the streets to protest the LSA’s denial of allowing children to have pets whenever they want them. Pet owners demand the LSA overturn their law because owning a pet is something that brings love to children and teaches them responsibility. Companies that sponsor dog shows also protest the LSA’s anti-pet laws. Web forums are filled with how the LSA is pro-child sex and anti-puppy.

President Bloomberg meets in the Gray House with the Minister of True, “This isn’t going as well as we’d planned. We started off leading the ratings; then these stupid people latched on this stupid pet issue. We’re getting more bad press over the puppy issue, someone in Washington, DC, even nicknamed it the ‘puppy-gate.' I won’t have us made to look like fools over a stupid puppy. Give the damn girl a puppy and announce we may have been mistaken, we’re changing our rules on puppies.”

“Sir, are we?”

“Are we what?”

“Changing our rules?”

“Of course not, puppies are dirty; they lick themselves; they eat shit, of course, we’re not, but once the program is over no one will know we didn’t change the rules. All I want to do is get the heat off of us and change the impression about us around. Get a release out in time for this evening's news programs, place a notice on the international web to get it to the USA press. Damn them.”

“Yes sir.”

@@@@@

Ron and Beverly flew 3.5 hours from Washington Dulles International airport to Dallas Fort Worth airport where they only had 35 minutes to change planes, they then flew for another 2.5 hours landing at the Las Vegas Airport. Neither had paid any attention to the news during their travels. They slept, read and listened to music. Upon landing, they were surprised to enter the terminal in the middle of a massive demonstration both against and for the LSA. Ron looked around; he put his arm around Bev saying, “I don’t like the look of this crowd, I suggest we find our bags and get out of the terminal ASAP. Don’t linger, this could turn bad any moment.”

“What are they protesting?”

“I don’t know, I see signs about something to do with puppies.”

“Please don’t tell me those idiots in the LSA are eating dogs? I’ll have to go over there and give Bloomberg a piece of my mind.”

“Give me a minute to check my phone for the news. Look at how the crowd is yelling at those carrying LSA entrance passes. It looks to me like the crowd is going to tear those poor people apart. Maybe I should help them.”

“Ron, mind your own business. You’re retired now. Whatever is going on isn’t your business.”

“I can’t allow those innocents to be harmed.”

“Look, the airport police and security people are arriving.”

As the Las Vegas police and local airport security forces arrive, the crowd turns on the newcomers thinking they're taking the LSA’s side. The crowd rushes the police and the LSA passengers who are trying to return to LAX. Fists land, carry on bags are used as weapons, the departure security gate area is being turned into a free for all fight. One of the Las Vegas police officers draws his side arm firing into the air to get everyone’s attention. The bullet goes into the ceiling knocking down a large light fixture which lands on the crowd. Blood and broken bodies are tossed everywhere. The flying blood stops the fight in its tracks. Minutes later fifty heavily armed Las Vegas SWAT officers arrive to take control of the situation. SWAT is followed by groups of EMTs rushing to assist the injured.

Bev looks around saying, “I told you not to go over there, had you entered to the crowd you would have been right under the falling fixture. I just saved your life; you owe me now. You owe me your life.”

“Great, what now, am I your slave or something?”

“Something like that.” Bev winks and smiles, “I agree with you, let’s get our luggage and get out of here. I want to get to our hotel.”

“I’m going to call Brad and Kathy to see what they know. I don’t know if we’re going to be able to take the side trip to Disneyland if there’s trouble in the LSA.”

“Call them after we get to the hotel. I want us to get out of here ASAP.”

@@@@@

President Bloomberg places a call to Wolf, “Wolf; I’m disappointed in you. I thought you, of out of all of our reporters, could handle a simple interview. How the hell did you allow the discussion to get so far off track? Why the hell did you allow that brat to go prattling on about the dog issue? Didn’t we have the discussion about no pet conversations before we agreed to the program format? I warned you pets, and puppies evoke strong emotions. Emotions I don’t want turned against us. I expect you to turn the tables before this gets out of control. The USA and rest of the world was shocked over our policy about joint restrooms and showers but once the puppy issue hit home, it took center stage. I can’t believe how crazy people are over a stupid dog.”

“Mr. President, many people consider their dogs as members of their family. They don’t see them as animals.”

“Wolf don’t get mushy on me, dogs, cats they’re animals, nothing more. Hell in China they eat them. I want you to get public attitude changed right away. We were leading in the ratings. Fix it.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll start turning Sissy into a superstar.”

“Who the hell is Sissy?”

“Mr. President, she’s the youngest child of the Smith family.”

“Yes, the one who wants the puppy. I like your idea of turning her into a superstar she won’t be able to say a bad word about us.”

“Mr. President, please remember she’s only a child of 7. We’ll have to guide her.”

“Send one of your special advisors to coach her, give her a puppy and let her know what happens to the puppy if she blows it. I want her to be a bigger star then Beth. Make it happen.”

“Yes sir, I understand.”

“Wolf don’t fail me on this.”

@@@@@

The world isn’t sure what to think about the direction the LSA has taken. Millions protest against the LSA due to their stand against organized religion; millions protest the LSA over what they consider child abuse. On the other hand, the LGBT block is solidly behind the LSA. They protest against the USA and for the LSA. They applaud the forward thinking of the LSA in recognizing everyone is equal and deserves to be treated the same. Overall the largest supporters of the LSA have turned out to be teenage boys who are supporting the LSA 7 to 1 over the USA.

@@@@@

President Rund calls Sean, “Sean, I know I said I wouldn’t interfere in the program, however, the support for the LSA over us is growing too quickly. I was happy to see Beth steal everyone’s heart. I was happy to hear the Smith’s be honest about some aspects of their lives. I didn’t count on the LSA scoring so strongly with millions. I’m asking you to find a way to keep Beth and Leon in the spotlight, show our values in the best light, discuss the potential damage the LSA is causing to their children. If too many of our people think the LSA has the better answer, they will push us to change, or they will move to the LSA. We can’t afford to lose many talented people.”

“Sir, I understand.”

@@@@@

The fourth night of the program looks to break every record. The early count of viewers tuned in to watch the program exceeds 276 million households in the USA/LSA. The rest of the world is also drawn to the program causing some broadcasters to give up even trying for any ratings on the nights the program is going to run.

Chapter 11

Half of the USA and the eastern section of the LSA are being pounded by massive thunderstorms. Winds reach 65MPH in New York City. Golf ball sized hail blankets a third of New York City and northern New Jersey. Newly elected New York City mayor, Rose Menenz, goes on television to announce the freak storm is due to the worsening effects of global warming. She asks everyone in New York City to continue their efforts at reducing dangerous emissions of carbon dioxide. She orders all non-electric cars, of which there are less than 10,000 left in the city, to cease operations. She orders all air conditioners that haven’t been converted to the new, and much less efficient cooling chemicals, to be turned off. She orders the reduction of steam released from electrical plants. She goes on to announce that due to the global warming crisis, she is ordering the electrical plants to be turned off for four hours a day. During these four hours, the city will experience brown outs and black outs. She explains that while inconvenient, emergency action is required to stem global warming.

President Bloomberg reviews the comments made by Mayor Menenz and agrees time is of the essence. He orders similar actions across the rest of the LSA in the name of reducing global warming.

Upon hearing of the actions by Mayor Menenz and President Bloomberg, USA President Paul announces he’s going to issue an executive order expanding the offshore areas that can be developed for oil and gas exploration. He tells his staff. “Menenz and Bloomberg are crazy; the temperatures haven’t risen in the previous twenty years. They’re using a single storm to push their political bullshit about global warming. I suggest we do everything we can to prove them wrong. They’ll have brown outs and black outs, we’ll cut taxes on electrical generating plants lowering the cost of electrical service for the USA’s citizens. Our economy will grow while theirs fails from a lack of power.”  President Paul smiles thinking he’s really going to be sticking it to President Bloomberg and the LSA. The LSA declares global warming is speeding up, the USA announces that the planet is cooling off. President Paul decides to ask Sean to sneak global warming into the next episode, sure that he’ll be able to confuse the LSA citizens.

@@@@@

President Bloomberg issues a press release stating, “The LSA never intended to deprive our children of the joy that owning a pet brings. Owning and caring for a pet helps our children become more responsible. Children with pets learn how to care for others quicker, they learn how to teach and take care of others. The USA may have misunderstood our laws. We didn’t outright forbid pets. The USA press took a simple rule completely out of context so they could throw mud on the LSA. Since the LSA recognizes everyone as equal, we have always allowed anyone who wants to own a pet to acquire one with the following provisions, any pet has to be neutered, we don’t want to have unapproved breeding that could overrun our environment. Second, all pets must have state-approved health insurance; we don’t want pets to get sick and not be able to get well-deserved treatment. We’ve provided health insurance for everyone in the LSA, and we’re happy to report we’re expanding our national health insurance to cover all of our pets.  Lastly, no pet shall be purchased and turned loose into the wild. This is a hard and fast rule. Anyone who releases an animal will be caught. All pets will have an embedded RFID chip under their skin that contains their owner’s information. If a pet is injured, released into the wild or abused, we’ll know who did it. These new rules will go into effect at midnight tonight.”

@@@@@

The program has taken on a life of its own. It’s become a “must watch” event. Every episode contains surprises that are discussed the next day at coffee shops and water coolers. Both networks are shocked when the ratings came in the 75% range. No broadcast program in history has ever touched such numbers. The night the first program was broadcast crime dropped by 50%, the second night’s broadcast saw crime drop another 25%. The third broadcast saw a drop of the crime rate of an additional 15%. Reported violent crime reaches the lowest numbers in 30 years. Evening travel declined 65%; most of the roads are empty, serious car accidents decreased by 70%. Hospital emergency rooms visits dropped 60%. Even critical cases didn’t want to visit the hospital during the hours the program is shown. Most of the emergency room visits during the program’s broadcast are people who got into fights taking sides from the program. Airlines consider changing their flight schedules since flights operating during the evening hours are booked at less than 10%. Both President Bloomberg and President Paul have tasked their staffs to draft a plan that will find a way to maintain the reduced crime and personal injury rates after the broadcast ends.

@@@@@

Four commercials after the clock strikes eight, the image on everyone’s screens changes to show Sean and Wolf sitting inside a broadcast truck with President Brownstone’s image on the large wall video monitor. Sean says, “Mr. President, thank you for joining us, even if it is by video. Is there anything you’d like to say to the audience?”

President Brownstone says, “Sean, Wolf, and everyone watching the program. We welcome everyone back. To those of you who might be tuning in for the first time, check out the initial two episodes on either Wolf News or the CNN web site. Speaking for myself, I can say what a night last night was. I learned quite a bit. I never realized co-ed showers and restrooms were OK, but puppies weren’t. It seems to me that the LSA has got some things backwards. I’m not sure if everyone has read today’s press release from President Bloomberg; puppies are now allowed in the LSA. It’s a very good day for young children. President Bloomberg says the press in the USA misreported their laws. I understand there’s a pool going on what type of puppy Sissy is going to get and what she’s going to name her new puppy. If we’re lucky, we’re all going to get to meet Sissy’s new puppy soon.

“Tonight we’re going to spend an evening with Bob, Carol, Leon and Beth. We’re going to learn about Leon’s and Beth’s schools to see how they compare to the average day of Scott’s and Sissy’s. Without further delays, let’s return to Burlington, North Carolina, and join the Jones family with Sean and Wolf live. I hope to join you tomorrow with President Brownie. Sean, Wolf, as they say, you’re on.”

The image changes to show Sean and Wolf existing the broadcast truck and walking towards the front door of the Jones’ home. Before they can knock, Carol opens the door. She’s got a smile on her face while holding a plate of homemade brownies. “Welcome back, we saw last night’s broadcast. It was very exciting. We’re happy you’ve returned to spend some time with us again.”

Wolf says, “Carol thank you. We’re happy to be back. Are those homemade brownies?”

“Of course they are. They came out of the oven about ten minutes ago, they’re still warm. I have some fresh coffee brewed.”

Sean says, “Carol thank you very much. You don’t have to make something for us at each visit.”

“It’s our way to welcome you into our home. It’s the southern way.”

Sean responds, “It’s a nice tradition. We thank you very much. Even though my belly says I shouldn’t have any, I can’t resist the smell of fresh baked brownies or cake.”

“What type of cake do you like? I’ll have it ready for your next visit.”

“Carol you don’t have to do that, however, if you’re going to, I really like coconut cake.”

Carol smiles, nodding.

Before the interview can start, Beth comes running into the room, “Hello Mr. Sean and Mr. Wolf. Hi everyone in the USA and LSA. Welcome back. Tonight we have fresh brownies and milk. Mommy says I’m too young to have coffee.” Beth grabs a brownie and a glass of milk before sitting on the love seat.

Leon follows her into the living room. “Hi everyone, do you know I got 38,500 new friend requests? Man, I have the most friends of anyone I know. I didn’t even get through half of them yet. If you’ve requested to become my friend, be patient, I’ll get to you. Those of you who messaged me, I got your messages. I’m working on sending you a response. If you don’t hear back from me by tomorrow night, ping me again. I’m looking forward to getting to know everyone. I’m going to be posting pictures tonight so make sure you check them out. Be cool, we’ll chat soon.”

Bob looks at Leon, “Son, this program isn’t for you to use to meet girls.”

“Dad, I’m not doing anything wrong.”

Sean says, “Tonight we’re going to be talking with Leon and Beth about their school day. To start off, Leon, did you watch last night’s program?

“No. Mom said we shouldn’t watch it because it might effect how we talk with you tonight. Mom recorded the episode, so Beth and I will watch it after the program ends.”

Wolf asks, “Leon, what about your friends, don’t they tell you what’s said on the program?”

“Most know I can’t watch it until the end. They’re proud one of us is in the program, so they honor not telling me anything. A few of my Facebook friends posted that I’m going to be surprised about the LSA schools. I wish I could see it to know what was said. I agreed not to watch. I’ll keep my word.”

Sean asks, “Why don’t you tell everyone what you study in school?”

“Sure, my classes this year are, English, Calculus, History of Western Civilization, Physics, Computer Science and gym. Of course, there’s lunch and a 30 minute study hall.”

“Leon is gym co-ed?”

“Huh? Co-ed? No way. The girls have their own gym as do we. We see them on the field, but we never play together.”

“Leon, when you play sports, do you play to tie or win?”

“Mr. Sean, we play to win, we learn how to play in a team, we learn how to use each of strengths to win. We learn teamwork. The best team wins a trophy at the end of the year.”

Wolf asks, “Leon, don’t you think everyone should get a trophy? After all not everyone has the same abilities. Isn’t giving a trophy to just one team discrimination against every other team? Aren’t you destroying many people’s self-esteem? Aren’t you harming many of them for the rest of their lives?”

“Mr. Wolf, no. Each team works hard. The gym teachers place us on the teams, and they try to make sure each team is as equal as possible, then it’s up to us on the team to beat the others by overcoming our weakest players with our strongest. We’re taught working as a team is a skill we’re going to need to succeed in life. Mr. Rogers told us; there are winners and losers; the winners worked and planned harder than the losers. Our team works to overcome our weakest player’s skills. Coach Rogers uncovers our individual strengths; he builds a team around those skills. Everything in life is based on winning and losing.”

“Leon, should your entire life be focused on winning? Don’t you think it’s better to accept everyone is equal and play games and sports just for the exercise and fun?  Don’t you think there’s too much pressure to win? Aren’t you overstressed trying to always win? Doesn’t the desire and stress to win take the fun out of playing?”

“Mr. Wolf, my teammates and I work hard to win. Last semester we came in third, we’re working harder and practicing after school to be first this semester. I’m not stressed to win above anything else. We want to win. We want to be the best. Others can play for the fun of it, I can tell you, one of the most fun things to do is to hold the trophy up and know we’re the best. I want to grow up and be a winner. I want to be the person everyone wants to be. I want to be famous for something.”

“Is it fair that only one team wins? Should you spend your childhood trying to be famous?”

“Why not? One team will always win; there can’t be ten teams that all win. There’s only one number one. What’s wrong with being famous?”

“If everyone is equal wouldn’t everyone be a winner? Wouldn’t everyone be famous for something?”

“How can everyone be a winner? How can everyone be famous?”

“Because the teams all play just for the fun of it.”

“Where’s the fun in that? I want to win. I want to be first; I want to get into a top college, I want to get a high paying job so I can get a really nice car and have a bunch of pretty girlfriends. I want to be rich.”

Wolf continues, “Leon are you saying the only way to get a pretty girlfriend is to win and have a shiny car? Aren’t those girls very shallow? Wouldn’t you rather have a girl who loves you for who you are?”

“Yea, but I want a 10, there’s a lot of competition to get a 10.”

“What do you mean a 10?”

“Like a model, you know a 10 on a scale of one to ten.”

“Let me see if I understand you, you’re saying if you met a girl that wasn’t a supermodel and you fell in love you wouldn’t marry her because she wasn’t a ten?”

“I’m not saying that; I’m saying, I’d like to find a ten.”

“I think even by saying that, you’re hurting many young women. You’re causing harm to many young women who aren’t a ten on your scale whose self-confidence and self-esteem you’re breaking. Don’t you ever think about the personal pain you’re causing others?”

“Huh? How am I causing personal pain to people by wanting to be the best I can? How am I hurting people by wanting to win?”

“Because not everyone can win. Giving a trophy to only a single team hurts all of the other teams.”

“Mr. Wolf, not everyone can win. Life isn’t like that. Not everyone can grow up to be a famous actor or the President. Some people are born with skills others don’t have. My friend Jimmy can play the guitar like a rock star, he taught himself to play, I can’t play any instrument, we’re all different. I like to skateboard, Jimmy has no sense of balance, he falls off of my board all of the time. It’s our differences that make us unique.”

Wolf looks into the camera saying, “Leon, differences do make us unique. However, uniqueness isn’t always the best. Uniqueness separates people. People who are separated don’t move forward as quickly as people who are all equal.”

Leon looks at Sean and Wolf. He turns to face his father who nods. Leon says, “Mr. Wolf, I don’t agree with you. If everyone is the same, there’s less chance someone will invent something new. No one will be a superstar; no team will win; there won’t be unique products. Steve Jobs was a genius, if he wasn’t he wouldn’t have developed the iPhone, iPad, or iPod. It takes a person with special vision to create unique products. If everyone was equal who would be a breakout product developer? Steve Jobs was different, he knew it, we all knew it, he strove for the best and people lined up to get his products. If everyone were equal, there would be nothing like Apple. Would every car would be the same? Would everyone wear the same clothing style? Mr. Wolf, all that makes life very boring.”

Wolf says, “Maybe the government will run the product development process. The government will know what people want and more importantly what they need. Why should so many resources be wasted on products people don’t need?”

“Who’s to say what people need? My needs are different from Jimmy’s; he needs new guitar strings, I don’t. I need new cleats for football, but he doesn’t.”

Wolf responds, “Maybe you should take lessons to play the guitar so you and Jimmy can share the joy of playing the guitar together.”

“Mr. Wolf I can’t play the guitar, I have no sense for making music. Jimmy can’t play football. No matter how many times I practice I’ll never play the way Jimmy does, and he’ll never play football like me. We’re both the same age. We both go to the same school. However, we’re not the same in our abilities. It would be a lie to say we’re both the same in every way. It’s not possible for us to be the same.”

Wolf continues, “Leon, it’s not impossible. It comes down to education. You and Jimmy might be able to do things the same if you’d been trained the same. Being equal is important. Being equal brings equal self-esteem.”

Sean jumps in, “Wolf I think we’ve spent enough time on this. Leon, what do you think about co-ed gym classes?”

“Do you mean boys and girls playing on the same team? If so I want to play touch football with the girls, that’s going to be fun.”

Bob says, “Leon, don’t go there that’s not what Mr. Sean is asking, keep your mind clean. This is a family program.”

Wolf asks, “Bob, how do you know Leon is thinking something off color?”

“Because he’s a teenage boy who is always thinking about sex. I did at his age; I’m sure you did. Ever teenager does; they can’t help it.”

Wolf says, “Bob, if they were brought up that everyone is equal and they are used to seeing each other naked they wouldn’t have these thoughts.”

Bob says, “How did you change their genes? How much sexual transmitted disease cases are there in the LSA? How many cases of teen pregnancy are there in the LSA?”

Wolf responds, “I don’t think we track these numbers after all sexual exploration is normal. It’s not something we should try to restrict. We allow people to explore what’s natural and normal. Everyone is equal; everyone has the same urges. It’s why we developed the Alpha and Beta marriages.”

Leon says, “Wow, you mean teenagers can openly have sex in the LSA?”

Before Bob or Carol can respond, Wolf says, “Yes, we know it’s normal, we know its all part of growing up. We don’t frown on it. Since you didn’t see last night’s program, I’ll tell you, in the LSA we have co-ed gym, co-ed restrooms and co-ed showers. We have active participation sex education classes. I’m sure there’s a lot of girls in the LSA who would love to spend some time with you. You’re the famous Leon Jones.”

Beth says, “UGH, boys are bad. I don’t like this.”

Leon smiles saying, “Mr. Wolf, I think I should visit the LSA and learn more about your country. I think I can learn a lot by personally visiting LA or New York City, can I get a student visa?”

Before Bob can jump in, Wolf smiles saying, “Leon, I’ll arrange a visa for you.”

A frown forms on Bob’s face, Carol looks surprised and upset. Both stare at Wolf. A tense silence covers the living room like a dark shadow. Wolf feels the environment in the room turn to ice. He looks at Bob and Carol, who are giving him an angry look. He pauses to think back to see if he said anything he shouldn’t have. He can’t figure out what’s wrong, he’s about to ask when Bob says, “Beth, Leon, please go to your rooms or downstairs to the basement for a while. There’s a couple of things your mother and I would like to talk with Mr. Wolf and Sean about. Take a brownie if you want.”

Leon says, “I guess there goes my summer vacation in the LSA, darn it. I was looking forward to the trip and meeting new people.”

Bob frowns, “Leon, we’ll discuss this later, now please take your sister and leave us until we call you back.”

Leon says, “OK, come on Beth, the adults want to talk about us without us hearing what they’re saying.”

The two kids leave the living room, each taking a brownie with them. When Bob hears their doors close upstairs, he turns to Wolf. “Wolf, you were way out of line. Don’t ever, ever tempt our children to agree with you, again. Don’t ever offer our children something without discussing it with us in advance. Unless you agree to stop this right now, my family is leaving the program. You’re trying to sway my son’s thoughts and actions by indirectly promising him sex when he visits the LSA, do you plan on offering him recreational drugs to go with the sex? You know damn well you can’t make an offer like that to a teenage boy. What in the world were you thinking? Is converting people to your progressive way of thinking so important to you that you bribe people to convert? That’s not going to work here. You progressives treat your progressive theories as if they are a religion. To you, government is a holy church. We don’t believe anything can replace God. We honor God and our religion. We refused to remove the cross on our wall so it wouldn’t offend your viewers. We are offended by your actions and words in our home.”

“Bob, don’t you think Leon is old enough to decide for himself?”

“No, I don’t and as long as he lives under our roof he’ll abide by our rules. You need to decide right now how you’re going to continue this interview, and once you inform us how you’re going to continue, we’ll decide if we’re going to continue.”

Sean suggests, “Everyone, I think this is a good time to take a short break. I’m sure our viewers would appreciate the ability to take a short nature break. I know I could use a chance to use the restroom.”

Everyone agrees to take a break. Wolf opens his smart phone calling the Gray House. Sean opens his, placing a call to the President of Wolf News.

@@@@@

“WOW. Kathy did you see what Wolf just tried to do? He was bribing Leon with sex right on the air.”

“I saw it. I’m glad it wasn’t our kids he pulled that crap with.”

“If he did, I think I’d punch him in the face, right on air. I wouldn’t care. That was cold hearted and pure bullshit. He did everything but show Leon naked pictures to choose from.”

“It seems the LSA hasn’t changed much; they bribe and buy everyone. The rules and laws only mean something if they advance their point of view. They think they're above the rule of law.”

“These people would sell their own mothers.”

“If they had one to sell.”

Both Brad and Kathy laugh. Kathy looks at the television display asking, “If it was our family, would you continue taking part in the program? Wolf just tried to bribe their son.”

“Honey, I don’t know. Can Wolf be trusted? Can the LSA be trusted not to try something else in order to sway the Joneses and the rest of us to see them in a better light?”

“Brad, I don’t trust them. I’m happy we never applied, I would have lost my temper already. I would have taken Wolf’s head off and kicked him out of our house. If Bob and Carol do drop out, what happens to the program? If they withdraw, will Wolf and CNN select another family or will the program end tonight? If it ends now, the LSA is going to look really bad for causing the series to come to an end.”

“I really don’t know what they’re going to do.”

@@@@@

The viewing public is very nervous with the potential of the series coming to a close so abruptly. The majority of people are backing the actions Bob and Carol have taken. Posts and tweets are running 70 to 1 against Wolf and the LSA. Most of the comments say Wolf tried to bribe a teenager and that went too far. President Bloomberg calls Wolf telling him, “Wolf, cool it. You went too far. What the hell happened?”

“I thought I could just slide the offer under the door and it would all happen so quick no one would realize what I offered him. I figured once we had him in the LSA we could use him for propaganda. He’s known worldwide. He would make a great case for us. I thought it was a good risk.”

“It might have been a good risk IF you’d gotten away with it.”

“I almost got away with it; Bob caught on too quickly.”

“Well, cool it. If the Jones family withdraws, we’re going to have a major PR issue on our hands. I agreed to allow the program to go forward based on us using it as a PR victory. If the Jones family withdraws, we’re the one’s going to catch hell for it. I don’t care how you do it, make sure they don’t withdraw. The LSA can’t afford to be seen as bribing a teenager and bringing the cause for the premature failure of the world’s highest rated program. Wolf News will sue us for breaching our agreement on not using the program for propaganda. This could cost us billions of dollars, not counting the amount of ill will. Wolf, fix this and fix this right now,”

“Mr. President, I’ll see what I can do. If I can get Leon to accompany me to LA is that still approved?”

“Wolf, first fix the current problem. Get the Jones family back in front of the camera. Make sure they agree to stay with the program. If you fail, you will be first among equals in the Northwest Territories counting trees and snowflakes for the rest of your short life.”

“I understand.”

President Bloomberg doesn’t wait for Wolf to answer, he’s already hung up cursing Wolf. President Bloomberg asks his Chief of Staff, “If we have to replace Wolf can we do it quickly?”

“Mr. President, we can announce Wolf got very sick, we have a security agent assigned to Wolf’s team, we have him inject Wolf in his sleep, giving him some sort of flu - something nasty enough to cause him to be sent back here to the hospital. I’ll get you a list of potential replacements.”

“Excellent, if Wolf can’t turn this around very quickly, we’ll move ahead with your plan.”

@@@@@

Carol asks Bob, “That was horrible what Wolf tried to do. He attempted to bribe Leon with sex; my God, any teenage boy would have jumped at that offer.”

“I know, I’m really upset with Wolf. I’m not sure we should continue in the program.”

“Bob, do you remember what the contract said about our ability to resign from the program?”

“No, but I’m going to pull it up on my phone right now.”

Reviewing the text on his phone, Bob turns to Carol. “We can resign, however unless we have cause; we’re liable for the two stations loses from their lost advertising revenue.”

“Oh my God, that could be in the hundreds of millions of dollars. How did we miss this clause?”

“Honey, there are 512 pages in the contract. There’s so much legal mumbo jumbo; no one could read and understand it. I thought we’d never resign.”

“So we’re stuck in the contract?”

“Yes, but we can still play at we’re thinking of resigning and suing the LSA, that ought to shake Wolf and President Bloomberg up enough to negotiate with us.”

“OK, you play the bad guy, I’ll play the role of the good and concerned mother. Want to see Wolf alone or with Sean?”

“I suggest we meet with both of them at the same time, Sean should take our side putting additional pressure on Wolf and Bloomberg.”

@@@@@

The chairmen of Wolf News and CNN hold an urgent call with each other to discuss their next steps. Randolph leads off the call, “John,; Wolf stepped on his own dick this time. I’m furious with him, and you are not giving him strong enough directions. I thought we’d covered this in our last call. If the Joneses resign from the program, we may lose the entire program. We will lose hundreds of millions in revenue. I won’t just sit here if your anchor causes us to lose our advertisers and ratings. Wolf News will hold you responsible for any actual and potential losses.”

“Randolph, you can’t get away with suing us for the loss of potential revenue.”

“John, it’s not potential, we have signed contracts. We’ve based the launch of our new programs launching on the heels of the program. I don’t care what you do, but get Wolf under control and stop him from bribing a teenager on live television. It makes all of you look very small.”

“Randolph, I understand President Bloomberg has already called Wolf and given him instructions. He’s told me that he has Wolf under control.”

“John, I hope so for your sake. Either way I guess we’ll know very soon. Sean called to say the Joneses want to meet with him and Wolf.”

“Randolph, we can always threaten them with a suit for breach of contract.”

“That won’t go over very well with the viewers. I think no matter what happens we’d better release the Joneses from the cancelation clause.”

“I agree. However, I don’t think we should tell them yet.”

“Good point, let’s see how the meeting with Sean and Wolf goes.”

Chapter 12

“Wolf are you proud of yourself? You bribed a teenager, and the majority of viewers aren’t on your side. You’re harming your own cause. If the Jones family decides to resign from the program, we’ll have to restart with a new family in mid-interview. It’s going to cost us time and resources that neither network counted on. Over two hundred million viewers are going to be upset. Beth stole millions of hearts; if we have to restart with the back-up family it’s going to go bad for both of us. I suggest you find Bob and Carol, get on your knees and beg for forgiveness.”

“Do you think it’s going to be that bad?”

“If we have to use the back-up family, it’s going to be much worse. We could both lose our jobs. If I lose my network program because of your meddling, I’m going to find a way to make sure your program goes off the air too.”

“I’ll have a chat with Bob and Carol.”

“If I were you, I’d suggest you find a way to kiss their booty until they agree to stay on the program.”

@@@@@

Wolf knocks on the master bedroom door, “Bob, Carol, are you there? May I come in?”

Bob responds, “Wolf, the door is unlocked, come in.”

“Hi, I came to apologize to both of you. I was totally out of line.”

Carol looks disgustedly at Wolf, who’s worried they’ve already made up their minds to leave the program, “Wolf, you tried to bribe a teenage boy with sex, live on the air. Don’t you see you were wrong? You were so far off base I can’t tell you!”

“Carol, you’re right, I realize it now. I came to say I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have made the statements to Leon I did. I’ll apologize to Leon on air if that’s what you’d like me to do.”

Bob looks at his wife, “Wolf, this is the second time you’ve crossed the line trying to push your progressive bullshit. If you can’t agree to be a host and not fill the show with your own propaganda, we’re not going to have a choice except to resign.”

Wolf realizes he’s in a real bind. If they resign, it won’t just be the end of his career but also his life, he knows President Bloomberg will have him and his family exiled to the north, left there to freeze. “Bob, Carol, I’m willing to do anything you ask in order to regain your trust and for you to remain in the program.”

Carol responds, “Wolf, we realize if we resign, your career, and most likely Sean’s is over. Frankly we don’t care much what happens to you, we do care what happens to Sean, so we’re going to continue with the program. We ask you to not bribe any member of our family again.”

“Carol I agree.”

“Good, when do you want to continue the program?”

“I’ll check with the director; I’d say as soon as the two of you and the kids can join Sean and I in the living room.”

“Give us no more than five minutes.”

While the Joneses are away from the cameras, the viewers are watching various people on the street discussing what they’ve just seen.

@@@@@

The Joneses return to the living room where Sean and Wolf are waiting for them. They stand when the Joneses enter the room, Wolf says, “Bob, Carol, Leon and of course Beth, welcome back.”

Beth looks at Wolf saying, “I think you got a time out didn’t you?”

“Yes Beth, I got a timeout. I promise to be good and not get another. Beth would you like to tell everyone watching about your school?”

“Can I have another brownie first?”

“Beth, don’t you think you’ve had enough brownies for one day? Eating too many sweets full of sugar isn’t good for you.”

“Mr. Wolf, Mommy bakes the brownies without sugar she uses something yellow in them.”

“Do you mean something that comes from a yellow box or a yellow powder?”

“Silly, it comes from the yellow box. Daddy uses it in his coffee.”

“I understand Beth, but some people don’t think that’s good for you either,”

“Why? My mommy says it’s OK.”

“Beth. We limit the amount of sweets children can eat, do you think that’s a good idea?”

“Why? Shouldn’t Mommies and Daddies decide? Why would a stranger tell me what to eat? You don’t know what I like.”

“Beth, we do it to make sure you grow up healthy.”

Frowning, Beth looks at her parents, she says, “I don’t think it’s your business to tell me what to do. I listen to my mommy and daddy. I don’t know you, why would strangers come in my home to tell me what to do?”

“Because we’re helping your mommy and daddy ensure you grow up healthy.”

“My mommy and daddy don’t need your help.”

“Beth, how do you know they don’t need help?”

“Because they’re my mommy and daddy, they know everything. They know what I need, they know what’s best for me and Leon.”

“Let’s get back to your school, tell everyone what your school day is like.”

“OK, I’m in the second grade, we have ’rithmitic, reading, social studies, art, gym and lunch.”

“Beth what do you have for lunch?”

“Mommy makes me a sandwich and packs an apple or orange and usually a cookie. I buy milk at school.”

“Do most of the other children buy their lunch or bring it from home?”

“’Bout half bring it; we trade different things; we put our fruit and snacks on the table in front of us to see what everyone has.”

“Beth, is that a good thing? Didn’t your mommy make your lunch for you?”

“Yes, she knows we all trade, she gives me extra cookies for trading.”

Wolf looks into the camera, “Everyone, let me ask you this question, should children be allowed to trade their lunches with each other? Are the children getting the right nutrition? Are they getting an equal value for what they’re trading? Who supervises these trades? Who ensures that the food being traded isn’t spoiled or doesn’t contain anything one of the children may be allergic to? We believe all children deserve to have a lunch with a balanced nutrition value, food that’s healthy and not possibly allergic to anyone. Viewers, is that a system you would like your children to have for lunch?”

@@@@@

While Wolf and Beth discuss her lunch, Tweeter and Facebook are exploding with posts. Many posts that the LSA lunch program is better because it ensures children have a nutrition filled lunch. Others post that it’s the parent’s job to provide lunches for their children. Some post that the Joneses, like most USA households, provide too many sweets to their children. Their children are going to grow up fat and lazy because of the excess amount of sugar in their diet. The LSA press office issued a release stating that to protect the LSA citizens, the LSA taxes sugar and limits the amount of sugar any child can consume in a day. Sugar is a poison that has to be limited in the diet. The LSA monitors the number of calories and the nutritional value of all meals in the LSA. USA posts proclaim the LSA is a giant “nanny state” which has gone too far in banning bagged lunches and labeling sugar as a poison. Facebook is overwhelmed and crashes numerous times due to the number of people trying to post their views. Tweeter reports their network has slowed due to the number of people trying to tweet. Many attempt to post pictures and cartoons supporting their views.

While Wolf is questioning Beth, the television displays, computer displays and smart phones all go black; a small dot of light is centered in every display. People try to reset their devices; they try to turn devices on and off when the small dot of light grows in brightness. The small dot starts to expand when a siren sounds, “Attention those in the LSA and the USA, we are Anonymous; we have taken control of your electronic devices. We want to tell you to stop fighting among yourselves; there are larger and more important issues to deal with than how much sugar or how many cookies a child should consume in a given time period. Millions of you are acting like children. Beth and Sissy act better than most of you. We had hope that those in the USA would see the right path; we had hope those in the USA would follow the path as laid out by the founders. We hoped education and the truth would bring forth the light of understanding. We had hoped this program would show those in the USA how an unchecked progressive government would grow out of control and take control over almost every aspect of one’s life. We had hoped those in the USA would see the value of freedom. You are getting wound up and distracted by discussions of meaningless bullshit. Don’t allow yourselves to get fooled by the on air fools who are trained to twist the facts to their own story. You are being manipulated. Wake up and see what the progressives have built behind their walls. Wake up and see the truth. We are now returning control of your devices to you. Use your devices in the search for the truth.”

@@@@@

Wolf continues his interview with Beth, “Beth what do you study in social studies?”

“Mr. Wolf, we learn about the founding of America. We learn about President Washington and his fight against the British.”

“Do you learn about the slaves or how the Americans stole the land from the Indians who were here first?”

“No, or not yet. What do you mean stole the land?”

“Beth, before America was founded, it already had many people living here. There were many Indian nations. The white man came and made war on the Indians. The white man stole the Indian’s land and killed all of the Indians.”

“Mr. Wolf, we learned that the Indians fought against the settlers with the French, so they weren’t all killed.”

“Beth, very few remained to fight with the glorious French, who fought to protect the Indian’s rights. The American settlers tried to take the Indian’s rights away from them.”

“Mr. Wolf why did the settlers want to hurt the Indians?”

“Beth because their skin color was different from the settlers. They were called ‘Red’ while the settlers were all white.”

@@@@@

Bob’s face has turned a deep red; he’s working hard at holding his temper in check. Carol reaches over to hold his hand. She whispers, “Honey let him go, Sean will have his chance soon enough.”

“Carol, I don’t like them using Beth for their political bullshit. She’s a child. He’s plainly using her to push their beliefs. It’s the very thing we worried about and were assured they wouldn’t do. I should have known better than to have trusted the networks. They don’t care who they hurt or crush as long as they win. I’m getting ready to end this.”

“Please let him go, Beth is very smart, she’ll realize his tale doesn’t match with what she’s already learned. Children aren’t as dumb as most childless adults think, give her a little time.”

“OK, if you say she’s not getting hurt, I’ll let it go a little longer. The progressives see everything as racial.”

“It’s the only way they can build their foundation of lies.”

@@@@@

Beth looks up at Wolf, “Mr. Wolf that’s not what my teacher said. Since she’s a teacher, and you’re not, I’m going to believe what my teacher told us. I think you’re telling me a story.”

Sean laughs saying, “Wolf, I think she’s got you there. She’s right; you’re not a teacher. Everything you say is tainted with your own political viewpoint. Everything you’ve told her is designed to push your own agenda. Even a seven-year-old can see through you. She hasn’t had history rewritten to suit your own version of it.”

Wolf responds, “Sean, it’s the USA that doesn’t recognize the actual history of the country. We teach our students the good and the bad, not just the good. We teach them we stole America from the Indians. We used slaves to build our economy, and we robbed the southwest from Mexico. We fought wars for oil. America isn’t lily white and pure. America’s history is based on greed.”

Sean responds, “Wolf, there’s much more to our history than blood.”

Before either can continue Bob says, “Gentlemen, how about putting all the talk about blood on hold, Beth is only seven. Do you really need to use a seven-year-old to make your points?”

Sean says, “Bob, you’re correct. I’m sorry. Beth, I hope all the talk about blood didn’t gross you out.”

“Mr. Sean, it’s OK, I’ve heard worse on the school playground.”

@@@@@

Wolf turns to face Carol, “Carol, is it still the law that a child needs to have all of their inoculations before they can start school?”

“Yes, they need to have a physical every year and a doctor’s signed report.”

Leon says, “It’s the same for sports, even though I had a physical before school, I needed another before I could apply to any of the school sports teams.”

Wolf asks, “Is that so the school isn’t liable for any injury?”

Leon responds, “I don’t know about being liable, but I can give you an example; Karl, one of my friends, was not allowed to try out for football because the doctor found he had a bad heart valve. It would have been dangerous for him to play football. In fact, they took him out of gym because of it.”

Wolf replies, “Leon, this is why the LSA system of playing is just that- playing. When you have to play to win, you can injure yourself or others. Have you seen others injured playing sports at your school?”

“Of course, it’s part of the game. We get sprains and even broken bones all of the time. We heal and continue. It’s part of the game. My gym teacher says he learned when he was in the Navy SEALS, that pain is weakness leaving the body.”

Wolf continues, “Leon, wait one minute. You have an ex-Navy SEAL, one of the military’s assassins, teaching children? I know about the Navy SEALS; they are trained to kill. They killed Osama; they are the President’s kill team. Are you afraid of your teacher?”

“Huh? Why would I be afraid of Mr. Gleason? He’s one of my best teachers. He teaches us about the real world. He wants us to win. He pushes us to win the championship. My school has won five state championships since Mr. Gleason started at the school. Before him, we had never won. He’s great. If you met him, you would like him. He’s quiet yet you just know every word he says, he says for a reason. You don’t want to disappoint him. He teaches us not to disappoint ourselves. He teaches us teamwork. We drill as a team; we play as a team; he has a saying over his desk, ‘There’s no I in team.'”

“Leon, I’m sure he’s very good about teaching teamwork, however, that doesn’t change the fact he was trained to kill. Bob, do you have any concerns about such a warrior teaching Leon?”

“Wolf, no, I’ve met Mr. Gleason many times, he’s down to earth. He has the kids’ best interests in mind with everything he does. I’m happy Leon has him for a teacher.”

“Bob, in the LSA an ex-solider from before the split can’t be a teacher or hold any other job that interacts with children under sixteen

Leon asks, “Why not?”

“Because they were trained for killing. We don’t want those who’ve killed or fought, to educate our children. No one has any idea what soldiers who might have PTSD might do under pressure. We don’t place out children in areas of potential risks.”

Leon asks, “Mr. Wolf, what else don’t you allow your kids to do?”

“Leon, it’s not about what we don’t allow our children, it’s that we protect our children. We don’t allow them to walk to the park if the park or playground is more than 2 blocks from their home. We don’t want them to be at risk for abduction. We don’t allow our children to play with toy weapons. Nor ride anything that might harm them. We don’t allow our children to play with tools or chemistry sets.”

“Does that include skateboards? What about bikes?”

“Skateboards are not allowed; too many children have been injured on them. Bikes are different; bikes are allowed after a child has passed the bike riding test and has been issued a rider’s license, and the bike has a license plate which means it’s passed a safety inspection.”

Leon looks shocked, “You need a bike rider’s license? Why? Who gives the test? Bikes need license plates?”

“Our DMV gives the test. A parent drives the child and their bike to one of the DMV offices where the child takes the written test, if they pass, they are given a road test. Passing that, they get a license. License plates are purchased at the DMV too. The only other item that is required, is to have insurance.”

“Can kids ride their bikes on the streets?”

“That depends on the rider’s age and experience. All bike riders need to have a helmet, elbow pads and gloves to protect them if they fall.”

Leon asks, “Isn’t that over protective?”

“There really isn’t such thing is there? Leon have you ever seen someone fall off a bike and get injured? We choose to protect our children the best way we can.”

“Mr. Wolf, when I was six, I fell off my bike and broke my arm, I still rode my bike. Getting scrapes and cuts, even broken bones, is all part of being a kid.”

“Not in the LSA. We do everything possible to protect our children. Children are society’s future. We wouldn’t have allowed you to ride a bike at six.”

Beth perks up saying, “I’ve been riding my bike since I was five. I’m good too.”

Wolf smiles, “Beth, I’m sure you are good. However, we try to protect and cuddle our children. You like to be cuddled don’t you?”

“Yes, from my mommy and daddy, no one else. I like to ride my bike.”

Wolf asks, “Where do you ride it?”

“All over, wherever I want to go.”

Wolf looks surprises asking, “Beth, do you ride in the street?”

“Only around home.”

Wolf is very concerned, “Carol, how can you let Beth ride her bike in the street.”

“Where else should she ride? This is a very quiet street.”

“What about at the bike park?”

“We don’t have one near us.”

“If she were my daughter I wouldn’t let her ride on the street.”

“Wolf, that’s just it isn’t it? She’s not your daughter; she’s ours.”

Chapter 13

Wolf News Network’s lead story on Friday morning is “Protective or Over Protection?” The anchors’ talking points are, “Does it indeed take a village to raise a child?” The debate is centered on the question:  Can or even should parents be able to raise their own children or should the government have a say, or in some cases, the major role in raising children? Who’s best suited to raise children? Who should be responsible for raising them? Who should be responsible for them? “The Bill O’Patrick” program on the Wolf News Channel starts off with Bill saying, “Good evening, I’m sure most of you watched this evening’s special program broadcast by Wolf and CNN comparing life in the LSA and USA twelve years later. The key question from tonight’s episode is: Who should raise your children? The LSA feels the state should have a major say in how children are raised. They feel that parents aren’t capable of raising their own children. The USA believes parents should, and can, raise their own children. Granted there’s been a lot of changes since I was a child. Some examples of these changes are;

“When I was a child, we went outside to play after breakfast, we came home when the street lights turned on for dinner or at 6:00 PM. My parents didn’t ask where I went during the day. It was normal for me and every other kid to come home dirty, sometimes with cuts and bruises. Unless blood was gushing out, or we were missing an arm or leg, we were told to go wash up for dinner. Falling off our bikes, or falling down was all part of being a kid. We had no internet, no video games, no cell phones, no DVRs, no color televisions, no computers; we played outside. We rode our bikes without helmets, since there were no bike helmets yet. We drank water from garden hoses. We rode in our parent’s cars without seatbelts. We fought with friends, we learned how to get along, we learned that if we came home late we didn’t eat dinner. We knew everyone on our street. No one would consider telling my parents how to raise me. If they did, my father might have punched them. It wasn’t anyone’s business how I was raised or how my parent’s punished me.

“I started riding my bike when I was six, by the time I was eight I was riding two towns away to visit friends after we had moved. No one thought anything of a kid riding along the road to another town. Today people would freak out; police would be called, and parents might be arrested. The child might be placed in foster care. I learned to deal with life’s issues, like a flat tire, or falling off my bike. I learned how to ask for directions and help. I learned how to tell time without a watch and to make sure I always got home in time for dinner. The one time I didn’t come home in time for dinner, I went to bed hungry. My parents had no sense of humor about me breaking the laws of the house. My father told me many times, as long as I lived under his roof I had to follow his rules. If I wanted to move out he’d help me go.

“Today’s children are too coddled; they are too protected from life’s ups and downs. Parents think their children are made of fine china. They're not. When I was ten, I wanted to play baseball on the local little league team. I thought being a pitcher looked like fun. I, like everyone else, got a chance to try out for the team. I took the ball, went to the pitcher's mound and threw it to the catcher. My pitch didn’t make it all the way; I was given another chance, the ball didn’t make it. I was told to keep practicing and come back when I could reach the catcher. I didn’t make the team. Not everyone made the team. Only those who could play well made the team. I learned I had to practice in order to make the team. I learned I had to become good enough to qualify. Today everyone makes the team. They don’t learn they need to practice, they never learn that life doesn’t give everyone cherries. Not everyone has the ability to do what they want to do. Not everyone can be a famous artist, not everyone can be a superstar, not everyone can be a famous actor. I learned that it took hard work to get what I wanted. Today in the LSA kids are told they are all special. They are told they are all winners. The problem with this is life doesn’t make everyone a winner. Today’s LSA kids are going to be very disappointed when they grow up and realize not all of them get to grow up to be a movie star or the new ‘Wolf of Wall Street.’ Many are going to fail and fail hard because they’ve never experienced failure before. We’re going to have a generation that’s depressed because they’re going to realize life isn’t fair; not everyone is a winner. When today’s LSA kids realize the truth, there are going to be millions of cases of depression, an entire generation will live medicated. The LSA, and if we’re not careful, we too, are going to lose an entire generation because the state or parents don’t allow kids to learn life’s lessons as kids.”

Bill’s commentary coming on the heels of Episode 3, makes many think. Many parents think back to their childhood. They remember how their parents treated them. Some think nothing is wrong with the way they are bringing up their children, some wonder if they are harming their children. Newspapers and social media start asking questions about who’s raising our children. What will our children become when they reach adulthood? The discussion reaches the schools and churches in the USA. “Are we helping or harming our children?” is discussed at coffee shops, offices, homes and talk radio. On the LSA side of the divide, the discussion is muted. The question is censored. The LSA national social media site doesn’t allow posts asking the question. The national media supports the official government stance that parents lack the basic knowledge to raise and protect children that are the country’s future assets. Only those who’ve been trained, only those with advanced degrees on child psychology and child education, have the resources to understand children and are equipped to bring the LSA’s next generation to their maximum level of productively to the state.

President Bloomberg is angry the USA is questioning the policies of the LSA. He orders the LSA DepLIES to jam all communications from the USA. He orders the review of all keywords that generate censor review. He orders the DepLIES to undertake a cyber attack against the USA. He tells them to make sure they don’t leave any breadcrumbs; he wants the USA social network and talk radio sites taken down.

The Washington Post publishes a matrix of the rules governing the raising of children between the two countries. The matrix is picked up by thousands of websites and Wolf News who rebroadcasts it. The matrix becomes the subject of discussion for the next day. At the end of the day, the question remains unanswered. The banner and headline, “Who should raise your children” is the seen by millions. Glenn Back quickly puts together a special program composed of videos and home movies from the 40’s, 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. He traces how children acted and were brought up over 40 years. He shows gun safety being taught in public schools in the 40’s and 50’s. He shows how excuses weren’t tolerated, how many schools used corporal punishment to enforce rules. He shows how children went from being polite to being rude and distrustful. He overlaid society’s changes with the changes in children.

Glenn reviews the subjects being taught in schools over 40 years; he shows the American history textbooks over the previous 40 years. He shows the changes made in the textbooks. He shows how the changes in the education system for 40 years set up the birth of the LSA and the lack of respect by children. How children went from being kids to being perfect little angels who had to be protected from being a child.

The changes in school and our children come as a shock to many. No one gave any thought to the changes made in the education system or how kids acted in school over the previous 40 years. Glenn ends his program with a statement that shakes his audience, Glenn says, “The social safety net and welfare nation changed our children. Single parent homes have damaged our children. Paying people for doing nothing takes away their self-respect, self-esteem and self-confidence. The welfare system is destroying our society.” Glenn’s audience sits in front of their screens speechless.

@@@@@

Ron and Bev take the elevator to the ground floor deciding to start their day at the breakfast buffet. Ron says, “Bev, why don’t we walk outside a little bit before breakfast, it’s not too hot yet. We’ll build up a little appetite.

“Good idea.”

When the two open the front door of the hotel, they’re met by crowds of screaming people. Barricades and the LVMPD separate two groups. Some are yelling and holding up signs supporting the LSA, the opposite group is supporting the USA. Some are holding signs saying, “My kid, my rules.” Other signs say, “It doesn’t take a village.” And, “Children are private property.”  There are also signs saying, “Children are our future.” And “Progressing to a peaceful future.”

Ron says, “Crazies, both sides. They’re not going to change anything. Let’s go get breakfast before I say or do something I’m going to regret.”

Before Ron and Bev can reenter the hotel, they are approached by two protestors for the LSA, “Hey you, what’s your view on who should raise children?”

Ron answers over his shoulder, “Parents, of course.”

The protester yells at Ron and hits him in the head with their wooden sign post.

Ron goes down, his head bleeding from the cut, he rolls to his left coming up punching the protester in the stomach and face and kicks him in the groin. The protester goes down; others see the attack and jump on Ron. The pro-USA group jumps in to save their supporter. Within two minutes, the two groups are fighting each other. People from each group are thrown through the large plate glass front windows of the hotel/casino. Someone in the crowd is screaming for help, blood is flowing on the ground. Someone draws a small concealed handgun which he fires into the crowd hitting three of the pro-LSA protesters. Everyone pauses in mid-punch or kick at the sound of the gunfire. Everyone turns on the shooter. Protesters from both side jump on him trying to wrestle the gun away from the shooter when the gun goes off hitting one of the people trying to grab the gun, in the head. Blood and brains cover those trying to hold the shooter down. Screaming continues from those either hit or afraid of being shot.

The LVMPD arrives, and they have trouble separating the two groups. As soon as they pull people away from each other, they rush back together continuing the fight. LVMPD fires tear gas into the crowd, which also enters the hotel. The casino is just inside the front door; tear gas spreads into the casino causing the gamblers to rush out into the groups of protesters and the LVMPD, who decide to detain everyone and separate them at the station. LVMPD’s first rule is to keep order at the casinos that fund the city. After getting most of the people loaded into buses, they find five bodies on the street. Three of them are pro-LSA protesters, two are pro-USA protesters. Pictures of the fight are carried on the news in both countries. President Bloomberg demands an apology from President Paul, who refuses since this wasn’t a state-sponsored demonstration.

President Bloomberg gives interviews on international television to say he doesn’t think citizens of the LSA are safe in the USA. He asks all of his citizens who are vacationing in the USA to return home quickly and safely. Bloomberg says the USA has too many firearms with few laws controlling their carry or purchase.  Bloomberg announces the LSA is withdrawing from the “Meet the Joneses and Smiths” program. The world is shocked with his announcement.  People read Bloomberg’s announcement on their various connected devices; people stop in mid-stride staring at their displays and messages. Social media freezes from the large number of posts. FB goes offline for 45 minutes. People are shocked when FB goes down. Some don’t know how to act and interface with the real world. People dial 911 saying their emergency is FB is down. The LSA, having their own intranet which connects through government censors to the internet, isn’t effected as much as the other countries because people in the LSA have learned not to search for certain bits of information. In the LSA, running certain searches results in the DepLIES paying a friendly visit, and the citizen usually carried away, not to be seen again.

Protest marches and rallies against President Bloomberg’s decision to withdraw from the program breakout in every major city in the USA. Wolf News Network and CNN both file lawsuits against the LSA for half a billion dollars each for breach of contract and lost revenue. They ask the courts in both the USA and LSA for a temporary restraining order blocking President Bloomberg from withdrawing from the program. In a rare move, the two courts agree to issue a single ruling so one ruling can’t be used against the other court. Recognizing the potential impact of the withdrawal and the lack of any solid grounds for the withdrawal, the two courts rule in favor of Wolf and CNN. President Bloomberg is both surprised and angry over the ruling. He’s not used to rulings going against him. His PR advisor tells him to accept the ruling and quickly make an announcement that he accepts the court’s ruling allowing the program to be broadcast as planned that evening. President Bloomberg isn’t pleased with the advice, but, accepts it. He refuses to make the announcement himself, ordering his press advisor to make the announcement on behalf of the LSA. The announcement is met with cheers on both sides of the divide and sighs of relief from Sean and Wolf.

@@@@@

Sean, Wolf and their production crew fly from Raleigh, North Carolina, to Portland, Oregon, to broadcast the fourth episode of the program. The production crew is sitting is coach while Sean and Wolf are the only two sitting in first class. The entire crew is happy with the court’s quick ruling which enables them to continue the broadcast and more importantly, continue getting paid. Sean sips his beer saying, “I’m going to have permanent jet lag when the program is finished, every day flying between the coasts.”

Wolf responds, “At least we don’t have to fly commercial, whoever thought about chartering a plane for us deserves a bonus.”

The flight attendant adds, “With so many flights cancelled for lack of passengers during your broadcast, the airlines were happy to lease your networks a plane and crews.”

Sean nods, “It sure beats fighting the normal security in the airport. Does the flight crew hang around waiting on us?”

The flight attendant replies, “Yes, we stay at a motel right at the airport. The pilots will check the plane, the ground crew will clean, refuel and restock the plane with meals. When you call, the pilot or his backup files the flight plan enabling us to leave as soon as you arrive.”

Wolf says, “Good to know you’ve got this down to an art form.”

“We’re a special flight crew. We’re used to flying VIPs around. We’re used to calls all hours of the day or night telling us to get ready to fly.”

The flight attendant leaves Wolf and Sean to chat while she helps the coach flight attendants feed the crew.

Sean looks at Wolf, “Wolf, try to cool it with injecting politics into everything. You’re pushing too hard. We can’t afford to lose the ratings we’ve built.”

“I’ll remember; the same goes for you with the Smiths.”

“I’m nowhere as bad as you are.”

“Whatever. What’s the line of questions you suggest we go with tonight?”

Wolf says, “I thought we can explore their entertainment and neighborhood, maybe discuss shopping. We haven’t touched on their shopping experiences yet.”

“OK, with me, let’s see where it leads.”

Wolf buzzes the pilot, “What time are we going to land?”

“Sir, we should be landing at 1:00 PM local time. I’ve called ahead for the cars to be ready to take you to Beaverton.”

“Thanks, I think we’ll leave for the east right after tonight’s episode. We’ll take the cars right back here. Will you be ready to go?”

“Yes, just give me a call when you’re 30 minutes away.”

The broadcast plane lands at Portland International Airport. Ground control directs them to the VIP FBO hanger where their transportation is waiting. The crew had wanted to leave some of their broadcast equipment at each home. However, each family suggested it wasn’t a good idea. So the broadcast crew carried everything with them.

@@@@@

The broadcast crew is a block away from the Smith’s home when they drive up to a roadblock manned by heavily armed agents from the LSA Department of Public Safety. An agent walks to the driver’s door of the leading broadcast vehicle.

“Good evening gentlemen, I’m sorry for the roadblock. We’ll move the barrier giving you access. Please be sure to let us know if you require anything.”

Sean asks, “Officer, is there an issue?”

“We’ve had a number of marches close to, and one gathering of fifty people across the street, from the Smith home. We’ve closed the surrounding streets to ensure you’re not interrupted or threatened in any way.”

“Officer, do you know why they’re protesting?”

“Something to do with your program. We don’t care what their message is, we only care that the viewers don’t see a mass of people across the street yelling and holding protest signs.”

Wolf asks, “Officer when did these protests begin?”

“During yesterday’s program.”

Both Sean and Wolf look at each other trying to figure out what was said last night that would cause a protest march. Sean says, “Officer, to be honest with you, we have no idea what could have been said last night that could have caused the protest.”

“Sir, we don’t know either, it started with a couple of people and kept growing. We’ve closed the streets surrounding the Smith’s home for your safety.”

Sean says, “Thank you officer.” The officer walks back to the barricade saying, “It’s the broadcast crew, let them in.”

Wolf asks Sean, “Seriously, do you have any idea what was said that could have caused a protest?”

Sean replies, “No. I don’t know if they’re protesting us, or the Smith’s or what demands they have. I wish a couple could have been left behind so we could have interviewed them.”

“Sean, this isn’t the LSA. We don’t allow protestors to be interviewed.”

“Yeah, I know, everyone is happy in the LSA, there are no protests because no one has ever seen one. I remember the briefings I received.”

“Sean, seriously, we really don’t have protesters.”

“Wolf, stop bullshitting me. We both know you have your share. Even if your citizens don’t have freedom of speech, we both know they still form protest marches. It’s almost a game for the DepLIES and your Department of Public Safety to figure out where your protesters will turn up next. I have to give them credit, turning up across the street from our filming would have been normally included in the program. What I don’t understand is why did they start the day early?”

“Sean, once we get on site, no one is allowed in or out. Haven’t you ever noticed that during our program there’s no traffic on the street?”

“Now that you mention it, I remember thinking this had to be the quietest street I’d ever seen. There’s never any cars on it.”

“That’s because the streets and sidewalks are blocked. If the protestors came when we were here, they couldn’t get close to the Smith’s home.”

“I guess that’s why they came a day early. Any idea what they’re protesting?”

“No, really no bullshit, I don’t. I guess we’ll see when we arrive.”

The caravan of four trucks and five cars turns onto the Smith’s street; when they are half a block away they see Sissy running down the street holding something in her arms. She stands on the curb jumping up and down waving at the caravan. Sean and Wolf pullover to meet her.

“Sissy what are you doing out here?”

“Mr. Sean, look! I got a puppy!”

“Wow, what kind of puppy is it?”

“Her name is Rebel and she’s only five weeks old. She’s not trained yet. Mom is upset ’cause Rebel has already peed and pooped in the house. She’s so cute isn’t she?”

“What kind of puppy is she?”

“Mr. Wolf, she’s a dog! Follow me home, everyone is waiting for you.”

Sean looks at Wolf, “I think Rebel is a Cocker Spaniel, I couldn’t really tell because Sissy is holding the puppy in a ball. I think we’re in for a treat tonight. We have a wound up seven-year-old who just got a new puppy.”

“Sean, don’t bite the puppy.”

“Huh?”

“I’m busting your chops; you’re right, tonight’s going to be interesting. Did you notice the barriers across the street from her house?”

“I see the tape and cross-horses, but no protesters. I guess the DepLIES removed them.”

“When we pull in Jason’s driveway, I’ll step out and ask the officer who’s always patrolling the house.”

“Wolf, I meant to ask you about the officer, I know there’s one, how many more are hiding someplace on their property?”

“I honestly don’t know. I’d guess the local SWAT squad is in their truck not very far away.”

“Then how did protesters reach their street?”

“They came yesterday, SWAT only arrives two hours before we do. They know our schedule because the pilot calls them with our ETA.”

“Is everyone watched in the LSA?”

“Simple answer is yes. Censors review all social media posts, messages and emails. Pictures are reviewed. No state security secrets are allowed to be posted. No images showing the administration in a negative view are allowed.”

“What happened to freedom of speech? Oh, I remember the LSA doesn’t subscribe to freedom of speech. Do you also monitor people’s religious posts?”

“Of course, it could be a type of bullying.”

“I understand, bullying is as good an excuse as any I’ve heard before. Wolf, is it worth it?”

“Worth it? We have never had a terrorist incident; we have much less bullying than you do. We have cameras on almost every street; our incidents of street crime is less than yours.”

“How do you measure it? By percent of the population? By crimes per square mile?”

“By pure numbers.”

“Wait a minute, we have more people and more than twice the area you do. You can’t compare raw numbers.”

“Sure we can. We control the press. We can release any numbers we want to.”

@@@@@

Jason and Sharon are alerted when the broadcast team is twenty minutes from their home. Sharon checks the living room, kitchen and guest bathroom before she joins Jason in the living room as the doorbell rings. She whispers to Jason, “Just made it. That damn puppy is driving me crazy. We’d better figure out how to house train her quickly.”

Jason opens the door welcoming Sean and Wolf. “Welcome back.”

Sean replies, “Jason, Sharon it’s good to be back. For a short while there we didn’t know if we’d be back. We got on the plane anyway; we figured either we’d get permission to land, or we’d land in Las Vegas.”

Sharon says, “We understand Vegas isn’t the safest place to be right now.”

Sean replies, “Most likely someone lost too much money and was looking for a way to distract the casino.”

Jason smiles saying, “We understand those casinos don’t have a sense of humor about collecting. We hear all the time about people getting their legs broken.”

Sean smiles and laughs, “Jason, those are old movies, nothing like that really happens, Vegas is as safe as here.”

Sharon replies, “Not as safe as here. I don’t think there’s anywhere in the USA that’s as safe as here.”

Wolf jumps into the conversation, “Crime is on the decline here. We have cameras everywhere. Our Department of Public Safety sees and hears everything. We’re able to stop many crimes before they happen.”

Sean asks, “How do you stop crime before it happens?”

“If the cameras see something suspicious officers are dispatched to the site. Many times they can arrive in time to stop the crime before it happens. The officers arrest the potential perpetrators.”

“Are you saying you have a pre-crime arrest policy?”

Wolf says, “Our software is very good at projecting future actions, most of the time the perpetrator admits they were going to commit a crime if the officers hadn’t arrived. We’re stopping violent crime, property damage and who knows what else.”

Sean responds, “That’s my entire point, who knows. No crime was committed yet. Are people in the LSA innocent until proven guilty?”

“Of course they are.”

“Then how can you arrest them before they commit a crime?”

“Because they were going to commit a crime.”

“You can’t be sure of that.”

“Yes we can, our pre-crime software isn’t wrong.”

“How can you say that?”

“Because the crimes our software projected didn’t happen.”

“Wolf, that’s because you arrested the people before they broke any laws. Can’t you see that’s totally wrong? Did you see the movie or read the book ‘The Minority Report’?”

“No, why?”

“It’s a story about a department of pre-crime that goes wrong because humans can and do change their minds. A crime that was projected didn’t happen because the perpetrator changed his mind. You’re not giving the potential criminal the chance to change their mind and maybe not commit the crime.”

“In order to protect the people we have to act first.”

“That makes no sense. There’s no proof of any crime yet.”

Wolf says, “We can agree to disagree. Let’s get back to the interview.”

Sean shakes Jason’s hand saying, “Jason, Sharon, we’re sorry we neglected you. We’re very happy to be with you again. For a while, we weren’t sure we would be able to continue.”

Sissy runs over holding her puppy, “Look what I got.”

Wolf asks, “Sissy, when did you get your new puppy?”

“Yesterday. Two nice men came and brought me three different puppies to choose from. I choose Holly Rebel because she looked up at me saying pick me.”

“She’s very cute. Is your mommy teaching you how to care for a puppy?”

“She’s trying. Mommy never had a puppy. We’re looking up what we need to know.”

Sean says, “I’ll bring you a couple of books explaining how to care for a dog, written for children.”

Sharon whispers, “Sean, please make sure they are on the approved list. I don’t want Sissy to get into trouble for having a banned book.”

“Sharon, how do I find out if the book is approved?”

“Wolf can check it for us.”

“Thank you. I don’t want to cause any problems.”

The four adults sit in the living room; Sissy is running after her puppy. Wolf looks around, “Where’s Scott?”

“He’ll be here very soon; he stopped by a friend’s house.”

Sean says, “Sissy, can you tell us about your after school program?”

“Sure. After school, my teacher takes all of us, except for two boys who are picked up by their dad, to the gym where three guides watch us till we get picked up.”

“Sissy, what do you do in the gym?”

“If it’s nice outside we go out and play on the playground, if it’s raining we play in the gym, sometimes we play board games, sometimes we draw pictures, sometimes we get to use the play-set. Sometimes we watch movies - that's my favorite.”

“What are the movies you watch?”

“I don’t remember the names, they’re about children who help find the bad people, or about how children hear bad people saying bad things or about a little girl who discovers a group of bad people on her street who hide and pray.”

Sean continues, “Sissy, is praying bad?”

“Oh yes. We’re taught that praying makes people bad. It’s everyone’s job to be watching for bad people. Everyone is counting on everyone else to find the bad people. Once all of the bad people are found everyone else will be safe.”

Sean asks, “Sissy is this what your teacher tells you?”

“Mr. Sean, everyone knows this, sometimes you’re silly.”

Before Sean can continue Scott walks in the house carrying backpack. His shirt is hanging out of his pants, and his sneakers are untied. Sharon asks, “Scott are you OK?”

“Yea mom, why?”

“Because you look like a mess.”

“Oh. I was in a hurry to get home to be here when the broadcast people arrived, sorry I was late. I’ll go change and be right back.”

Scott goes upstairs; Jason asks Sharon, “Where was he?”

“He said he was visiting a friend.”

“Do you know if a friend was a boy or girl?”

“Are you suggesting what I think you’re suggesting?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll ask him later.”

Sean asks Sissy, “Sissy, what else do you do after school?”

“Sometimes we get to record letters to the President.”

Sean stops mid-word, “You record letters to President Bloomberg?”

Sissy responds while smiling, “Sure we do it a couple of times a month.”

“What do these letters say?”

“That we thank him for everything he does to protect us.”

“Does your teacher tell you to do this?”

“No, the guides do.”

“Who are these guides?”

“The people who take care of us after school.”

Sean asks Sharon, “Do you know who these guides are?”

Laughing, Sharon responds, “They’re usually student teachers. Part of their education is working at the after school programs. They learn to handle a large group of children.”

Sean says, “Oh, so they are in school learning how to become teachers?”

Sharon responds saying, “Yes, I’ve met them, most are in their third year, next year they’ll be in the kids’ classroom. We have fewer guides now then we did a couple of years ago. The budgets are tighter now.”

Sean says, “Sharon, we learned that parents can’t help out because you don’t have a teaching background, however, why don’t you have a bake sale to raise money for the afterschool program.”

“Oh no. Bake sales aren’t allowed. Who knows what goes into home baked goods? How would we know the calories and fat content in home baked goods? How would these fit into our daily diet and food allowance? Bake sales have been banned for at least ten years.”

Before the discussion can continue, there is commotion outside, two armed Department of Public Safety officers enter the Smith’s house. One of the officers says, “I’m sorry, however we’re going to have to interrupt your program, there is a small problem across the street. A couple of demonstrators have found their way here. Somehow they’ve avoided our officers. Since we don’t know who they are or what they want, we’re going to have to ask you to pause your broadcast until we can assure you’re not in any danger.”

Chapter 14

“Brad, do you think the LSA has gone too far? Have they created a country like North Korea?”

“Honey, nothing could be as bad as North Korea was. I think it all started with their central government trying to provide and help their people. Look at what they’ve done well, they’ve brought real manufacturing jobs home. They build consumer electronics and even cars in the LSA. They have almost total employment; no one is homeless. There’s very few that go hungry. Government paid education goes from preschool through college.”

“How do we know no one is homeless? We haven’t seen any images from their major cities; we’ve only seen the roads from the Portland Airport, which is outside of the city, to Beaverton where the Smiths live. Their cities could be a real mess. We have no idea. They hand picked the Smith family for the program. You heard what Sharon said; many have issues with their health insurance. Many are short of medications. I know the LSA brags that they’ve never had a terrorist attack while we’ve had six large ones in the previous twelve years.”

“Kathy, they claim they’ve never had an attack because they have no military and aren’t a threat to anyone. I don’t buy it. How do we know they’ve never had a terrorist attack? Maybe they have, and we just don’t know about it? Maybe they're in much worse shape than we know. Maybe they’re hiding a massive secret. My gut is tells me they had a couple real serious attacks when they broke away, then used the attacks as a reason to set up the massive security organization they use to monitor their people. I guess something bad happened and they overreacted to whatever it was that happened.”

“Brad, why do you say that? Isn’t it possible President Brownie and Bloomberg imposed these programs to control their people?”

“Anything is possible, but would they have gone so far without a reason?”

“Look what Obsma tried to do when he was President. Progressives want a perfect society; one where no one disagrees with the government, one where everyone is equal, except for the ruling class. One where the government doesn’t trust the common people. My gut tells me there is even more spying and control of their people than they’re allowing us to see.”

“Brad, what else could they do?”

“What happens if you get fired by the government? Can you ever get another job? Are you left to starve? If you disagree with the government are you isolated from their society? In Russia they used to send such people to Siberia, they told them to count the trees. Most died from the very harsh conditions.”

“Brad, you’re right, I hadn’t thought of that. Oh my God, the people can’t ever launch another political party because the ruling class will know everything in advance and starve the dissenters until they agree. They can take their children away from them.”

“Kath, hell, even our government can take people’s children away if they think you’re an unfit parent.”

“Brad, it’s horrible. Isn’t there anything we can do?”

“The only thing I can think of is to make sure it doesn’t happen here. I’m hoping that this program opens a lot of people’s eyes. Unfortunately, I worry that some will see what the LSA has done as a good thing and push for more progressive programs to be implanted here.”

@@@@@

Sean asks Sharon, “Do you know what the protesters want?”

“Sean. I didn’t pay attention to them. However, before we judge them, we need to understand what they’re feeling. We need to put ourselves in their shoes and fully understand what motivates them. Until we know what they’re feeling and if anything in their childhood caused them to act out like they are, we shouldn’t take any negative action against them. They could be justified because of their backgrounds. We don’t understand how they feel.”

“Sharon, is what they feel that important?”

“Of course it is. Too many times we’ve made decisions without understanding how people feel about the decisions and actions will affect them.”

“What action is the right thing to do?”

“How would we know what’s the right thing to do if we don’t understand their feelings?”

“What about actions based on principals?”

“Sean, aren’t principals based on people’s background and feelings?”

“Sharon, is the truth based on feelings?”

“Sean, you know truth is based on the facts.”

“Sharon, that’s the entire question isn’t it? What are the facts? It’s possible for the facts to be created from assumptions or feelings which aren’t the truth.”

“Sean, honestly, you make this so much more complicated then it is. Facts and truth are what they are. No one can change them.”

“Sharon, I’m sorry. However, you’re wrong. In all of history, the winners have always rewritten history from their viewpoint. Your history is different from what’s taught in the USA.”

“It can’t be very different; we shared a common early history before the great divide.”

“Sharon, I’d like to compare Scott’s history book with the book Leon uses in the USA.”

“Sean, how do you propose to do this? USA books can’t enter the LSA without the censor approval; our textbooks are signed out by our children, if the book goes missing from school Scott will be held responsible for it. Our textbooks are not for sale, and they’re not available on the web.”

“Can I look at Scott’s book? I should be able to see what differences were made?”

“Please let me first check?”

“Sure, I don’t want to cause you any problems.”

“Sharon, can Scott join us again to talk about his after school activities?”

“Sure, let me get him.”

A couple of minutes later Scott joins the group in the living room.

Wolf quickly starts questioning Scott to delay Sean from getting in the initial questions.

“Scott, could you please tell everyone what you do after your official classes end?”

“Mr. Wolf, sure. On the days the weather is good, we go outside to play various sports and we practice for games with other schools.”

“These are the games that are played only for fun and exercise correct?”

“Yes sir, that’s right. We don’t keep score.”

“Not at all?”

“Well, I’m sure everyone keeps score in their heads.”

“Does anyone say anything to each other after the game?”

Scott begins to look around the living room; his face turns red, he responds, “No, no one mentions whatever the score might have been. Oh no, no one does that. That’s not fair. No one should brag about doing better than anyone else. If we did, we wouldn’t be equal, and we’d have to spend time with the school counselor.”

Sean asks, “I take from your answer that these after school games are just for fun, so why do you practice for them?”

“Everyone wants to do the best we can to put on a good show for anyone who may watch us play.”

“Do friends or your families usually come see the games?”

“There’s usually always people in the stands watching us play.”

“Do they cheer when your team scores?”

“Mr. Sean, no one does that anymore. Cheering for scoring points makes the other team feel unequal and lose self-esteem. We would be stopped from playing and have to attend a joint sensitivity training session. Those aren’t fun; I’ve had to attend them twice because we cheered when we scored a point at the last minute of the game giving us a win. We were counseled that we are all winners. We shouldn’t have worked so hard in the last minute to score a goal. We made the other team feel sad; we didn’t think about how the other team felt when we scored the last point. We harmed their self-esteem and may have damaged their self-confidence. We apologized to the other team in case we caused them undue stress.”

“I see you do want to win and you do keep track of the scores.”

Looking very nervous and worried Scott replies, “Mr. Sean, no, I didn’t say anything like that. We don’t keep score. I think you misunderstood what I said. We play for the fun of the game. We play to stay in shape. Do you have any other questions about our sports?”

“I understand you don’t play American football any longer, is that correct?”

“Mr. Sean, we play football, which you in the USA call soccer. We don’t play what you call football because people can get injured playing a game as rough as your football is, we’ve had too many cases of concussions. Soccer is what the rest of the world plays.”

“Scott, doesn’t the rest of the world and even the USA play in the World Cup to be the best team in the world?”

“You do, but if you had checked, you’d see we don’t enter the World Cup for that every reason. Why should one team be better than all of the others? Aren’t all humans the same?”

Wolf jumps into the discussion, “Scott, yes, everyone is the same. Everyone is equal. Playing games to win, like fighting a war, is outdated and not accepted in the LSA.”

Sean jumps on Wolf’s last statement, “Wolf, are you saying that if attacked the LSA wouldn’t fight back?”

“Sean, no one would attack us. We don’t have any enemies; we don’t even have a standing army. We have no one to be afraid of.”

“Wolf, that doesn’t mean another country wouldn’t attack the LSA, maybe just to reach the USA since we share a border thousands of miles long.”

“Sean, those are stories told to scare little children.”

Before Wolf can respond, Sissy enters the living room to ask, “Mommy, do we have any more cookies?”

“Honey, we’ve talked about this before. You’ve had more than enough sweets. There won’t be any more sweets for a while. Your body has to be balanced. If you eat too many sweets, you will get fat and if you get fat, no one will like you or want to play with you. So take some fruit.”

“Mommy, that’s not true, my teacher says people who eat too many sweets get sick and die. She didn’t say anything about getting fat or not having any friends.”

“Honey, you’ll learn more in a year or two. Is there anything else you need?”

“Can I take my puppy outside?”

“Sure, Daddy will go with you, so you’re not alone.”

“’K, come on Daddy, we’re going to take my new puppy for a walk.”

Jason and Sissy put a leash on the puppy whose tail is wagging showing she’s happy; they take the puppy outside.

Sean asks, “Sharon, I take it that you don’t allow Sissy out by herself?”

“Oh no. Who knows who might come by and abduct her?”

“Does that happen a lot here?”

“No. That’s because we don’t allow our children outside from us. No one allows their children to go outside alone. Even if a group of children plays together there’s always at least one parent watching over them.”

“Sharon, are those the laws here?”

“It’s not really a law; it’s just something that everyone does.”

“How did it get started?”

“Sean, it started because we love our children. Everything we do, everything we sacrifice, is for our children. We’ve accepted the fact that we needed to change our lives to improve the lives of our children. We’ve accepted that which you in the USA haven’t yet, that being - we try to understand how the other person feels and how our actions and words may make someone else feel. We’ve built a society, not a country, but a society, one we hope will expand to include the world based on accepting how others feel and that everyone is equal. Here if someone breaks the law, it’s most likely because of the way they were brought up. You’re too quick to assume the person breaking the law should have known the consequences of their actions. We spend more time trying to understand how the person felt and the reasons behind their actions before we pass judgment.”

“Sharon, isn’t it possible that people are responsible for their own actions?”

“Sean, no, there are always mitigating reasons behind people’s actions.”

“Sharon, I think we can agree to disagree. And on that note I think we’ll end tonight’s broadcast.”

@@@@@

Mark Leven, a famous USA radio talk show host, begins his evening program with; “We’ve now gotten more insight into everyday life inside the LSA than we’ve ever had. I, for one, am not surprised by what we’re seen and heard. Their progressive administrations have had twelve years of zero opposition to mold their so-called perfect society. The LSA has been able, over twelve years, to change the way people react to their government. In these twelve years, Presidents Brownie and Bloomberg have been able to destroy so many of the freedoms and protections we in the USA take for granted. I, like most of you, felt if they wanted to be left alone and build a wall, they should be able to do so. We no longer needed to support them.

“Behind the walls that the LSA calls the divide, they built a society where the average person works for the government and relies on the central government for almost everything. The government supplies all of the utilities; they are the phone company, the electric company, the cable TV company and the gas company.

“Their access to the World Wide Web is restricted; every web site and search goes through the LSA central government censor. Every conversation, every text message, every social network post, every tweet, everything is recorded and reviewed by the LSA central government. Granted, they don’t have enough people to check and review everything posted, they use intelligent software to perform most of the grunt work. Their software seems more advanced than what’s used in the USA.

“The LSA monitors every call their citizens make; they have cameras on almost every street lamp. Their citizens have lost all their privacy.

“The government has taken control of how children are raised; they’ve barred parents from the classroom. They’ve even disbanded the PTA. The have co-ed locker rooms and showers. Hell, they have three sexes in the LSA, male, female and transgender. I wonder if the transgenders in the LSA can have their own children.

“Ladies and gentlemen, this is what a progressive administration totally unchecked looks like. Everything they do, they claim is for the children, but everything they do is so they can control their population. The progressive administration controls hiring, firing, and even where you can go on your vacation. We don’t know if the progressive government fires people or how they handle dissenters.

“How about their no bake sale policy and no parents allowed to help out in the classroom? Every child eats school prepared meals. Every child attends state-sponsored and paid for after-school daycare. The state spends more time and has more control over children than parents do. No one can park on the street because they claim when drivers have to swerve around the parked cars they potentially increase risks to children who might dash into the street.  Children can’t play outside without a parent. Even swing sets have to be fenced. Everything is protected from the average person.

“The state even controls how much and what their citizens can eat. Living space and calories are regulated. While they claim everyone is equal, there is the ruling class and everyone else. I have to ask you, is this the life you want to live? Is this how you want your children to live? Do you want to give up the Bill of Rights for a little extra perceived security, if you can even call it security? This isn’t how I want to live. We have to do everything possible; we have to do everything we can to stop this type of life from spreading here, inside the USA. Many listeners find the LSA’s intervention into their people’s lives as unacceptable; others say it’s not too bad because the government is doing everything possible to protect their people. Protection is one thing; control is another. The LSA isn’t protecting their people; it’s controlling them. There’s no evidence of terror attacks, no evidence of children being snatched. The LSA controls every aspect of their people’s lives. They have embedded themselves into every aspect of their people’s lives, is this what you want?

“Do you want the government to listen to every word you say, to have cameras everywhere, cameras that can see into your homes? Into your bedrooms? Are you willing to give up all of your rights for what the government calls security? Remember your history, those who give up freedom for security end up with neither.

“Do you want your children to share bathrooms with others of the opposite sex, or shower with the opposite sex? This policy applies not just to public schools but even to private schools. Do you think you can escape by home schooling? In the LSA, home schooling is illegal. The LSA is a perfect example of progressivism run amok.”

Chapter 15

“Feelings, nothing more than feelings

Trying to forget my feelings of love

Teardrops rolling down on my face

Trying to forget my feelings of love

Feelings, for all my life I'll feel it.” (Morris Albert copyright 1974)

Talk radio plays the song “Feelings” at the start of almost every program. Glenn, Mark, and Andy all play the song while laughing that the LSA is based on “Feelings.” Andy says, “This reminds me of an event that also took place on the west coast, ‘Can’t we all just get along?’ It’s amazing to me that so many people don’t realize people don’t naturally just get along. Some people operate based on feelings, others on logic and some on other emotions. On last night’s program, we learned that we have to understand how a criminal feels and his background before we judge them. We were told our failures are that we don’t spend enough time to understand the motivations of people. We are failures because we try to apply laws equality. I say; we’re not wrong; the people in the LSA are wrong. A law is a law; a rule is a rule. A person’s background, how they grew up, or if they grew up in a single or dual parent household, doesn’t apply when they damage personal property or harm others. We learned that last night that it was OK to surrender all of our privacy and rights so long as we do it for our children and to keep our children safe.

“For the children, the children. It’s always the children. This is the same argument that progressives have used for years. They use our children to create an emotional argument. Who could argue against saving our children? Have any of their programs succeeded? Have any of the progressive programs saved a single child? Who can point to the facts and say this child was saved by this program? Has surrendering rights and privacy saved a single child’s life? Can anyone point to a real case where all of the LSA’s current surveillance or the NSA’s previous surveillance saved a single child?

“I don’t know of a single case. I don’t think there is a single case. The LSA was built upon a lie; progressivism itself is based on a lie. Man can’t build a perfect society. There is no such thing as a perfect society. Humans are not perfect. We were made imperfect; as such how can any government, except for the holiest, regulate society into perfection? Nothing man does can change mankind making us perfect, nothing man does can take the sin out of us; nothing man does make us always do good. No amount of cameras, no amount of spying, and that’s what it is, the LSA spies on their own people, can make people perfect.

“Is there a low crime rate in the LSA? That’s a good question since the LSA doesn’t publish statistics on crime. What we do know is, the average home in the LSA has steel bars blocking entrance via windows. We know that the LSA has cameras on almost every streetlight, they use drones for watching their cities. They have entire sections of cities that are labeled as ‘not recommended.’ Not recommended means stay out for the sake of your health. ‘Not recommended’ means enter, and you most likely won’t leave alive. How can a progressive government have ‘not recommended’ sections of cities? They do, because the people in the ‘not recommended’ area can’t leave, they can’t reproduce, without children the government is hoping the people in the ‘not recommended’ areas will die out taking their criminal mindset with them. Their Department of Public Safety officers all wear full body armor and helmets while on duty. Their vehicles are armored, and I think that the armor isn’t all for looks, it’s there to protect the officers meaning there has to be a threat to the officers. Which also means there is a lot of violent crime in the LSA. That might be why they don’t report any numbers. Another clue about the crime rate in the LSA is what we’ve heard on the program, last night we heard that parents don’t allow children to go outside by themselves, there is always a parent watching them. This must be for the protection of the children, protection from whom? I think based on the LSA spending so much of their resources on understanding how people feel and how words and actions impact others and how they may make someone feel, they chalk up crime to the upbringing of their criminals. I’m betting there are a large number of lawyers whose defense of the criminal class is ‘the poor criminal isn’t understood, how would finding them guilty make them feel?’

“Since firearms of all types, pepper spray and even crossbows are outlawed in the LSA, the average citizen is helpless to defend themselves against a violent criminal. Most of the citizens don’t know that self-defense is possible. This is what happens when progressives are unchecked and left to their own devices to ‘protect’ their people. Progressives think people are all good, we know the truth; some people aren’t good. Some people are ill, some need help, some are just evil, and there isn’t another word to use except for evil. People who abuse children and animals are evil. No amount of social programs is going to make these people better or do good.

“Let’s see learn what the other differences between our two countries are. I hope the hosts ask about any food shortages and the people’s reactions to the lack of food. I have to pause for a commercial.”

@@@@@

“Kathy, is this what happens when people are brainwashed? Can an entire country be brainwashed? How does the government get such control over the population?”

“Honey, I don’t know, but frankly I’m sick of the ‘feeling’ bullshit. I don’t care how a criminal feels when they're caught. I’m sick of the ‘poor little me’ defense. When do those people start to stand up and accept responsibility?”

“I’m not sure they ever do.”

“Brad, well, I’m happy we’re on this side of the divide and not theirs.”

“I just hope enough people watching the program can add one and one to get two. I thought after the split the progressive movement moved with them. However, it keeps trying to raise its head and spread here. Congress keeps trying to pass laws to protect us from ourselves. No matter how much we write in we don’t want them to, they go ahead anyway. I think we might have been better off having a real revolution. I sometimes wonder if progressivism isn’t a mental illness. Some people just think they know better, they think they we’re not smart enough to live our own lives.”

“Brad, maybe we should have had a real revolution?”

“Kathy, a real revolution would have killed hundreds of thousands if not millions. The USA would never have been a superpower again. We would spend years fighting each other; others in the world who hate us would have used us fighting each other as a cover to attack us. Our external warning systems would all have been turned to look internally. A real revolution would have resulted in the country breaking up, not in two, but in many small, much weaker, countries that most likely would have fought each other on and off for many years. Once we were out of the picture, the rest of the world would have fallen into darkness. The powerful would have taken over the weak because there would be no one to stop them. The Middle East would have exploded into chaos, India and Pakistan would be at each other’s throats. China would make their move on the rest of Asia. Russia, most likely, would take back all of central Europe if not all of Europe. The world would have collapsed into the worst dark ages in our history.”

“I think you may be right. It would have been horrible. The bloodshed might have been the worst the world’s ever seen. I hadn’t thought about it that way. I wonder how Ron and Bev are doing in Las Vegas, I wonder if they got caught up in the riot.”

@@@@@

Ron is being interviewed by the LVMPD, “Officer; I was the captain of my local police department. I know what I saw. I already gave a statement to three other officers. Why was I asked to come to the station to repeat what I’ve already given and signed?”

“Because of your experience, we’re hoping you can tell us something we haven’t heard or something we’ve missed. Maybe you know a question we should have asked you and didn’t. Do you?”

“Look, I appreciate your desire to create a complete picture of the event, however, I’m here on vacation and would like to get back to my wife.”

“Would you be willing to spend a little time with our artist to describe what you saw?”

“Sergeant, come on, we both know you confiscated everyone’s phone so you could review the images and videos on them, you must have the entire event recorded from every angle there is. I do mind spending a few hours with your artist. In normal times, I might not mind, however, given the limited time we have here, I do mind.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. Being you were one of us, we naturally assumed you would be happy to help us. You of all people know that if you’re not with us, you’re against us.”

“That’s not the way I ran my department, and if it’s the way you run yours, I’m sorry for you. May I leave now?”

“Yes, but remember we’ll be watching you. Before you go, the LSA Department of Public Safety would like to speak with you.”

“Do I have to meet with them?”

“We can’t force you to, however we’d strongly suggest it, especially if you ever plan to visit the LSA.”

“Alright, where are the ‘black shirts’?”

“I’ll take you to the conference room we loaned them.”

“Have you met them?”

“Yes, hard bunch, they’re used to getting whatever they want from whoever they want it from. Just tell them what you told us.”

“I assume you’re recording everything that happens in the conference room?”

“They declined to sign off on the recording.”

“Don’t tell me, that’s stopped you?”

“If we recorded them, we’d be the same as them.”

“OK.”

@@@@@

Sean and Wolf are discussing the program at breakfast in Raleigh, North Carolina, which is 90 minutes from the Jones’s home. Wolf sips his coffee asking, “Why has every damned talk radio program jumped on the word ‘feeling’ when there were so many other topics that came out in last night’s program?”

“Wolf, you’ve been living and reporting from the LSA for what, twelve years?”

“Yes, I moved there when we split. What does that have to do with anything?”

“You may have forgotten a few things from when you lived here; talk radio is the average person’s communication with the issues. Some of the programs are on the fringe; however, most are in the middle of the road.”

“Please tell me you don’t consider Glenn’s program or Rash’s new program middle of the road.”

“I do, as do many who live in the USA.”

“What happened to simple logic and reasoning?’

“I could ask you the same thing. Many of the progressives and very liberal moved to the LSA leaving a majority of the people behind that were either centrists or conservatives. Almost all of them believe in one religion, or another. Many remember various incidents that were based on ‘feelings.' Remember when President Obsma supported the black professor in Boston when he was stopped trying to enter his home in Boston? It was how did the professor feel? Or the case in Florida of the teen shot, it was again how did the teen feel being followed by a white man? Who wasn’t even white! Too much of the events that led up to the split were framed in ‘feelings.' It’s become a word that many in the USA despise.”

“I don’t understand why. It’s a natural question to ask. It’s a natural way to look at another person.”

“Is it? Or is it an excuse to bend the rules for a protected class of people?”

“We don’t have any protected classes of people.”

“Sure you do. Everyone who might have had a reason or could blame someone else is a protected class in your legal system.”

“I wouldn’t phrase it that way. I’d say our courts take into consideration the perpetrator’s backgrounds more than yours do.”

“That’s one major difference between our courts. We made ‘lady justice’ blind to color and background.”

“That’s something I don’t understand. It’s been proven that a person’s background plays a large role in how they act as an adult.”

“Is that why so many of your juveniles who commit crimes are released?”

“Sean, certainly you can understand they’re children.”

“I understand they are children who broke the law.”

“You have to admit that they deserve a very understanding judge so they’re not permanently scared by appearing in court.”

“Is that why so many of your juvenile cases are heard by Department of Childhood Services managers and not legal judges?”

“We do it to protect our children.”

“So they can grow up to become spoiled adults who’ve never had to accept responsibility for any of their actions?”

“I agree we differ on the ways we treat children.”

“Wolf, a teen who kills someone isn’t a child, a teen who breaks into someone’s home or rapes someone isn’t a child.”

“They are if they were not 18 when they committed the event.”

“You can’t even bring yourself to say the word ‘crime’, can you? I’ll hate to see what happens to the LSA when this coddled generation takes the reins of power.”

“I don’t understand your concern. This generation is the best-educated anyone has produced. They’ve been exposed to the widest amount of information possible.”

“Wolf, the only thing they’ve never had to do is be responsible or be a real leader. They blame their failures on someone else. Do you think the LSA will be able to grow and prosper with leaders who never take responsibility?”

“I again agree to disagree with you.”

“Let’s agree to revisit this issue in ten years.”

“Sean, that’s a bet, I can’t wait to see you have to apologize to me and the nation.”

“Wolf, it’ll be you who will be apologizing. Let’s discuss tonight’s program.”

@@@@@

At the same time Wolf and Sean are having breakfast, there’s a standoff going on in Norcross, Georgia. A teenager was interrupted trying to steal a pair of sneakers from the DSW Designer shoe store on Peachtree Parkway. The teen tried on a new pair of sneakers; he placed his old pair in the box that he took the new pair from. He placed the box back on the shelf and calmly walked out of the store thinking no one in the store was wise to him. He didn’t know the entire incident was recorded; the store manager watched the teen in real time from behind the row of cash registers; he waited to see if the teen was going to pay for them or leave the store. When the teen walked past the cashier, the manager dialed 911. A police car was only a half a block away when the 211 active robbery call went out. Officer Frank Redman had been on the force only eight months when he acknowledged the call; he flipped his lights and siren on. Officer Redman arrived at the DSW store in less than a minute; the teen hadn’t even made it twenty feet from the front door when officer Redman jumped out of his car with his gun drawn. “Stop, put your hands up.”

The teen was caught off guard by the quickly appearing police officer. He turned to look around; he thought he had one chance. He turned towards the officer, “Officer, what you want? I not done nothing.”

“Stop where you are, put your hands up.”

The teen continued to advance slowly towards officer Redman, who said, “STOP. I mean right now. Stop!”

The teen looked to his right; he saw a car starting to back out of a parking place, he dashed in the direction of the moving car thinking he could get into it and get away to safety before the driver sped up.

Officer Redman lifted his gun, “Stop, or I’m going to shoot!”

The teen continued running.

Officer Redman took aim and fired a single shot. The 9MM bullet hit the teen in the back exiting his chest after going through his heart. The teen was dead before he hit the ground. The driver of the car leaving the parking spot heard the gun shot, it scared the driver who hit the gas increasing her speed and caused her car to crash into a pickup behind her. The impact pushed the pickup into the car parked in front of it which had no gas cap, the impact caused gas to spill out of the open tank. Sparks from the accident ignited the gas engulfing both vehicles. Officer Redman called the shooting in; he called for the fire department and an ambulance.

Onlookers saw officer Redman shoot the teen. They considered it murder since the teen was unarmed and didn’t threaten the officer. Three of the onlookers tweeted what they saw, they posted images of the dead teen on social media. They posted, “White cop killed the brother over a pair of sneakers. The brother was unarmed. He killed the brother in cold blood; he murdered him in the parking lot.”

Others posted the location of the shooting. When the fire department and the ambulance arrived, so did over fifty people who came to protest the shooting. The protestors talked to the witnesses; they started yelling and throwing whatever they could get their hands on at Officer Redman who called in the code 33 officer needs assistance.

Dispatch orders four cars close to the incident, to report to the scene. The first to arrive runs into protestors throwing rocks, two rocks striking the windshield. The officer calls in for more help; soon, ten cars are in transit to the DSW store, while an additional hundred people protesting the shooting arrive. The protesters throw rocks at Officer Redman; two of the rocks strike him, one in the head, opening a cut that immediately starts bleeding, the second rock strikes him in the leg. Officer Redman fires a round over the heads of the protesters causing more rocks and debris to be thrown at him. Thirty protesters lineup and start rocking the first police car; they get it to flip onto its side with the officer still inside. A couple of the protesters bang on the car’s gas tank to break it, one pulls a knife out cutting the rubber gas line, when the gas starts flowing, another throws a lighter into the puddle of gasoline. The car explodes in a fireball; windows break in buildings close to the car, the officer trapped inside burns to death.

Officer Redman calls in the attack requesting SWAT; his request is approved. Peachtree Parkway is jammed with people trying to get away from the location and those trying to get to the location. Five minutes later, the protesters swarm Officer Redman, who shoots two of them, before he's overrun and beaten to death by the protesters who kick him in the face, groin, and chest. Two of the protesters stomp their boots on officers Redman face, crushing his head, killing him. Shortly, additional protesters arrive; some are armed and exchange fire with the on scene officers. SWAT arrives in the middle of a firefight. One calls back describing the scene as an active war zone.

@@@@@

Wolf’s phone rings, he looks at the caller ID and turns pale, “Sean, excuse me a minute, I have to take this call.” Wolf gets up from the table while saying, “Hello, this is Wolf.”

“Hello, Mr. Blazer, please hold for the President.”

“Hello Wolf, I watched last night’s episode, I’ve also spoken with the Director of DepLIES, we seem to be losing the battle for the hearts and minds of the people in the USA. I understand we’re getting mocked and laughed at on their talk radio. I want you to find a way to discredit their major talk radio hosts. I’m going to have our special work department generate a few special press releases about the hosts that should give you all the ammunition you need. Wolf, need I remind you I don’t want you to spend the rest of your career reporting from the frozen Northwest. I, and the entire LSA, are counting on you to ensure we’re always shown in the best light. Do you see any problems fulfilling this request?”

“No, Mr. President. Everything should proceed as planned. While their talk radio is mocking us, many of their people are starting to question the USA government’s programs.”

“Excellent. Keep my staff informed. I’ll be watching tonight’s program. Wolf, try to work in the danger of owning firearms.”

“Yes sir, I’ll work it in.”

Wolf returns to the table where Sean is waiting.  Wolf has a strange look on his face. Sean’s eyes look into Wolf’s eyes questioning the strange call he received. It’s clear to see Wolf is worried, the call upset him. “Wolf is everything alright?”

“Perfect. I think we’re going to have a good show today. Want to get started? We have at least a 90 minute drive, maybe more with traffic. We don’t have the local police closing streets for us like we do in the LSA.”

“Sure. I’m ready to go, let me check with the crew.”

Wolf sits; he picks up his coffee, taking a mouthful, he makes a face in disgust.”

Sean laughs, “What’s the matter, don’t like cold coffee? Next time doesn’t leave it for ten minutes. I’ll flag down the waiter for some fresh coffee.”

“Thanks.”

Fifteen minutes later the broadcast vans arrive in front of the hotel. They begin their journey to the Jones’s home.

@@@@@

Social media posts ponder what surprise will come from tonight’s program. Many posts support the LSA’s policies trying to understand the background and motivation of criminals before handing down sentences. Many posters say criminals shouldn’t be held libel because of their upbringing. Others post that the law is the law, or the country will lose the rule of law. Either the law is blind or the law can be changed depending on who is in charge of the government. Some posts state this is a slippery slope, once started it’s almost impossible to stop the slide to tyranny and to become the same as the LSA. If the rule of law is overturned then the founding constitution is finished. Government will be able to do whatever they want.

@@@@@

The broadcast crew is delayed due to traffic caused by a three car accident, after two and half hours they pull up to the Jones’s home. Bob sees them driving down his street, he and Carol meets the crew at the street, Carol tells Wolf and Sean, “We were starting to get worried, we wondered if something happened to you or if you were cancelling the program.”

Sean responds with a smile, “Carol, we ran into a lot of traffic; there was a three car accident on the freeway. We sat there for an hour while the police untangled the accident. We wouldn’t have cancelled without calling. We’re very much looking forward to today’s program. How’s Beth and Leon?”

“Beth can’t wait to see you; she’s all dressed up in her princess dress. Leon will be home in a couple of hours. He took his bike out to visit some friends.”

Wolf says, “We’re happy to be here, come, let’s get into your home, to be honest, I’d like to start with using your bathroom, I had a little too much coffee this morning and then we got stuck in traffic.”

Bob smiles, “I understand, you know where it is.”

Wolf almost runs towards the house.

Sean, Carol and Bob watch him dash off and chuckled at his predicament.

Chapter 16

Sean opens the latest episode, “Carol, Bob, thank you for having us back. It’s an honor to be your guests again. We realize this must have turned your lives upside down.”

Carol smiles saying, “Sean, you have no idea. Our family has become local stars. Just yesterday I was shopping when two strangers approached me, asking for my autograph. They wanted to take ‘selfies’ with me. I couldn’t believe it. Beth is loving it; she’s the star of her first-grade class. Even her teacher spoils her now. She’s asked to tell the class what happens on a TV show. Everyone in the school wants to be her friend. She’s in heaven. We’re trying to guide her, so it doesn’t go to her head and make her a spoiled brat. We don’t want her fame to go to her head. Tomorrow I’m going to address the class as is one of the other parents who is a local weatherman on our local CBX channel. We’re going to try to explain that everyday people can be on TV and it doesn’t mean anything. We’re not stars in the sense of Hollywood.”

Wolf asks, “Carol, have you noticed a change in Beth or Leon?”

“Beth started to get a bigger ego. However, I think we caught it before it turned her into something else. As far as Leon, well, he’s using his notoriety to get dates. His calendar is filled for the next two months. We’ve tried to coach him, so it doesn’t go to his head. We’re afraid we’ve failed. His attitude has changed; Bob talks with him every day.”

Sean responds, “Carol, we’re sorry for any issues we have caused your family. To be very honest, we didn’t expect the program to be such a hit. If we thought it would have gathered the ratings it did, we would have left the children out of the program.”

Carol smiles saying, “Sean, even if you wanted to leave the children out of the program, they would have found a way to walk in front of the cameras. You know how kids are. They’re not going to give up a chance for fame. We’re trying to explain to them fame isn’t all what the tabloids make it out to be. We want our children to be grounded. It’s much harder to ground them than we thought it would be.”

Wolf asks, “Carol, don’t you think this is a perfect reason the LSA’s policy of the town and state helping raise children is better? Bringing up children is a full-time job, we all know how hard it is. It's a job that’s usually more than one set of parents can handle.”

Bob looks at Wolf with a forced smile on his face, “Wolf, being a parent is a difficult job. It’s a job a husband and wife should make sure they’re ready for before they have children. How can a town or state bring up my children? They don’t know my values or how I want my children brought up. They will turn children into little robots; all raised to be the same. Children should experience being children. They should have fun and use the fun to learn how to get up when they fall. Falling and getting hurt, simple cuts and scratches are part of growing up. Failing is part of life. Under your system, you isolate the children from failure or failing. You teach them they can be anything they want to be. They are all perfect little angels. They all make the team, they all win a prize. What you’re really teaching them is that they don’t have to push themselves, they don’t have to learn anything new. They don’t have to improve their skills because they’re going to get the trophy no matter how they perform. In reality, each child has their own special gift. They’re not all the same. They never will be. Under your system, when the children grow up and hit the wall for the first time, they’re shocked, they don’t know what to do, and they’ve never learned how to think on their own. They don’t know how to think on their feet. They never learned how to face failure. Failure is a very important facet of life. We learn more from how we handle failure and what we learn from failures than we do from winning.”

Wolf responds, “Bob, I disagree with you. Why should children be forced to suffer? Why should they be in pain from getting cut or scratched? Why shouldn’t they all be taught they can be all they want to be? It’s true they can all grow up to be anything they want to be. They shouldn’t feel they don’t have any friends. Being without friends or playmates is a cause of child suicide that we have a very low amount of. Can you say the same? We don’t accept bullying. Can you say the same? Our children can use our social media without worrying someone is going to bully them online. You can’t say the same. How many USA kids have killed themselves because they were bullied online?”

Carol jumps into the discussion, “Wolf, how many of your children are on some type of medication? How many are classified as ADHD? You medicate your children, so they fit into what you consider normal. Our percentage of children on ADHD drugs has decreased by 70%. We’ve decided to allow our kids to be kids. You have bullies, among children there are always bullies. You can’t change human nature.”

Wolf gets very serious replying, “Bob, Carol, children are society’s future. Their education and upbringing are too important to leave to untrained parents. We believe we can, and we have changed human nature. It’s all in the education system and what you may call conditioning.”

Carol’s face turns red, “What do you mean untrained? There’s no classes or college degree for being a parent. I learned how to parent from my parents. When you say conditioning, what you’re really saying is programmed and controlled.”

“Carol, there are college courses for parenting, we’ve started an entire new class of study, parenting, graduates receive a BS degree.”

“Huh? When did this start? Who came up with the course study? A BS? You consider parenting a science?”

“Carol, we engaged the top child Psychologists in the LSA to design the college curriculum.  It’s been working well for us. Carol, parenting is more a science than it is an art.”

“Wolf, how do you know its working?”

“Because our children are happy, they’re growing up to be well-adjusted teenagers and young adults.”

Carol responds, “Wolf how are you judging this?”

“We use the statistics from the previous years.”

“Wolf, what percentage of your children are taking any type of ADHD medications?”

“Carol, I don’t have those numbers at my finger tips, nor do I think they’re meaningful to our discussion.”

“Wolf, sure they are. If you medicate an entire generation, of course, you’re going to have nice well behaved children. You’re raising a generation of ‘Stepford Wives.’”

“I disagree with you. You’ve never been to the LSA to see with your own eyes how our children act. I’m very proud of our children and what they’re going to be when they become adults. Come visit come see for yourself.”

Sean jumps in saying, “I think we’ve beaten this horse as much as we can. Let’s change the subject. Bob, Carol, are you concerned about your family’s personal safety and security?”

Bob responds, “Sean, not really. If you notice, we don’t have bars on our windows. We don’t even have a home alarm system. We don’t need one. We’ve gone to bed and forgotten to lock the front door; we woke the next morning with nothing missing. We’ve said we have a neighborhood watch program. Each family looks after each other. We don’t worry about our kids going outside to play. If you’d like, we can introduce you to the neighborhood watch chairperson.”

Wolf says, “I would like that, thank you. Why don’t you worry about your children going outside to play?”

Bob asks, “Wolf why should we be afraid?”

“There might be many criminals out there waiting for the children to go outside to play so they can adduct them.”

“Wolf, we really don’t have that many abductions, in fact, I don’t remember when we’ve had a single local abduction.”

“But it could happen at any time.”

Carol, clearly irritated, responds, “It’s also possible to be hit by lightning from a clear sky. However, it’s not likely. Is this a problem in the LSA that you think is also one in the USA? We don’t have many of these problems. We allow our children to go outside to play with their friends. We allow Leon to ride his bike to school and see his friends that are ten blocks away.”

“Ten blocks? Why doesn’t he ride the school bus?”

“What school bus? Any children that live within a mile don’t have a bus. It’s a way for us to keep our costs down and also enable our kids to get exercise.”

“What about when it rains?”

Carol laughs, “Wolf, its water. They have rain coats. They’re not going to melt.”

Wolf responds, “Carol, they could catch a cold!”

“So? They bring home enough colds and flus from school that gets passed around from child to child. That’s normal. Getting a cold from walking in the rain is an old wives tale.”

“Carol, you know many of those old wives’ tales were true.”

“Not this one. You’re a reporter, didn’t you ever cover a story in the rain?”

“Of course I did.”

“Did you get sick?”

“I don’t remember.”

“Next subject?”

Sean laughs, saying, “What are your thoughts on gun control?”

Bob laughs responding, “Sean, we believe in gun control.”

Wolf smiles, he asks, “You do? Could you explain a little more about your thoughts?”

Bob smiles back at Wolf, “Sure, we both believe in controlling our guns when we shoot them. We believe in the proper holding of a gun to limit the recoil so follow on shots are on target.”

Wolf looks shocked, “WHAT that’s not the type of gun control I’m talking about!”

Bob asks, “What are you asking?”

“You know what I was talking about. Laws are controlling who can own firearms.”

Bob responds, “We have a master law, it’s called the US Constitution. Of course, Congress has passed some gun control laws, such as we can’t own a new machine gun, we can’t own a working tank or mortar; we can’t own a canon. I don’t think we can own a battleship, not sure about us owning a fighter or bomber either, I’ll have to check. Oh yea, we can’t own personal nuclear weapons.”

Wolf’s face turns red, “You know darn well, that wasn’t what I was asking. You tried to set me up.”

Carol responds, “No we didn’t. You already know that gun ownership is not just allowed in the USA, it’s encouraged. It’s a way to ensure we, as citizens, can help defend our homes. Robert Heinlein wrote, ‘An armed society is a polite society.’ It turns out he was correct. We have a very low number of home break-ins. Criminals don’t know if they’ll find a gun behind the closed door. Many have. Let us tell you, nothing cuts down on crime more than stories about criminals getting their butts shot off trying to break in someone’s home.”

Wolf asks, “Defend your homes from whom?”

“The LSA for one.”

“That’s crazy; the LSA would never invade the USA. We don’t even have a military. We’re the most peaceful nation on the planet.”

“Wolf, President Bloomberg would be happy to take over the USA if he thought he could get away with it. He is like most politicians who are power hungry.”

“How can you say that?”

“Just look at the number of laws you’ve passed to control every aspect of your people’s lives.”

Getting angry, Wolf responds, “We don’t control them, we help them. We pass laws to provide and protect our people.”

Carol responds, “Wolf, if censoring everything a citizen writes or says, if watching every citizen and controlling what they eat is your idea of protection, I’ll be happy to accept some risk.” Bob nods his agreement. With that, Leon, riding his bike, comes up the driveway, he jogs into the living room saying, “I’m sorry I’m late. I kind of got held up at a friend’s house.”

Bob looks at his son, he says, “Leon, next time I suggest you wash your face. You have lipstick all over it.”

Leon turns bright red and dashes off to the bathroom. When he returns he says, “Sorry about that, all better now. Girls, I’m not going steady or anything so check out my FB page.”

Carol frowns saying, “Leon, we’ve discussed this. This program isn’t for you to use to locate new girlfriends.”

“Mom, I was just reminding everyone that I quickly accept friend requests, nothing else.”

Bob responds to his son, “Leon, enough. I don’t want to find out you’re using your FB page for hook ups.”

“Dad…”

“Leon, just drop it. We’ll discuss it later.”

Wolf says, “Hi Leon, how was school today?”

“It was great. I love being the center of attention.”

“Leon, I’m going to come with you tomorrow to speak with your principal.”

“Dad, NO, I’ll be fine. You don’t need to be late tomorrow.”

“Don’t worry about it, I’ll handle it.”

Wolf says, “Leon how far did you ride your bike this afternoon?”

“Only two miles. Not very far at all.”

Carol gave Wolf a dirty look, mentally telling him to cease this line of questioning.”

Sean, picking up on the nonverbal discussion said, “Leon, how’s the practice coming?”

“Mr. Sean, really good, coach thinks we can make it all the way to the state finals this year. We got a couple new players who moved into town. Only bad thing is coach wants us to practice Saturday mornings. I’ll lose half of my weekend.”

Sean says, “Leon, if you want to win, you have to practice hard. You have to sacrifice.”

“I know, but I like to sleep in on Saturdays, now I have to get up even earlier than I do for school.”

Bob asks, “Do you want to be on the team?”

“Of course I do.”

“Then you have to pay the price for what you want.”

Wolf says, “This is one of the differences, our kids don’t play to win. Our children play to play.”

Carol frowns, “Wolf, we know, you’ve reminded us at least four times. I’d rather him not complain, but win. It’s good for him to learn to work hard for what he wants. We don’t believe in giving our children anything for free. We want them to earn what they get.”

Wolf asks, “Leon, do you have full access to Facebook?”

“Sure, I’m over 13. Mom made me wait until I was 13 to get my own page. You should see the number of friend requests I’ve gotten since this program started. I’m a real celebrity in school. Our school is very small, so I’m the biggest thing on campus. Everyone wants to be my friend. I love it.”

Sean says, “Leon, do you realize when the program ends, you will lose your celebrity status? You should make friends based on more reasons than you being on television. Trust me I know.”

“Mr. Sean, I’m only 14, this feels like the best thing that ever happened to me. Before the program Rachel never even acknowledged I was alive, now she wants to be my girlfriend. I tried to get her to go out with me for months; she acted like I didn’t exist. Now she’s chasing me, and she’s not the only one.”

“Leon, she may not act like that when the program ends. We don’t recommend you build a relationship on fame; it never works out. Take it from me, I know.”

Beth comes back into the living room with her dog, Holly.   “Do you know I’m going to enter my dog into a dog show in two weeks? I’m training her to follow instructions, like sit, heel and walk. She’s going to win, I just know it, she’s the cutest puppy around.”

Wolf says, “You even have contests for your pets?”

“Mr. Wolf, of course, we do. I’ve never gone to one before. I’m so excited. I know she’s going to win.”

“Beth don’t be upset if she doesn’t win; dog shows are very competitive.”

“She’s going to win, I just know it.”

“Beth, how do you know she’s going to win? How many dogs are going to be in the show?”

“It’s a show for first, second and third graders to show their pets at the playground. I think there are going to be 40 puppies.”

Carol says, “The school puts on a small dog show. They break it up by grades, so the youngest compete against each other. It’s the cutest thing you’ll ever see. Beth didn’t have Holly last year; this is going to be her first show.”

Wolf asks, “Carol, don’t you think she’s a little young to be entering competition?”

“No, it’s a good way for her to learn to be responsible. She’ll learn what needs to be done to win. Its hard work, we think she will do good; that is if she doesn’t drive me crazy trying to give Holly a bath every day. This morning I found her trying to give Holly a shower, she didn’t like it at all.”

“Beth or Holly?”

“Holly, she wanted out of the bathroom as quickly as possible. It was really funny watching Holly take off trying to shake all of the water off of her, all those wrinkles, and all while Beth was chasing her. I think she got two rooms soaked.”

Sean is laughing, while Wolf looks like he missed something important.

Wolf asks, “Leon, do you have an idea of what you want to do after school?”

“Mr. Wolf, I want to go to a good college on a sports scholarship and be a pro athlete, they get all the pretty girls, and they make a lot of money, they all have the best cars.”

Wolf says, “Leon, money isn’t everything.”

“Mr. Wolf how much do you earn a year?”

“Son, that’s not a polite question to ask.”

“Dad, since he’s a reporter on TV, he must be earning a lot of money so how can he say money isn’t everything.”

Bob and Carol laughs. Wolf’s face darkens, Sean covers his mouth trying not to break out laughing.

Leon continues, “Well it’s true.”

Bob responds, “Leon, it’s not polite, but it’s a good question. I suggest we drop it.”

“OK Dad, sorry if I stepped into a minefield.”

“It’s OK, no worries. Let’s continue, why don’t you explain the real reason you want to be a pro?”

“Sure Dad. I love sports. I think I could play like they do on TV.”

“Leon, what sport are you the best in?”

“Baseball. This year I’m hitting .405 which means I’m getting a hit about 40% of the time I come to bat.”

Sean asks, “Leon, won’t the other teams intentionally walk you?”

“That’s one of the new rules; the coaches got together to ban intentional walks this year and next, they think it will make the games higher scoring and more exciting, bringing more people to watch the games.”

“Has it been working?”

“Yes, for our last game last year, we had almost full stands.”

Wolf interrupts Sean asking, “Leon, you’re only 14, don’t you think you’re putting too much pressure on yourself?”

“Mr. Wolf, no I don’t. If I want to make it as a pro, I have to practice and practice. I know I have to work very hard to make it. I’ve decided this is really something I want to try for. Dad is going to hire me a special coach for one-on-one training in the spring to help me improve.”

“Leon, will your school allow you to play after having a private coach?”

“Yes, why wouldn’t they? It makes me a better player.”

“I meant the other teams.”

“It’s none of their business how we train. We don’t know if they have private trainers, if they do, all the best to then; we’ll still beat them. Our team has the best coach. We’re going all the way to the finals this coming season.”

Sean says, “Leon, I wish you all the best and I hope that one day I can watch you play in the majors.”

Smiling ear to ear, Leon says, “Thank you Mr. Sean, I hope so too. A last minute note, remember my Facebook page. Befriend me, and I’ll accept. We can chat online. I’m going to do my homework now.”

Beth says, “Is it my turn again?”

Sean says Beth what do you want to do when you grow up?”

“I want to be a fashion designer. I want to make pretty dresses for everyone. Everyone should have a pretty princess dress.”

Wolf says, “Beth, I like the way you think, yes, everyone should own a fancy princess dress. By that, I mean everyone.”

“Mr. Wolf, not boys, that’s silly.”

Beth climbed off the love seat; she looked under the bookcase saying, “Holly, come on, let’s go outside.”

“Whoa Beth, isn’t it too late for you to be going outside by yourself?”

“I’m not alone; I have Holly to keep me company. She has to pee.”

Chapter 17

The program launches another international debate, ‘how young is too young to allow children to go outside by themselves?’ Many come to Beth’s aid reminding posters that she did have her dog with her, and it wasn’t like there was no one else outside. There were other people, plus the broadcast station’s production truck parked in front of the Jones’s home. People in the LSA are adamant that no young child should be allowed outside by themselves for any reason. They claim there’s always danger waiting for young children around every corner. The USA is split; half post that Beth was perfectly safe while the other half say she could have run into trouble. The debate adds fuel to the fire that is growing in the USA that maybe, just maybe, the LSA is better positioned to protect their children.

Every television, computing device, and communications device suddenly go blank; the blank screens are replaced a dot of bright white light, which forms the mask of Anonymous. “Citizens of the USA and LSA you are being lied to. The images from the LSA are not the real images of life in the LSA. Life in the LSA isn’t about puppies and government control. Allow us to show you the real everyday life in the LSA that is much different than what you see at the Smith household. Let’s look at a store just five blocks from the Smith home.” The image changes to show people standing in a line that goes around a store. Many of the people in line are standing, some are sitting, and few are wearing backpacks while others are holding large 50 gallon plastic bags. “Do you have any idea why these people are standing in line? Some of these people have been in line for 24 hours. Think, what would make you stand in a line outside for 24 hours?” There’s a long pause while a camera scans the line of people waiting in the unmoving line. The camera focuses on the people’s faces, which are blank and emotionless. “These people are waiting in line for right to purchase an ordinary household product that those in the USA and most of the rest of the world take for granted. These people are waiting in line for toilet paper. Yes, toilet paper. Paper products of any kind are in very short supply in the LSA. Napkins, toilet paper, paper towels, even notebooks and children’s drawing paper are in short supply. These are just an example of the shortages that are an everyday fact of life in the LSA.” The displays show lines that stretch around other stores. Lines around gas stations are also shown. Lines are shown that stretch from fresh water trucks. The voice of Anonymous continues, “The central government of the LSA says that the manufacture of paper has been proven to create water, and air pollution. Paper also is a major cause of alarm at landfills that cause land pollution. The western areas of the LSA are short of clean water, the creation of pulp uses hundreds of thousands of gallons of fresh water which is in short supply, the manufacture of paper pulp also generates polluted water which is expensive to clean up. As such the manufacture of paper is strictly controlled by the LSA EPA, which has broad regulatory powers. Refining gasoline also creates pollution, so its production is also limited. The LSA is trying to outlaw and ban all gasoline powered vehicles. All new vehicles are electric powered. The LSA EPA has gone house to house confiscating collector cars; they have confiscated entire collections of rare collector and antique cars.” Displays pan showing lines of people holding empty shopping bags. “Fresh meat is always in short supply; many groups in the LSA have forced the passage of laws that put restrictions on how an animal is killed. The laws state that no animal may feel any pain, each animal has to be sleeping or injected with drugs that render the animal free of any sensation. The cost of fresh meat has increased so much that most families can’t afford it. There are little known animal laws in the LSA which are: animals have to be a certain age before they are killed; animals have to be fed a certain type of food which also limits the production of gas and limits the amount of solid waste generated from the animals; hogs and cows are limited in number which reduces the amount of meat available and increases the cost of meat. Animals can’t live their lives in cages or pens they have to be allowed to run free; each animal has to have a minimal amount of space to roam which further increases the cost to raise animals. Many in the LSA claim that animals are a major cause of global warming so the number of animals are strictly controlled. Farms aren’t allowed to have anyone under the age of 18 work on them, even if their children of the farmers, further increasing the costs of producing food.

“Most products made from plastic are also strictly regulated with limited production. Plastic doesn’t break down. All forms of plastic wrap are outlawed in the LSA. Pause and think about products made from plastic, the first one that comes to mind is the ordinary toothbrush. Yes, the toothbrush which is used by everyone. Clear plastic food wrap is outlawed; plastic cases for almost every product are outlawed. Most new consumer electronic products are made without plastic. Their cases are made from metal or a new type of spin molded cement.

“The citizens of the LSA have to spend days standing in line for the goods most of the rest of the world takes for granted.

“While the LSA shows off their plastic family, they hide behind the bullshit propaganda of global warming and pollution so their citizens do without. The average life in the LSA is much different than what you’re seeing on this program. We’ll now return your stations to their normal program. Remember, what their showing you isn’t the truth.”

Seconds pass like hours as the screens on everyone’s devices return to their normal programs. People are wondering which version of the LSA is correct. Is the Smith family or the lines of people waiting on long lines to purchase a roll of toilet paper the real LSA?

Millions of posts flow across the internet defending both viewpoints.

Jason and Sharon are overwhelmed by the phone calls, emails and tweets asking them which story is correct. A PR aide to President Bloomberg visits them to guide them what to say to those who question the program and/or their lifestyle in the LSA. Senior officials at Wolf and CNN discuss the situation, neither knows what the correct story is. Calls to President Bloomberg aren’t returned causing the networks to question if they’d been set up.

Sean calls Wolf’s cell, “Wolf, Sean here, before we continue planning the next episode, can you shed any light on what Anonymous showed versus the program we’ve been showing?”

“Sean are you going to believe what I tell you?”

“Of course I will.”

“OK, the answer is, it’s very complicated, in a manner of speaking, both are correct.”

Sean is caught flatfooted; he didn’t expect that answer. He was expecting Wolf to back the program and say Anonymous was full of shit.  Wolf told Sean both were true. Sean is thinking, “How can both be true?”  Sean doesn’t respond for a long time forcing Wolf to ask,

“Sean, are you still there?”

“Yes, I’m here, I’m trying to figure out what you just told me, I’m trying to figure out which sections of which story are true.”

“Why don’t we advance the time of our flight and I’ll show you what you want to see.”

“I like that, what time do you want to meet at the airport?”

“Can you round up the team in an hour?”

“Yes, the team is waiting for my call, we can at the FBO terminal in an hour.”

“I’ll see you there.”

Ending the call, Wolf places an urgent call to President Bloomberg asking for advice.

“President Bloomberg’s office.”

“This is Wolf, ID number WB0976532ZX; I would like to speak with the President.”

“One moment please while we check your ID. It’s confirmed. The President said if you called to inform you, he will contact you at 3PM today, you are to be in a location where you can take the President’s call and engage the secure mode on your phone.”

“I will be on a plane at that time, is there another time we can speak?”

“Sir, my instructions are to pass along to you a message, President Bloomberg is currently tied up and can’t be interrupted. May I inform the President that you will comply with his request?”

“Yes you may.”

Wolf disconnects his call to the Gray House and places a call to the fixed base operations at the Raleigh, North Carolina airport. When connected he asks, “Hello, this is Wolf, is our captain available?”

“Sir, the captain, is at the main terminal filing your flight plan, he got your message you and Sean requested to take off early today, he left a message in case either of you called to say the plane would be ready to leave on time.”

Knowing he’s screwed himself, he thanks the FBO manager and disconnects the call thinking, “I’m going to have to take the President’s call while on the plane while also finding someplace I can speak with the President in private. Where the hell on an airplane can I speak with him in private?” Wolf decides to ask the flight attendant when he boards.

Sean’s phone rings while he’s enjoying a second cup of coffee, “Hello, this is Sean.”

“Sean, please hold for President Paul.”

“Yes sir.”

“Sean?”

“I’m here Mr. President. What can I do for you?”

“I’d like you to see if you can get to the bottom of which side of the LSA is real.”

“Sir, I’ve given this a lot of thought, I think both are correct.”

“Can you please explain your reasons why you accept both sides?”

“Sir, we’ve been given full access to the Smith’s home and lives, there’s very little they do we haven’t seen or know about. On the other hand, we’ve never discussed shopping or shortages, as such I think both are real, we haven’t heard about shortages or shopping simply because we didn’t ask. Their television set was right in front of us; we never gave a second thought to what it was made from. We didn’t recognize the brand, so we asked, as to the composition of the case we didn’t think about it. Same with plastics, we didn’t go looking through their house for differences in appliances. Their bathrooms are always stocked with toilet paper, so we never gave it a thought. I guess the government stocked them up with extras since we and our broadcast crew would be in the house and we know the government gave Sharon permission to buy additional food to offer us snacks.”

“How do you plan on getting to the bottom of the question?”

“Mr. President, first I plan to ask Jason and Sharon, next I’m going to ask our driver to show us more of the town. I’m also going to start interviewing the Smith’s neighbors, I’m sure at least one may tell us something. Sir, did President Brownstone leave you contact information he used to reach Anonymous?”

“No, he didn’t. That’s a good point. He had the means to contact them; I’ll reach out to ask him directly if he can help me get in touch with them. Maybe they have more material recorded.”

“Sean, if the video Anonymous showed is true, we’ll have won a major PR victory over LSA. There’ll be no place President Bloomberg will be able to hide once the world sees the real result of twelve years of progressive rule. When are you heading back to the LSA?”

“As soon as I reach the airport, within half an hour.”

“Sean, be careful, I’m sure their DepLIES will be watching everything you do and say.”

“I’m always careful Mr. President.”

“Thank you, I’ll be watching tonight, along with 200 million others.”

“Yes sir, thank you sir.”

“Sean, you’re doing a good job. Keep it up. Have a safe trip.”

“Thank you Mr. President.”

The call disconnected. Sean thought to himself, “I bet both are true, if so I feel sorry for Sharon and Jason having to spend so much time waiting in lines.”

@@@@@

“Ron, thank you for agreeing to meet with us.”

“I didn’t think I had a choice, what do you want?”

“The same as you’ve always wanted, to protect our people and keep them safe. Isn’t this what you spent the last thirty years of your life doing? We’re sure you’ll want to help us keep our people safe.”

“I thought you people saw and heard everything that happened with your people.”

“We don’t comment on security issues. Would you please take us through what you saw when you and your lovely wife, her name is Beverly isn’t it, saw when you exited the hotel into the uprising?”

“Are you indirectly threatening me by telling me you know who my wife is?”

“No, we never indirectly do anything. If I wanted to threaten you, I would just do it.” Smiling, the DepLIES captain pulls up a chair to sit across from Ron. “I have all the time in the world to listen to you, however I understand you’re on a tight schedule, so the quicker you begin, the quicker you can return to your wife and enjoy the time you have left.”

“What are you even doing operating in the USA?”

“Since so many of our people visit Las Vegas, we have a handshake agreement with the LVMPD and your Department of Defense. Would you like a glass of water or cup of coffee?”

“Coffee please, where do you want me to start?”

“In the beginning.”

“1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters…”

SLAP, a gloved hand struck Ron across his right cheek. “Stop the bullshit, you know what I meant. It’s not a good idea to piss me off.”

“You have no authority here.”

“If you want to test that theory, then continue the bullshit. The chief of the LVMPD will be here very quickly to chat with you.”

“I suggest you at lest get him on the phone for me to speak with.”

“OK, you asked for,” Dialing a portable phone, Ron hears the captain say, “Chief, I’m sorry to bother you, our special guest doesn’t want to cooperate and he seems to think we have no authority here. Would you mind speaking with him, ask him to answer our questions.”

The captain hands Ron the handset, “Hello?”

“Ron, this is Chief Graveson, LVMPD, you would be doing me a real favor in answering the captain’s questions. I promise you, as soon as you answer their questions you will be returned to your hotel unharmed and with a prepaid debit card with $5,000 credit on it.”

“You’re paying me to cooperate with them?”

“Not me, not the LVMPD, the LSA will be paying you.”

“How do I reach you if they decide to try to harm me?”

“Place the call on speaker.”

Ron clicks on the speaker for the audio output the chief says, “Captain, I’d like Ron to be able to hold the handset and have the ability to contact me directly in case he feel threatened. Will you agree to this request?”

“Of course. Ron, keep the phone, the speed dial to the chief is number 2. Just place your finger on the number 2 and hold it there for a count of three, the phone will dial the Chief’s private phone. Is this acceptable?”

“Yes it is. Thank you.”

“Chief, thank you.”

“Ron, shall we get started now without the smart ass comments?”

“Captain why do you want my comments?”

“Because as a police officer for thirty years, we think you may have seen something that we missed. Will you agree to help us catch whoever harmed our people?”

“Do you plan to take revenge on USA soil?”

“To be honest, I don’t know yet. If we learn anything new from you, we’ll discuss it with the chief before we take action.”

Laughing, Ron replies, “I’m sure you will, but OK, let’s get started. I assume you have the videos recorded from the various phones which the LVMPD collected at the scene?”

“Yes, which is how we know you were in the middle of the event.”

“Let’s start with you replaying the videos, I’ll try to give you my insights to what the videos show.”

“Sergeant, please start the videos.”

Ron starts expanding on the videos, he tells the sergeant to stop and start the videos, so he can point out various people and locations in the videos. After two hours the captain says, “Ronald, I was right, you have a trained eye. You added a lot of information we didn’t have. I’m sure you know you were recorded, one of my men called our contact at the LVMPD, the chief will be here in a couple of minutes; he thinks his people may be able to locate a couple of the people you pointed out.” As the captain is speaking the door opens, the chief of the LVMPD and to staff walk in, the chief holds out his hand to Ron saying, “Ron, I understand you helped, I wanted to thank you.”

“It’s my pleasure. Do you really think you can locate any of these people?”

“Yes, we thought we knew who started the violence, and who may have pulled the trigger, the videos didn’t show enough detail. You provided the missing pieces. I sent cars to collect three people; we should hear very soon if they were successful.”

The chief sits next to Ron pouring a cup of coffee when his cell rings, “Talk to me.”

Listening for a few minutes, the chief says, very good, book them and place them in separate cells, no one talks to them until I get there.”

Turning to Ron and the captain the chief says, “My people arrested three people you identified as people of interest. In most of the videos, only a hand or arm of one of the people can be seen. You might have led to the arrest of the trigger puller. If it turns out to be the trigger puller, you’ll be awarded the reward that currently stands at $50,000.”

“What? I didn’t know about the reward. I did this because you asked me to.”

The casino owners don’t like problems or violence at their front doors; it hurts their ‘take’ the reward is pennies to them.”

“Well, it’s not to me. I’m worried about my wife, is there a way to get a message to her?”

The chief laughs saying, “Ron she’s fine. When you agreed to cooperate with the captain, I gave her a prepaid gift card, I have two people keeping an eye on her, and she’s having a ball shopping. You’ll be with her in time for dinner that is at the Palm. Dinner is free so order anything you and Beverly want.”

“I may decide to visit Las Vegas more often.”

“If you do and are interested in a part or full time consulting job, call me. I can hook you up with any of the casinos who are always looking for people with law enforcement experience and know how to keep their mouths shut.”

“I’ll let you know.”

The captain says, “Ron, I’m sorry for the way we started off, sometimes we get a little carried away. It looks like you were the key that enabled the chief to arrest the trigger puller. If he did, I’m sure President Bloomberg will also want to reward you.”

“I just want to be with my wife.”

The chief says, “Come on; I’ll take you to her.”

Reaching the hotel, Ron is met at front door by the hotel manager who informs him their stay has been ‘comped,' Ron thanks him and shakes his hand. The chief thanks, Ron, he says, “Call me and let me know what you decide. You were able to reconstruct the scene in enough detail for us to break the case. Thanks.” They shook hands, Ron sees Bev walking towards him, she’s carrying five large shopping bags. “Honey, I did a little shopping while you worked.”

“Do I even want to know what’s in the bags?”

“Sure, I’ll tell you upstairs.”

The two walk towards the elevator arm in arm

The captain watches them walk away, the hotel manager says, “Do you think they’ll return here to work for you and the chief? Is he really as good as the chief said?”

“I hope he decides to return, he’s better than we thought. He surprised us when we learned he has almost perfect photographic memory. He can remember almost everything he’s seen and heard. His memory gave us the information we needed to break the case.

“How much is their vacation cost us?”

“Us? Nothing, their bill is being picked up by the casino owners who want him to return. We have been having too many issues with people sneaking out of the LSA, either to ask for asylum or to cause trouble. We need experienced people before the crime wave grows into a tidal wave or the people sneaking in cause President Bloomberg to take the wrong kind of notice of us.”

@@@@@

The broadcast crew is settled back in their seats for the six-hour flight across country. Today, the flight is very bumpy, they are fighting a 100MPH headwind which is going to cause them to be late. At 3:00 PM EST Wolf’s phone rings, “Hello, this is Wolf.”

“Please hold for President Bloomberg.”

“Wolf are you there?”

“Yes sir.”

“What’s the background noise that the mic isn’t able to cancel out?”

“Sir, I’m on the broadcast plane headed to Oregon.”

“In that case just listen. I’m very upset; I want to know how Anonymous got the videos of our people standing in line, how they got some of our production numbers and what products are in short supply. I know that this evening’s program is going to spend a lot of time discussing this issue. I have sent DepLIES officers to stock the local stores close to the Smith’s home, fully. When Sean asks Sharon to go shopping; I want you to agree happily. The viewers will see nothing but full shelves and happy shoppers. All of the shoppers will be agents, families and staff from the DepLIES. This will put doubt on the Anonymous video. The Smith’s will back up what we show the world. Since you can’t freely speak, if you have any questions text them the following number, 555-666-5555, can you remember it?”

“Yes.”

“Good, Wolf, don’t blow this, we’ve gone to get effort to discredit Anonymous. I want you to rub Sean’s face in their lies and propaganda.”

“Will do.”

“Good, have a good flight.” Click

Wolf looked at the phone in his hand wondering how the DepLIES is going to clear all of the stores of the local people and replace everyone from the clerks, cashiers, shoppers even the stock people, to DepLIES employees. He didn’t worry what would happen if a local person slipped in. He also wondered if the Smith children would say something. He wondered if he should try to arrange to leave Scott and Sissy home. He knew they wanted as much airtime as possible. He’d try to speak with Jason and Sharon in private. Before he can think of anything else, the airplane hits a pocket of dense air shaking the entire airplane, he’s knocked off his feet. The pilot announces everyone has to take their seats and buckle their seat belts. He tells everyone not to get up until he signals its all clear. Anyone injured should touch their call button over their seats. Three call lights signal, Wolf worries about those injured, he hopes none is seriously hurt. If they are, the airplane may have to land which would delay the program. If the program is delayed, all of the preparations President Bloomberg set in place will be wasted. Before Wolf can do anything the airplane pitches to the left, goes up, and the nose pitches down dropping any foolish enough to be out of their seats to be knocked down. Two additional call lights chime signaling additional people are injured Wolf makes it back to his seat, where he finds Sean with a serious look on his face.

“Wolf, we have problems, we’ve got a number of our crew injured, I think we’re going to have to land at Denver to get our people medical treatment, if we do, tonight’s program is going to have to be delayed or postponed. I’ve tried to contact headquarters to alert them. However, my phone isn’t working is yours?”

“It was just a few minutes ago; I’ll try to reach our offices.”

Chapter 18

Sean asks the flight attendant, “Are there any of our crew seriously injured?”

“I’m sorry to say, there are two seriously injured; one hit their head on the overhead luggage compartment, the airplane dove, he wasn’t buckled in. The other appears to have a broken arm; a computer case fell out of the overhead landing on her arm. It snapped her forearm. The pilot says he’s going to make an emergency landing at Denver so your crew can receive the needed medical treatment.”

Wolf says, “Can’t we continue and get them medical treatment in Oregon?”

The flight attendant says, “You’d want your people to suffer just so you can keep your schedule? The pilot has been in touch with your corporate offices who have agreed with the pilot’s plan to divert. The pilot will see both of you as soon as he has spoken with flight control in Denver.”

Wolf thinks to himself, “There goes President Bloomberg’s plan, I wonder how they're going to fill tonight’s time slot? I need to get a message to the President. How do I do that without alerting Sean?”

The pilot leaves the cockpit to meet with Sean and Wolf, “Gentlemen, I’m sorry to have to inform you that due to the rough air we are going to have to divert to Denver. Two of your people have serious injuries; we should be landing at Denver in one hour. I need to have the ground crew inspect the airplane to ensure we didn’t damage the plane. I’m sorry. However, we won’t meet your broadcast schedule for this evening’s program. If the airplane didn’t sustain any damage, we should be able to leave in two or three hours after landing.” Before the pilot can continue he’s paged to return to the cockpit. Upon entering the cockpit, he notices the red warning light on engine one. “Scotty, what’s going on?”

“Dan, fire in engine one, I’ve declared an emergency to Denver tower, they’ve given us a direct in path and have cleared the runways for us.”

“Have you noticed any other damage?”

“Not yet, we’ve lost airspeed due to the loss of engine one.”

Sitting down and strapping into to his seat the pilot says, “Scotty, I’ve got the plane, instruct the flight attendants to prepare the passengers for a potential crash landing. Denver has informed us they have 25knot cross winds which will make the landing a little interesting.”

“Dan, how bad are the two injured passengers?”

“Not life threatening, however, they need medical attention as soon as possible.”

“Are the network bigwigs OK with us diverting?”

“They don’t have a choice do they?”

“Is this going to have an impact to our contract?”

“No, I discussed the situation with both of them, they understand, they want their staff taken care of. They told me not to worry about the program, they have enough pre-recorded video to carry them for tonight. I think they plan on Sean and Wolf opening the program from one of their Denver stations.”

“As long as they don’t cancel our contract. We’re making great money flying the production crew back and forth across the country.”

“Scotty, make sure everyone is ready, I’m going to start our descent.”

The descent is very bumpy. Overhead compartments open, baggage falls out, a drink cart breaks loose and rolls down the aisle towards the cockpit door. The cart picks up speed as it travels towards front of the airplane. A couple of the production crew try to grab the cart, however, the cart is moving too quickly and is too heavy for the passengers to stop while seated and buckled in. The cart slams into the cockpit door. The shock surprises the pilot and copilot who jerks the controls, pushing the airplane’s nose down speeding up their descent. The speed alarm screams in the cockpit, the airplane is hard to control on a single engine, the pilot finally gains some control, however not enough to make a controlled landing. The airplane slams into the runway breaking the nose landing gear. The airplane makes a sharp right hand turn into the grass bordering the runway. When the airplane finally comes to a complete stop, the flight attendants open the doors, deploying the emergency slides. They start sending the passengers down the slides. Ambulances, fire trucks and other emergency vehicles are racing to reach the plane which has smoke coming out of the second engine. The flight attendants push the passengers to get away from the plane as quickly as possible. Sean slides down to the ground where he is helping the crew get away from the plane, he helps the injured; he uses his sports jacket to make a sling for the crewperson with the broken arm, he helps her walk to safety. Wolf ran from the airplane. He looks around for Sean and sees him helping the crew; he starts toward the broken airplane when a DHS vehicle pulls up telling him to get inside.

Emergency vehicles circle the broken airplane; some are spraying foam into both engines, and others are trying to get the passengers to safety and into ambulances. Armed Denver airport police circle the airplane to keep the media away from it. The airlines send a car to pick up the pilot and copilot for questioning.

In Washington, DC, the presidents of both Wolf and CNN watch the scene from their local reporters, they jointly agree to run prerecorded footage tonight while also showing the airplane crash landing so their millions of viewers understand why the regular programing is delayed. Randolph tells John, “We have two injured crew people, the rest seem to be OK, Sean and Wolf are fine. Some of our equipment is ruined from the crash.”

“Do we know what caused the crash?”

“Yes and no. By that I mean they lost an engine in very rough air. Three of our crew were injured; the pilot decided to divert to Denver, which was having powerful crosswinds that struck the airplane. Since the plane had only a single engine they had issues controlling their descent, they came down hard, hard enough to break the landing gear. The pilot and copilot are giving statements to the FAA and the NTSB, we’ll be forwarded a copy. The NTSB told me, it’s a miracle they didn’t crash and kill everyone. I think we ought to throw our support behind the crew, so the company doesn’t fire or bench them. This is the flight crew I want flying our people.”

“I agree. Let’s place a joint call to their chairman. We can tell him we’ll toss in some discount advertising.”

“I agree.”

@@@@@

At 8:00 PM 256 million families tune into the fourth episode of the Smiths and the Joneses to see Sean and Wolf standing in a different sound stage. Wolf kicks off the program by saying, “Ladies and gentlemen as you can see we’re not at the Smiths this evening. You may have seen the news reports of our airplane crash in Denver today. Frankly, none of us, except for maybe the pilot and copilot, thought we were going to make it. We had a couple injured crew members. The pilot decided they required immediate medical treatment, so he diverted to the closest airport which was Denver International. We’d already lost one engine; on landing the airplane was hit by powerful crosswinds which tossed the airplane around. We came down very hard injuring a few more of our broadcast crew. We broke part of landing gear; the airplane jerked right and went off the runway. All of our people will be fine. Here’s video of our crash and us using the emergency slides to leave the broken airplane. You can see the smoke pouring from the number one engine; you can see the airplane nose down. Here are pictures of the airport fire department spraying foam on the airplane to stop the fire from spreading.”

Sean picks up the discussion, “Since we weren’t able to make it to the Smiths, we decided to use some of our prerecorded video for this episode. We’ll return to our regular program when we next meet with the Smiths again. Our prerecorded video will attempt to show aspects of daily life in the LSA. These videos aren’t complete stories, think of them as brief views into a closed society. We hope these videos open discussions about what’s right and wrong.

“To start off our images, we’re going to start in a typical airport.” The images on the displays surrounding the hosts show the screening lines at the JFK international Airport in New York City. Sean provides the voice over to explain what everyone is seeing. “Here we see people waiting in a line to be screened for air travel, notice they are not allowed to have any carry on baggage except for a small pocketbook, which has to be clear so it can not only be X-rayed, but also easily seen into by everyone. The only electronic equipment allowed to be hand carried onto an airplane are smartphones that are controlled from the cockpit. The LSA has installed jamming devices in their airplanes. The pilot keeps the smart phones unusable until the flight reaches 10,000 feet. No incoming or outgoing calls are allowed to be made during the flight. Internet usage is allowed when the service is purchased from the carrier. The phones can also be used to watch movies and listen to music. When the flight starts descending, while it crosses below 10,000 feet the jamming device turns on forcing all of the phones to be automatically turned off. The only other electronic devices allowed to be used in flight are electronic e-readers that have their wireless ability jammed by the internal flight jamming device mounted in the cockpit. Computers, tablets, recording devices and cameras are all forbidden. Any banned devices found being used are confiscated by the flight crew. All such confiscated devices are not returned; the passenger who was caught using them are also fined $350.00 which has to be paid before the passenger can leave the terminal.

“Outside food is not allowed on flights that originate in the LSA. The reason behind this rule is, passenger carried on food might offend other passengers. For example, a passenger might bring a ham or bacon sandwich on board that would offend any Muslims on the flight. This follows the LSA policy of everyone is equal and not offending anyone. By the same token, no alcoholic beverages are served on LSA flights because alcohol might offend certain passengers, the abuse of alcohol might lead some passengers into becoming unruly and a potential risk to other passengers. Of course, smoking is forbidden as it is across the entire LSA. One unusual aspect of flying on an LSA charter air flight is the use of marijuana is allowed as long as the smoking light has been turned on by the pilot. If the pilot allows the use of marijuana on the flight, he or the copilot must be in an oxygen mask which supplies pure oxygen to the flight crew.

“Anyone not following the instructions from a flight attendant is usually removed from the flight and made to pay the cost for the flight to divert to another airport. Once a couple of flights were diverted due to unruly passengers who then were invoiced $25,000 for the airline’s additional costs, and they found they couldn’t fly to their destination because their names had been added to the no-fly list. These events were well publicized which shook up the flying public. No one wants to be fined and put on the no-fly list because within the LSA there’s no appeal to get off the list. Once on it, you’re banned from flying forever. The same procedures are also applied to subways and trains. The LSA TSA provides screening security for all of the country’s mass transit.”

Wolf interjects, “I know that some of these rules seem harsh. However, we’ve never had a hijacking or a terrorist use our mass transit system to attack us. We stop them before they can gain access to our airplanes, subways and trains. We take the security of our people and especially our children, very seriously. Our transit rules may seem a little harsh, but seen in the big picture, you’ll agree the best defense is a strong offense. We look at security as being on the offense against terror. We will not rest as long as there are threats against our children. Can the USA say the same?

“Let’s look at travel in the USA. The TSA has been disbanded. Airlines and airports are responsible for providing screening that meets the standards that were accepted by the airlines and the Department of Justice.   Airlines are allowed to set their own rules on what is acceptable for carry-on baggage; some airlines allow one bag, some up to three bags. Most types of electronic equipment are allowed on USA flights. Outside food is allowed, as is alcohol. Think about the potential insults to others who see passengers eating or drinking what some consider to be forbidden foods. These poor people will have been insulted because the passenger bringing on the food didn’t spend a minute considering the feelings of the other passengers. Most people in the USA don’t spend the time considering how their actions make others feel. This proves that in the USA people aren’t equal. Some are of a higher caste than others.

“You in the USA preach about the founding fathers who established a country that welcomed everyone. A country where everyone was equal, where there was freedom of religion, where people had the right to be armed, where slavery was outlawed, yet the government made slaves out of its people. The founding father’s dream turned into a nightmare for most people in America. Slavery tore the country apart, even after 160 years after President Lincoln freed the slaves. Most African Americans don’t share the same opportunities as whites; many opportunities aren’t even available to blacks. Racial tension runs very high in the USA. While in the LSA, we’ve broken the racial barrier by treating everyone equally. We’ve achieved in twelve years, what the USA hasn’t in over 260 years. Ask yourself which country is more advanced?”

Sean picks up on Wolf’s discussion, “Please do ask yourself which country is more advanced. The one that spies on you 24/7 and controls every aspect of your life, the one which has outlawed God and any expression of religion, the country where boys and girls use common rest and shower rooms? Like sports? Then which country allows sporting events to play until there is a winner? The country where you can’t bring your own sandwich onto an airplane? Yes, please do ask yourself in which country you’re free.”

Sean stands, shifting the images in the large display, “Let’s look at some other aspects of life in the LSA; the display shows street lamps with cameras under them recording everything in their sight. Lines of people waiting to purchase common items. Neighborhood watch groups that record unacceptable differences in house design, length of grass and even flowers which aren’t approved. Cars aren’t allowed to be parked on the street. Children aren’t allowed to bring homemade food to lunch, and most of all, parents don’t have the final say on how their children are raised. Let’s look at images of how children go to school, all wearing uniforms, all marching, all saluting President Bloomberg, doesn’t this remind you of Germany in the mid 1930’s? Notice the children wearing armbands and small rank tabs on their collars. Is the LSA raising children or a paramilitary group? When the LSA claims they don’t have a military is it because they’re molding a new military, their children?”

Sean shows images of the streets of Portland, Oregon, most of the cars look the same; he shows videos of parts of Portland experiencing brown and blackouts. Videos of the lights dimming and going out for hours at a time in different sections of the city, large square blocks go black. Videos of rolling blackouts in New York City and Boston are shown. “The LSA has closed all of their coal-fired power plants; they have closed all of their nuclear power plants; they haven’t issued permits to build a single new power plant in twelve years. The LSA is running out of electrical power in the name of global warming and reducing pollution. While President Bloomberg claims he’s saving the planet, the average temperature of the planet hasn’t risen in more than twenty years so why is he bringing harm to his own people? It’s all so the LSA government can have more control over their lives.”

Wolf shows images of race and class riots in the USA saying, “Is this freedom? Is this the equality the founding fathers envisioned?”

Sean jumps up saying, “Wait a minute, these videos are all over twelve years old; they are images of riots that the progressive government launched. Obsma’s DHS was behind these riots. This isn’t a fair view of what’s going on inside the USA today. I’d like everyone to notice that when the progressives can’t win with facts, they bend the rules and make up the facts to suit their position.”

Sean and Wolf try to outdo each other by flashing images of the other’s country. The images flash quicker and quicker; everyone watching is getting dizzy and confused when a voice cuts through the confusion. “Ladies and gentlemen, this isn’t a contest, this isn’t a sporting event nor is it a campaign to vote on who’s right and who’s wrong. The purpose of this program was to show the significant differences, not for our two beloved hosts to become the program. One of the events that harmed the country was when the reporters tasked with reporting the news decided they could create or be the news, this is what’s happening right now in front of all of us.” President Brownstone’s image fills the screen. He appears to look down on Sean and Wolf, saying, “I’m ashamed of both of you. You're both acting like children. I, and the 250 million viewers, expect more from the two of you. We expect you to have a limited debate, but not to try to take over the show. Everyone knows that each of you will do whatever you have to in order to defend your country. However, we expect you to present the facts in an analytical manner. I’d like to suggest we return to the core of the program and show some of the images recorded from each family.”

Both Sean and Wolf look at the President’s image on the screen, both hang their heads in shame; they’ve been caught with their hands in the cookie jar. President Brownstone treated them as he would a spoiled three-year-old; it worked; he broke their rapid back and forth and tit for tat. He got control of the program and returned it to the production goals of the program.

President Brownstone looked at both of the hosts, “Let’s review what we know, we know that the education system is different, we know that the word freedom means different things on each side of the divide. We know that the equality is different on each side of the divide. We know that parents love their children, they care about their children’s future; on one side the state has a much larger say in that future than on the other side of the divide. On one side of the divide, electrical power is in limited supply while on the other it’s in abundance. On one side, oil and gas are plentiful while on the other it’s in short supply. Both countries offer their citizens medical coverage; both countries are trying to improve the lives of their citizens, the key question to be asked is who should determine that future – the individual or the state? Let’s continue tomorrow with what was planned for tonight’s episode with the Smiths.”

Sean and Wolf nod in agreement; the screen fades to a commercial. The hosts turn off their on air microphones; President Brownstone looks down at the two of them saying, “I’m disgusted with both of you. You were acting like spoiled three-year olds. Shame on both of you. You’re not advancing your cause; you’re turning off both sides. I want you to clam down and get your shit together. Am I clear?”

Both Sean and Wolf nod yes.

“I can’t hear you.”

Both respond with, “YES, President Brownstone, we hear you and agree.”

“Good, now let’s discuss how we’re going to recover from the damage you did tonight.”

@@@@@

“Brad, I thought they were going to come to blows right on the screen. It’s a good thing President Brownstone stepped in and separated them.”

“Kathy, you’re right. I wonder if President Brownstone was listening and watching the entire time. I bet he was just in case things got out of control. I wondered what would happen if the two hosts allowed their views to tilt the program. I guess we now know the broadcast biggies had a major league umpire in reserve, who was going to turn down a verbal bashing from the President?”

“Sean and Wolf ended up looking like a pair of children.”

“Kath, they were acting like children fighting on the playground. I wondered how long the director was going to allow them to argue.”

“Just long enough to make them both look foolish.”

“I wonder what the surprises tomorrow will bring.”

“Brad, I guess we’ll have to wait until tomorrow evening to find out. Wait, tomorrow is Saturday, is the program on? With the extension into next week, I don’t know if there is an episode tomorrow.”

“I’ll check the guide online.”

“Well?”

“Kath, no good, the guide hasn’t been updated to show next week’s programs, we’ll have to wait to see if they make an announcement.”

“I hope they don’t make us wait ’til Monday.”

“Hey, have you heard from Ron and Bev?”

“No, they’re due back on Sunday, do you remember we promised to pick them up?”

“Of course I do, Ron’s my best friend, how could I forget?”

“Since you sometimes forget to set the coffee machine, I assume you could forget your name. You know now that you’re in your sixties, you could forget who I am.”

Grabbing Kathy, “You, I could never forget, want to see there’s still a few things I remember?”

“Thought you’d never ask.”

@@@@@

Ron explains to Bev everything that’s happened in the previous few hours. She responds, “Honey, what do you think? Do you want to move here and take the job?”

“I really don’t know. I’m retired, and I’m too young to sit in a rocking chair all day doing nothing. I need a hobby or something to occupy my mind.”

“If you want to move, I won’t stop you, I’ll go wherever you want to. I just hope this job will be safer than your previous one. I can’t tell you how many nights I didn’t get any sleep waiting for you to come home. I worried every time the phone rang in the middle of the night or you got involved in something that kept you away. I always thought the chief stayed in the office, yet you were on the street in the middle of every event all of the time.”

“Honey, a leader leads from the front, not from a desk at the station.”

“Ron, I know, I just worried all the time if you were going to come home or someone would ring our doorbell bringing me the bad news. I don’t think I can live through that again.”

“Bev, I understand, why don’t I call the chief and arrange a time tomorrow we can both talk with him. Would that make you feel better?”

“Yes, but it all depends on what he says and if he’s telling us the truth. While the real estate market has improved a little, if we manage to sell our townhouse and move, it’ll be almost impossible to move back. All of our cash will be invested in the new home. The Vegas market hasn’t responded as quickly. We could end up stuck here.”

“I know. I promise we’ll make this decision together with our eyes as open as possible.”

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”

Chapter 19

At 8:00 PM Saturday evening, 250 million people tune in to see if the fifth episode is going to be broadcast. Due to the broadcast crew’s flight crash landing at the Denver International Airport, the schedule was back one episode. Wolf and CNN couldn’t agree on what to broadcast Saturday evening. CNN wanted to broadcast pre-recorded data while Wolf wants to wait until Monday and then pick up with a new episode. Randolph made the case to let the public absorb the already broadcast programs, he suggested the two broadcasters allow everyone to absorb the information over the weekend. He suggested they kick off the new week with a brand new episode.

CNN can’t broadcast by themselves because of the agreement they signed with Wolf. The discussion goes back and forth up to 7:45 PM when Randolph won the argument to hold back broadcasting a new episode until Monday. Randolph also said the broadcast crew could use some rest, the two families could use a little breathing space, the public will be eager for new programs and will tune in on Monday in greater numbers further improving their rating numbers. The higher ratings swung the discussion with CNN. The two broadcasters agree to broadcast a review of the previous programs on Saturday. Both executives agreed to have Wolf and Sean make a short statement saying the Saturday evening program will be a review of the previous week with new episodes returning on Monday.

At the stroke of 8:00PM, both Sean and Wolf are sitting in the Denver studio. Wolf kicks off the program, “Good evening and welcome back to The Smiths and Joneses, Twelve Years after the Split. Most of you know we had to postpone our live program from last evening due to a small airplane failure. Airplanes don’t like to lose an engine and land in high cross winds. Sean and I are very happy that we don’t have to pay for the airplane! The pilot told us we broke it, so we have to buy it, turned out he was joking! They do have insurance, which is a good thing or we’d have to ask everyone watching to send us a donation.”

Sean continues, “We decided to replay some of the key segments from last week’s episodes tonight, we’ll return Monday at 8:00 PM with a new episode when we’ll be back in Beaverton, Oregon, with the Smith family. I know everyone is curious how Sissy’s new puppy is working out and how Scott is doing in school. On Tuesday, we’ll be visiting the Jones family to catch up with Leon and Beth. So without further delay, here’s the highlights of the previous three programs. We hope you enjoy the replay; we’ll return with you on Monday.”

The screen behind Sean and Wolf opens to show clips of the initial meetings with the two families.

Wolf and Sean unclip their microphones. They turn to face each other, Sean saying, “We got out of this mess. It took headquarters long enough to figure out what we were going to do tonight.”

Wolf responds, “Can you blame them? Given the ratings who would walk away from such high numbers?”

“I think it’ll improve our ratings next week. We’ve giving the viewers a quick overview, Sunday off, then we’ll return with a new program on Monday.”

“Are you planning on staying here over the weekend?”

“Wolf, no, I’m going to go home and take a day off. I’ll meet you in Oregon Monday morning.”

“Sounds good, I think I’ll head to LA for a day off.”

“See you Monday, let’s try to keep the airplane in the air this time.”

The two hosts walk off the sound stage; each walks in a different direction; each is trying to figure out whose side is coming across the best. Both hosts look forward to a day off to be with their families.

@@@@@

“Mom, I just heard from two of my friends that my counterpart in the LSA also plays sports.”

“Leon, we agreed not to watch the program until the live interview show between us and the Smiths. Why did you break our agreement?”

“Mom I didn’t, one of my friends told me. He said they don’t play to win in the LSA, what a total waste.”

“Leon, I’m not going to discuss this with you, I don’t want you to discuss the program with your friends. Do you understand me?”

“Mom, why? I don’t see anything wrong with me watching; it’ll give me a better insight in how Scott, my counterpart lives, it’ll allow me to think up good questions to ask him.”

“Leon, we don’t want to have knowledge of the other side when the broadcast crew is here on Tuesday. Your father and I asked you and Beth not to watch the program. Do I have to tell your father you broke your word? Remember, he told you if you didn’t behave, he wouldn’t allow you to play on your team for a month.”

“Mom, I promise. Remember, I didn’t break my word, I didn’t watch the program, a friend called me to talk to me about it.”

“Leon. Also, you were told to tell your friends not to discuss the program with anyone. Also, we don’t want you to continue to use the program to get dates.”

“Mom, come on, what else can I use my fame for?”

“Leon, you’re still very young, don’t use your fleeting fame for the wrong reasons. And before you have to lie to me, I know all about what some girls are offering to do with you. These girls aren’t offering you themselves because of who you are, they just want to use you.”

“It’s OK; I don’t mind being used this way.”

“Leon, your father and I will tell Sean and Wolf to cut your air time if you don’t cool it. Am I clear?”

Looking at his feet, Leon responds, “Yes Mom, I understand.”

“Leon don’t think you can lie to me. If you do something we told you not to do, there’s no way you’ll be able to hide it from us. We’ll see it on your face a mile away.”

“Yes Mom, please don’t tell Dad.”

“OK, jut remember, you owe me a big favor now.”

Gulp, “I understand.”

“Good, now go out and finish your chores before you go practice with your team.”

@@@@@

Randolph calls his head of technology, “Richard, it’s Randolph, do you have a minute?”

“Sir, of course, I’ll be right up.”

“Thank you, just knock and come in.”

A couple of minutes later, Richard knocks and enters Randolph’s office, “Hello sir, what can I do for you?”

“Can you rig an ultra small, stealth drone to see if we can capture our own video of people standing in lines in the LSA? While I have no reason to doubt the video Anonymous displayed, I’d like our own proof. If we fly anything the DepLIES can see, they’ll shoot it down and blame us. I’d like to capture our own video and use it as a surprise on air. Is this something you can put together and have ready to launch on Monday when the team returns to Oregon?”

Richard opens the small bag he’s carrying, “I thought you might be asking me for this, is this drone small enough?” Holding a drone the size of a paperback book in his hand he shows it to Randolph.

“You SOB, you were way ahead of me again. Is the drone coated in stealth material?”

“Yes sir, it's also got LED lights on it so in daylight it blends in with the background light. The dull stealth paint doesn’t standout so much when the LEDs are on.”

“How long can it fly?”

“Due to its small size, it doesn’t pack a lot of fuel; it does use solar cells on the top to charge its onboard batteries which power its small engine, since it’s an electric engine, it’s totally silent. I’ve flown it for two hours.”

“What happens if it comes down where it shouldn’t?”

“It can be set on fire destroying all of the parts that would point it back to us or anyone in the USA.”

“Is it hard to control?”

“No, my eight-year-old can control it.”

“Good, get it to the broadcast crew.”

“Sir, they’ll have to pick the right time to launch it, so the CNN crew doesn’t have any idea what’s going on. We designed the drone so it can be left on the side of the road and launched after the trucks and buses leave.”

“Let’s give it a try. Our goal is to get our own proof of the shortages.”

“Sir, I understand.”

@@@@@

The country spends Sunday reviewing the previous week. Every Sunday morning news and interview program discusses the program. Many say the LSA has made more progress than they or anyone thought they would. Many of the commentators invited by the networks say of the two countries, the LSA has done a better job and has advanced further and quicker than the USA. These people point to the protections given to the nation’s children, the respect for equality, the lack of race issues and the spirit the people in the LSA seem to share. When asked about the video, Anonymous showed, almost every “talking head” dismisses the video as one made by the mysterious group. Why would there be long lines waiting for everyday goods when the LSA has advanced so quickly. Pollution has been reduced, global warming gases reduced, dependence on fossil fuels has been cut by 85%. Most of the “talking heads” agree the LSA has performed a miracle.

On the other side of the coin, the opposite side says the LSA has progressed into a socialist nation, everyone works for the government, freedoms known and loved in the USA are gone. The government can arrest anyone if they think they have cause to suspect someone is against the greater good of the LSA. The government can have anyone arrested for anything at any time.

Neither side agrees with the other. The average person in the USA is surprised how progressive and like communism the LSA has become. Many are shocked at the depth the central government has worked its way into the average lives of their people.

Each side agrees that they need to see and learn more before any final decision can be made. One issue that pops up is the school situation in the LSA. Many parents in the USA are upset over the co-ed gym classes. The majority of parents in the USA said they would not send their children to school if their school adopted such a program.

@@@@@

For one of the only times in history, most people are happy to see Monday dawn. Most count the minutes until 8:00 PM so they can catch up with the program,

Sean welcomes everyone back to the program, “Good evening, thank you for joining us again. We’re sorry about the delay in our broadcast. Tonight we’ve returned to the Smith home. As you can see, Sissy is sitting on her front stoop holding her new puppy, Rebel. Last week, we learned that Rebel wasn’t house trained, we’re about to see if Sissy was able to make any progress or is that’s why she’s sitting on the front stoop.”

Wolf walks up to Sissy, “Honey, how’s Rebel?”

“Mr. Wolf, she's not a good puppy. We’re out here because Rebel was chewing on Mommy’s shoes. She got real angry, then Mommy stepped in a puddle Rebel did in Mommy’s bedroom. She told me to take my dog outside and teach her how to do her business out here. I don’t know what to do; I don’t know how to teach her.” Sissy starts crying, “Mr. Wolf, please help me, I don’t want to lose my puppy.”

“Sissy, I’ll tell you what, there are pee pads that help teach your puppy where to go, do you have one?”

“No, Mommy said she doesn’t want to stand in line to buy anything new for my puppy. If I want something, it has to wait until her normal shopping day or Daddy has to get it for me. I asked him, but he said he’s busy and doesn’t want to wait in line. Will you take me to the store?”

“Sissy, we have a story to do today, how about I ask one of our crew to go to the store for you. Can you tell us where the pet store is?”

Sissy stops crying; she starts jumping up and down; she puts Rebel down, and grabs Wolf’s leg hugging him “Oh thank you Mr. Wolf. You go to the food store; a pet store is in the back of the food store, you can’t miss it. It has pictures of animals on the windows. Usually the line at the food store goes to the back of the store, if it does, you’ll see the pet store. Do you really think you can get me the things to teach Rebel?”

Wolf is hoping that most didn’t hear or pickup on Sissy’s comments about the line at the food store. It’s something he was told to avoid and try to hide. President Bloomberg told him the stores had been stocked, so there shouldn’t be any lines. Wolf walks to the broadcast bus asking if anyone could do him and Sissy a favor. When Joan with the broken arm says, “I will”, Wolf asks her to find a pet store and pickup some items to help house train Rebel.

“Wolf, I’ll be happy to help.” Thinking it will make it easy to launch the drone.

Joan takes one of the cars to the food store. She stops along the way to check a tire and release the small stealth drone. She’s expecting to see a long line of people waiting to enter the store, she’s surprised to see no line, in fact she sees people rushing out of the food store holding bags full of fresh food and canned items. She thinks, Anonymous must have screwed the pooch on this one, these people look normal enough. She can’t see the drone but knows it’s flying around recording the scene. She wonders how Anonymous could have been so confused. Walking into the store, she notices the shelves are full, as items are purchased, stock people quickly fill the space, so the shelves always look full. Joan quickly realizes it’s a scam. No wonder the shoppers are racing through the store buying everything in sight, they don’t know how long the inventory will last. Joan finds the puppy training items in the pet aisle, as she’s placing them in her cart; a woman rushes past her looking into Joan’s cart. “Is that all you’re buying? Is something wrong with you? This is the first time I can remember when the shelves are full. If I were you, I’d be filling your cart with everything you can carry. Who knows when this will happen again?”

“Excuse me, are you saying this isn’t how the market usually looks?”

The stranger looks at Joan and laughs, “You must be a visitor here, where are you from?”

“Atlanta, Georgia. Why?”

“Oh, my word, you’re from the USA? What are you doing here? What do you want? Are you spying on us? I have to go. I can’t be seen talking with you. I’m sorry to have bothered you.” The stranger rushes away from Joan. She stops to whisper to a friend pointing at Joan. The other women in the store all avoid Joan who makes her way to the cashier who tells her, “That’ll be $129.75, how would you like to pay for it?”

“Do you take corporate visa cards?”

“Where is it from?”

“Wolf News Network.”

“Oh, you’re one of the broadcast people doing the interview show with the Smiths aren’t you?”

“Yes, Sissy got a new puppy and needs the supplies to train the pooch.”

The women in the store start asking questions about the behind the scenes issues and a couple try to whisper questions about life in the USA. The cashier whispers, “Do you have product shortages in the USA as bad as we do?”

Joan responds, “We usually don’t have any shortages.”

One of the women in line laughs saying, “Now I know you’re from the USA, you, like all of them, lie right to our faces.”

Joan responds, “I’m not lying, we don’t have shortages. Our stores usually end up giving away food.”

“You have fresh milk and meat every day?”

“Of course we do, don’t you?”

One of the women says, “Don’t say anything. Remember what we were told and warned about USA spies being placed in the broadcast crew. They’re trying to get us to say something that can show us in a bad light. She’s most likely recording everything we say and do. Get the USA spy out of here. We don’t want her here.”

A couple women also chant, “Get the spy out of our store, go spy on someone else, get out of here.” Some tried to get to Joan to push her out of the store when an officer with the LSA DepLIES walked into the store asking, “What’s going on here? It appears there’s a small riot starting. Need I remind you the penalty for rioting?”

One of the women steps forward, “Officer, it’s not us; this woman at the front of the line is a spy from the USA. She’s trying to set us up and record us saying or doing something they can use against us. We were trying to get her to leave our store.”

The officer approaches Joan, “Miss, papers?”

“I have my VIP visitor badge in my pocket, my I get it?”

“Yes, don’t move your other hand.”

Handing the officer the red edged ID card, Joan says, “Is this OK? May I leave now?”

Examining the ID card, the officer asks, “Why are you in this food store?”

“Officer, Sissy, the young daughter of the Smith’s, got a new puppy, she needs some help training the puppy, I offered to get them for her. She sent me to a pet store. However, I thought I might get a better price here.”

“You would have gotten the same price here or at the pet store. Prices are uniform no matter where you make a purchase in the LSA; it’s fairer and equal to all of our merchants. Did you try to record any of these women?”

“No officer, I only wanted to purchase the items for Sissy that she needed and return to the Smiths to help at the broadcast.”

“What’s your job on the program?”

“I’m an assistant sound engineer.”

One of the women can be heard saying, “Yeah, sure she’s an engineer. Since when are women, engineers? The best school openings are always given to men.”

The officer looks at the woman speaking, saying, “I don’t think I heard anything, did I?”

“No officer, I didn’t say anything.”

“Ms., do you require a ride back to the Smiths?”

“No thank you. I have one of the broadcast cars outside.”

“I’ll escort you to your car. I wouldn’t want any harm to come to one of our VIPs.”

When the two reach the car, they found the driver’s side window broken, everything that was on the seats are gone, as is the car’s radio. Joan stops saying, “Do you see this? Someone broke into my car. I had two briefcases in the back seat; there were tablet computers in those cases. There was also to smartphones and what happened to the car’s dash, where is the radio?”

“Miss, you must be mistaken, we don’t have street crime here like you do in the USA. By the way, did I hear you say, you left valuable items on the seats in plain view?”

“I left the briefcases on the back seat.”

“Miss, weren’t you warned that leaving valuables in plain sight is a crime in the LSA? You’re placing temptation in front of people who, due to their poor upbringing and poor education, aren’t responsible for their own actions. The only crime committed here was you leaving items in plain sight. I’m going to have to take you with me to the station.”

“Officer, wait a minute, I didn’t break into my own car. Someone broke in and stole our equipment, plus they damaged the car.”

“Miss, the only reason your car was broken into was because you placed temptation in plain sight. Someone, or a small group, saw what you left in plain sight; they couldn’t resist the temptation you placed in front of them. This is your fault. Even if we locate those who broke into your car, they will be released. Now I have to ask you to come with me to the station.”

“Don’t I get to make a call? I’d like to call Wolf or Sean to have them come help me.”

“You will be given your phone call after you are booked. I’ll have another agent come and bring your car to the station as it’s now evidence for the people against you.”

While the officer is speaking, two additional DepLIES cars pull into the parking lot, they have red and blue flashing lights on their roofs. Two officers’ exit the new cars, the most senior asks, “Probationary officer, what’s the problem here?”

“Sir, this woman is a VIP visitor from the USA, she is part of the broadcast team at the Smith home. She came to the store to purchase some pet supplies. While she was in the store, she left items of temptation in plain view, something she has admitted to, which I have recorded. I was in the process of arresting her when you arrived.”

“Let me look at the car in question.”

After checking the car, the area around it and the damage to the dash he asks Joan, “Madam, were you warned not to place items of value and temptation in plain view?”

“I might have been; I really don’t remember. I was just running a quick errand for Sissy. I didn’t intend to break any of your rules.”

“May I please see your visitor pass?”

“Here it is.”

Reviewing the Joan’s ID, the senior officer tells the junior officer, “Probationary officer, you did very well in taking this outside of the store and pressing your silent backup alarm. I’ll handle this from this point. I’ll sign a release in your electronic notebook that I’ll be taking over the case. I’ll also report to the captain you were very observant and on top of the issue.” Handing the senior officer his electronic tablet, he turns around and heads back to his security spot in the store.

The senior officer looks at Joan. “Miss, I’ll accompany you to the Smiths, my partner will follow us. I’ll explain to Wolf what happened. If he’s willing to take responsibility for you, no charges will be filed against you. I would suggest you follow all of our rules in the future.”

“Officer, can we ask Sean to take responsibility for me? I’m attached to his team.”

“Miss, I understand this. However, Wolf is a known entity among us, and Sean isn’t. I’m sure Wolf will understand and accept responsibility.”

“What does that mean here?”

“It means that he agrees to pay any fines you incur, he agrees to pay any costs incurred by those poor people who broke into the car, and he agrees to make sure you stay out of trouble while you’re in the LSA. If you get caught breaking any of our laws again, he will have to accompany you to court with you.”

“I see. OK, when do we leave?”

“Right now, you’re drawing attention that we don’t want.”

Unknown to the DepLIES officers the stealth drone has been recording everything since Joan exited the store. The small drone follows the two cars to the Smith home.

Pulling up in front of the Smith house, people on the street quickly leave the area, any time a DepLIES car or officer arrives, people want to be somewhere else. The officers escort Joan to the Smith’s front door. Jason opens the door, “Officer is there a problem?”

“ID, please.”

Jason hands his ID card to the officer, who asks Jason to press his thumb against his portable electronic ID tablet. Jason’s ID is confirmed. “Jason Smith, we’re bringing this woman back here, her ID says she is a VIP visitor assigned to a broadcast program taking place at your home. Do you recognize her?”

“Officer, yes, she is one of the sound engineers.”

“Thank you. Is Wolf here?”

“I’ll get him for you.”

Wolf is having a little makeup touchup performed when he’s alerted there’s a DepLIES officer asking for him. Wolf makes his way to the front door. “Officer, what can I do for you? Hi Joan, did you located the items for Rebel?”

“Yes sir, however I ran into a little issue with the DepLIES.”

“Officer, what happened?”

“Your engineer here left valuables in plain sight on the backseat of the car; she also left the radio concealment cover open, so a couple of poor, uneducated people were tempted, they broke into her car taking what she left in front of them. It isn’t their fault. They were tempted by her crime.”

“I see. Officer is there something we can do about this, we really need her on sight for the program.”

“I thought so, hence, if you’re willing to accept responsibility for her, we’ll leave her in your custody.”

“I accept your kind offer, here’s my ID, I’ll voice record my acceptance of responsibility for her.”

“Thank you. Please remind your people about our laws.”

“Officer, you can be sure I will. Is there anything else I can do for you?”

“Well, I hate to ask, however, would you mind taking a picture with me and my partner?”

“Officer, it would be my pleasure to, I’ll also electronically autograph the image for you and your partner, will that work?”

The officer smiles nodding his head.

@@@@@

Scott is watching the officer and Wolf from his upstairs room when Sissy comes in asking, “Scotty, what’s going on?”

“I don’t know, but seeing the officers are smiling, I think everything is going to be OK, I think the engineer lady got your puppy stuff, see she has a large bag of stuff with her.”

Sissy runs downstairs yelling, “Mr. Wolf; you got my training stuff for Rebel didn’t you?” Sissy runs to Wolf, hugging his leg. The officer takes a couple of pictures of them together. Wolf again thanks the officers for bringing Joan back to the house, when Sean exits the house asking, “What’s going on? What did I miss?”

Wolf says, “I’ll explain it later; we have to get ready to go on air. I suggest you remind your staff about the rules of the LSA. I’m not responsible for your sound engineer.”

“Huh? Joan, want to have a chat with me?”

“Sean may I just give Sissy the items Wolf asked me to get for her. I need to show her how to use them to train her puppy or Sharon is going to get rid of Rebel.”

“We don’t want that. The country has fallen in love with the two puppies; we don’t want to lose them. Take 30 minutes, you can have some more time after the program. Do I need to reimburse you for the items?”

“Sean, thank you, you’ll just need to sign my expense report. I used the company card.”

“No problem, it looks like Sissy is going to burst, so go spend some time with her, we’ll talk later.”

“Thank you.”

@@@@@

At the stroke of 8PM Eastern Time, Wolf and Sean are smiling, the cameras zoom in on the two hosts, Wolf says, “Welcome back to the Smith’s home. We’re back in Beaverton, Oregon, with Jason, Sharon, Scott, Sissy and the newest member of their family, Rebel.” Before Wolf can finish his sentence, Rebel runs out of the kitchen and pees right in front of Wolf. Sissy, runs after Rebel saying, “NO Rebel, bad doggie, outside, outside, right now.” Sissy pushes Rebel outside as Sharon walks into the living room carrying a tray of coffee and snacks, she sees the puddle on the floor saying, “Sissy, I warned you!”

Chapter 20

Sissy runs after Rebel crying and screaming, “NO, she’s my puppy, you promised.”

The broadcast crew tries following her with their camera while Sharon runs after Sissy, who’s stopped by Joan. “Sissy, you have to listen to your mother. I’ll help train Rebel; I’ll talk with your mother. However, you have to stop running and go home. You’re doing more harm than good. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

Sissy’s face is covered in tears, “OK, but you promise to talk to my mother?”

“Yes, now let’s go home together.”

The two of them turn around walking towards the house just as Sharon reaches them. At first Sharon hugs Sissy, she was afraid Sissy would get injured by being outside alone. Sharon thanks, Joan for helping. Sharon’s face is covered in tear tracks, she was so worried something could have happened to Sissy, she cried the entire distance to Joan and Sissy. Before Joan can say anything, Sharon swats Sissy on her butt for running out of the house alone and not listening to her. The neighborhood political officer sees Sharon’s act. She stops in her tracks surprised. She thought to herself, “Sharon always seemed like a good and loyal person.” However, she has a duty to perform. She picks up her phone and presses the number one button which speed dials the Department of Child Safety. She reports the child abuse she’s witnessed on the street. The DepLIES cameras have already recorded the act and notified the Department of Child Safety, who has received confirmation from the local phone call. They dispatch a car to investigate the abuse. Sharon bends down to the same level as Sissy’s face. “Honey, I’m sorry I hit your behind. I was so worried about you. I got lost in my emotions, are you OK?”

The neighborhood political officer feels a little sorry for Sharon because by reporting the child abuse, it may have an impact on the balance of the show. She has been trained in what to look for, and when to make reports. Her list includes calling for any child abuse issues, anyone who speaks out against the government, or any of the policies of the LSA. Anyone wasting resources is also to be immediately turned in. She is paid a special bonus for every person she turns in. Everyone in the neighborhood knows she works for the DepLIES, so all treat her with the most respect. No one dares disrespect her for fear she would turn them in. Once reported, even if the charges don’t stick, those reported would be watched for the rest of their lives by the DepLIES. Any infraction would cause them and their family to be removed from their homes and sent to the far north to live out their lives in what used to be called the North West Terrortiy of Canada. An area close to, and in some cases north of, the Artic Circle, most sent north die within a year, from exposure. The political officer shakes her head thinking about the little girl, she put the thoughts out of her mind because she had an important job to do to protect the neighborhood. She was an important part of the gears that held the LSA together.

Crying, Sissy says, “Yes Mommy. I’m OK; I was just worried that you were going to take my puppy away from me. Ms. Joan got me the training materials and she promised to stay after the show and help me teach Rebel to go outside. I think she’s worried about all of the strange people who keep coming to her house.”

“Joan, did you really get her puppy training materials?”

“Yes Mrs. Smith I did. I also promised to help train Rebel; I’ve had a number of puppies; I trained them all to go outside. I got some spray to put on the things you don’t want her to chew on. She’s a puppy; she chews on everything; she’ll go whenever she has to or when she’s nervous. She can be easily taught. Puppies don’t like to go where they live. For now, why don’t we put her in your laundry room?”

“Joan, that’s a very good idea.”

“Sissy, I’m sorry honey; everything is going to be OK, Mommy was just nervous with the TV people in the house and everything going on. Come, let’s go home and put Rebel in the laundry room. Joan also got her a doggie bone to chew on; she’ll be fine.”

“OK Mommy, let’s go home. “ Sissy and Sharon hold hands while Sissy is holding Rebel’s leash in her other hand. Joan follows behind the two of them not noticing the stares of the people on the street.

When Sharon and Sissy arrive home, a blue and green car from the Department of Child Safety pulls into the driveway. Two women officers exit the car asking to speak with Sharon. “Sissy, please go into the house with Joan, I’ll be right there.”

The first officer says, “Mrs. Smith?”

“Yes, I’m Sharon Smith. What can I do for you?”

“Mrs. Smith, we have a recording of a child abuse situation right on your street, we’ve also received a call from one of your neighbors who witnessed the abuse.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Mrs. Smith, would you like to see the video?”

“Yes I would. I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

The senior agent turns her tablet computer so Sharon can see the images; she sees herself swat Sissy’s rear end on the sidewalk.

“So? My child ran out of the house without permission; she didn’t listen to me.”

“So you’re admitting you struck a child? You’re admitting you raised your voice to a child? Did you scare the child in question?”

“It’s not a child in question; Sissy is my daughter.”

“Yes and no. Mrs. Smith, I’m sure your family follows all of our child abuse laws. We’re very proud of our record of protecting children. We have to speak with the child in question. We are going to need to speak with her in private.”

“Officer are you aware two broadcast networks are getting ready to film a program in our home?”

“Of course we are. When we got the call, we couldn’t believe it was your family involved. Your family is considered one of our brightest and best which is why you were selected. That has nothing to do with the child abuse that took place.”

“Officer, you can’t be serious, I never meant to abuse my daughter, I love her. I was scared and frightened. I simply over reacted.”

“Mrs. Smith, that may be the case; however, we do have a GPS encoded video which you admit is you striking a child. It’s our duty to investigate the situation.”

“Look it’s almost time for the program to start. Why don’t you come and watch the program up close and personal? Meet Sean and Wolf. See how a television program is produced.”

“Mrs. Smith, we’re thankful for your offer. However, policy says we are required to speak with the minor child within an hour of the abuse. As such, we have to speak with her ASAP. If you refuse us entry, we will be forced to contact the DepLIES who will arrange for us to meet with the minor child. Which way would you like to handle this?’

“Officer, do you really think President Bloomberg is going to want you questioning my daughter or the DepLIES breaking into our home in the middle of a joint LSA/USA broadcast? What will happen to your career?”

The senior agent is silent for a few minutes thinking the situation over. “I see your point. We thank you for your kind offer; we’ll watch the program from your house. We’ll speak with your daughter after the program closes.”

“Thank you. I have to hurry; they are going to start very soon.”

Wolf has been watching the interaction between Sharon and the Department of Child Safety, he walks outside to speak with the officers. “Hello officers, I’m Wolf, is there anything I can do to assist your investigation?”

“Sir, we thank you, however we think we have the situation under control.”

“Officer, we can’t have an event during the broadcast. I’m sure President Bloomberg would be very upset if this turns out to upset Mrs. Smith to the point she can’t perform. Why don’t I call him and we can discuss the situation with him directly.”

The senior officer asks, “You have his private number on your phone?”

“Of course, I do, don’t you?”

“No, sir, we don’t. I don’t think we need to bother the President. I’m sure we can write this situation up as a misunderstanding.”

“Officers, I, and I’m sure President Bloomberg, thank you for your understanding. I’m sure he wouldn’t like Mrs. Smith arrested live on international television; I can imagine what would happen to your careers if that happened. I’m sure you know the President watches every episode of the program. Before we begin, I’d like to ask if you could park your car down the street, so it doesn’t show in the opening scenes. I’m sure your commanding officer wouldn’t like to have one of her cars in the program.”

“Oh yes, thank you, we’ll move it right away.”

The officers return in less than three minutes; they were handed a jacket from CNN to wear so their uniforms are covered in case the camera got them in one of the scenes. Wolf whispered, “Put these on and don’t speak when we’re filming.”

At the stroke of 8:00 PM, the cameras roll, Wolf and Sean are seated next to Jason and Sharon. Everyone is smiling and waving into the camera. Scott is sitting on the love seat while Sissy sits in a chair next to her mother. Sean says, “Welcome everyone. We’re happy to see you again. We’re back in Beaverton, Oregon, with the Smith family. We’re sorry we missed you on Friday; we had a roller coaster ride, one Wolf and I, hope we never have to ride again. We’ve just been handed some news I’d like to share with our courageous flight crew. Our corporate headquarters and the airline have announced an exclusive long-term agreement whereby our brave flight crew, who saved all of us, will be the exclusive flight crew for all of our broadcasts. I’d like to introduce the pilot who brought our airplane down with one engine gone in the middle of cross winds that exceeded the safety margin. Captain Rogers went ahead with the landing because two of our crew were injured and required medical treatment. We owe him our lives. Ladies and gentlemen, Captain Rogers.” The camera shifts to focus on the captain who says, “My copilot who worked as hard as I did to save the airplane, Commander Wilson, and our flight attendants, Marsha, Ruth and Bonnie.”  Everyone applauds the flight crew.

Wolf stands to take over the discussion, “I’m sure the one question that’s burning on everyone’s mind is the video issued by Anonymous last week. Sharon, please be completely honest with the audience, when you go shopping are there lines of people waiting to buy everyday products?”

“Wolf and everyone watching, there are sometimes when people have to wait in line, as I’m sure there are everywhere in the world for products and services which are in high demand. I can’t remember the number of times I’ve waited in line to eat at a special restaurant or in a line for a hot new movie. There are times when some products may be in short supply for a variety of different reasons. To be fair to everyone, our stores ration their inventory. If they didn’t ration them, one person could buy up the entire inventory and resell it at much higher prices. It’s possible that some people had to wait in the line to get their ration, when they didn’t get theirs they had to return another day. I’ve read history of similar rationing for gasoline in the USA in the early 1970s. There really isn’t any difference between us and anywhere else where there may be spot shortages. I’ve had to wait in line at times. I’m sure almost everyone has had to wait in a line at some point, or another.

“On the other hand, look at the progress we’ve made in the previous twelve years. We built a country on the equality for all. We honor each person for who they are. We have one of the world’s best education systems. We’ve reduced pollution; we’ve reduced global warming, helping to save the entire planet. We, as a nation, have reduced the amount of energy each of us uses. What other country can make similar statements?”

Wolf’s phone pinged; he looked at the text message and smiled, “Great coaching job on Mrs. Smith.” Signed President Bloomberg.

Sean turns to face the camera, “Sharon, I’ll agree with you, in that we’ve all stood in lines for movies and restaurants, but for toilet paper?”

“Sean, how do we know for a fact this is what they were waiting for? How do we know that a delivery truck didn’t breakdown someplace? In order to keep our costs low we operate on a ‘just in time’ logistics process for almost everything. Most times this works out very well, sometimes the delivery schedules are a little off, and people have to wait. I remember as a little girl going on a car trip with my parents; we ran low on gasoline, my father found a gas station; however, they were out of gas, and their delivery truck was late. We had to wait over an hour for the truck so we could fill up and continue our trip. Spot shortages are more normal than most people realize. Why don’t we take the camera crew to the local shopping center to see what the shelves look like?”

Joan realizes the entire discussion was a set up to force Sean into bringing the camera crew to the food store she was in not even an hour ago. She knows why the other women told her to fill her shopping cart, when the camera crew leaves Joan realizes the store will surely be empty. She debates trying to talk to Sean before they enter the store; she had to find a way to get to him alone.

Sean responds to Sharon, “I think that’s a great idea. Wolf, what do you think?”

Wolf smiles knowing Sean took the bait “hook, line and sinker,” he smiles responding, “I agree, I think we should be able to visit the local food store and others very easily. We’ll use the handheld cameras. I suggest we pack up and leave as soon as possible.”

Sean smiles, “It’s agreed, let’s roll.”

The Smiths and one cameraman goes into one vehicle while Sean, Wolf and another cameraperson go in another. Joan unsuccessfully tries to get close to Sean to whisper in his ear. She thinks the world is about to get suckered, and there’s nothing she can do about it.

A third vehicle with support people speed ahead, enabling images of them pulling into the shopping center to be recorded. The local security staff looks at the commotion wondering which VIP is coming to their store.

The two broadcast vehicles pull into the parking lot. The camera people set up recording every step and discussion of the Smith family with the two hosts. Sharon is smiling to herself thinking this will place her in the best graces with the government enabling her to move into the VIP position of life. If she can pull this off, she knows her family will have a bright future. Wolf is smiling because he knows what they are going to find inside the store, and how it’s going to discredit Anonymous. Sean is wondering why Sharon and Wolf were so eager to take the shopping trip unless they already knew it’s a setup. Sean’s gut starts to tell him he’s walking into a trap. He’s stuck in his own suggestion, so he continues, knowing he has to find a way to show the truth.

Joan finally gets close enough to whisper to Sean. “Sir, I was here earlier buying Sissy some puppy supplies; the stocked store is a sham, it’s not the way it usually is. The women who were shopping when I was here told me to stock up because no one knew when the store would be stocked again.”

“Joan, I thought so, I’m going to try to find a way to break through their hoax. Make sure my mic stays hot.”

“Will do.” They walk into the store to see happy smiling faces. Every shopping cart is filled with food; there are only a handful of people waiting in line to check out. The group looks around seeing clean floors and spotless products on the shelves. Sissy looks around saying, “Look, the shelves are full, I’m going to see if they have my peanut butter and cereal.” She runs off looking for her favorite foods. Sharon says, “Please ignore her, I don’t take her shopping very often; she likes the adventure.”

Wolf nods, smiling.

Sean looks at Wolf whispering, “What game are you playing here? A seven year old doesn’t lie. She’s not used to seeing the store filled. Everything is too new and fresh. Not a spec of dust anywhere, they were expecting us. You set the entire show up. This isn’t an average food store. This is a sham.”

“Quiet. Please don’t ruin it for the Smiths.”

“Wolf, we were to be showing the real life in the LSA and USA, this is a crock of shit, it’s not real. I’m going to prove it too.”

“How are you going to do that?”

“You’ll see soon enough.”

Sean walks away from Wolf, who is already walking arm and arm with Sharon through the store; they’re selecting different items from the shelves discussing them. Sharon shows the large selection to Wolf, she explains how many of the brands are different from those in the USA, but the foods inside the packages are the same or of a higher quality due to stricter government inspection programs. Sharon explains various symbols on the packages, low sodium, low fat, increased vitamins, and extra protein. Sharon explains that the usual advertising slogans are not allowed on food packaging. Nor can any food item be directed to any specific group of people or age segment. People buy the foods they like to eat and are healthy for them; they don’t buy foods based on false advertising slogans. Sharon points out that almost all of the packaging is the same. The government sets the standards for food processing and packaging. Every package is dated with the factory or farm marked on it. The recommended daily intake of the specific food product is marked in bright red on the face of the package.

Sean and Joan slip off to find the stock room where they hope to find the truth. Joan motions to Sean she’s found the doors. Sean and a camera person slip into the back room where they find empty shelves and a large truck being unloaded. Sean asks one of the inventory clerks, “Hi, my name is Sean, is this a normal Monday here at the store?”

“What, are you kidding me? We’re usually out of 75% of everything on Monday morning. We got ten truck loads in overnight. We were called back to work to fill the shelves and to keep them filled until the camera crew left.”

“What happens when we leave?”

“Most of the goods will be loaded back on the trucks and sent to other stores or to a government warehouse.”

“What time do you think this will happen?”

“Couple of hours at the most.”

Sean turns to Joan, “Stay behind with a camera crew, record them removing the items from the shelves and loading the trucks. Can you do this?”

“Yes, won’t Wolf realize I’m gone?”

“No, the only one who might miss you is Sissy, I’ll talk to her. I’ll tell her you’ll return to help train her puppy soon.”

“Thank you, I don’t want to disappoint her.”

“I’ll fix it. This should take some of the wind out of Wolf’s sails.”

Twenty minutes later the phony shopping trip ends, the three vehicles return to the Smith’s home. Everyone is happy having proven Anonymous’ video was a lie. Only Sean knew what was coming.

In the storeroom of the food store, the clerks are removing the products from the shelves, loading them back into the trucks they were delivered in. The few shoppers left in the store race around the shelves to grab what they can before the trucks are loaded and returned to the central warehouse. The entire scene is recorded and uploaded to the broadcast truck. Sean is tapped on the shoulder to alert him to the video feed. He smiles and nods to the technician.

Wolf is wrapping up the discussion when Sean steps forward saying, “Wolf, Sharon, I want to thank you for the very informative shopping trip. It was indeed very informative. In fact, I’d like to show our viewers what happened at the store shortly after we left.” The video starts, it clearly shows the filled shelves being emptied, being moved to the waiting trucks. People are shown running from aisle to aisle grabbing whatever they can before everything is removed. Sean continues, “This clearly shows the entire shopping trip was a show, it was all propaganda, a grand government lie. There are shortages in the LSA, looking at these videos, it’s clear that almost every item is in short supply.  How do you explain this?”

“Sean, how can anyone accept this video as fact? How do we know it wasn’t staged by your people in the USA to sway public perception?”

“Wolf, wait for it, here it comes,” Joan is shown talking to the stock clerks who tell her they are following the orders given to the store by the DepLIES. They explain they were called in the middle of the night to stock the store and were ordered to strip it when the cameras left. Wolf’s face turns very pale when he sees Sean’s video.

Wolf says, “Sean that’s no proof of anything. You could have paid those people to say anything. “

“Wolf, we’ll let the viewers decide.”

Sharon tries to change the subject, “Would anyone like to discuss the upcoming holiday?”

Wolf responds, “Sharon, that’s a good idea. Why don’t you tell everyone about the upcoming holiday?”

“Happy to, we have a Monday holiday once a month to celebrate different aspects of our lives here in the progressive LSA. This month we’re celebrating our future, our children. Monday is Children’s Day. Schools are closed; parks and playgrounds are opened. Movies are free for the day. Most parents have off and are strongly encouraged to spend the day with their children. We celebrate our next generation.”

Sean asks, “Sharon, why are the movie theaters free?”

“Some of the parents may have to work; the movies are free so parents can drop their children off for the day. They show children’s movies all day, back to back. It’s a safe and secure place to watch our children while also providing our children with a special treat.”

“I see, so on a holiday for children, many parents park their kids in a movie theater all day. Doesn’t that sound a little crazy?”

“Not to me.”

Wolf continues, “Sharon, how’s Sissy’s puppy doing, we haven’t seen her tonight.”

“One of your sound engineers had a great idea, she suggested we place the puppy in the laundry room. She’s offered to help Sissy train her after the program.”

“That’s very nice of her. I hope she’s able to help with the training.”

‘I’m sure she will be a big help. None of us have ever had a puppy, we’re lost in what to do.”

“Puppies are much easier to train than children.”

Chapter 21

President Bloomberg meets with his strategic action group. “Sean caught on to our little sham in the market. We need something to shift the people’s view of us. I’m open to suggestions.”

The Director of the DepLIES says, “Mr. President, I suggest we provide the USA something other than us to focus on. We have said we protect our children; the children are our future. We protect our food supply and have government inspections. I propose we provide the USA with a problem they can’t handle. We can inject some of their children’s snacks with a mild poison. Since only their children will get ill, it’ll show the world our system is better at protecting our children than theirs.”

“Is there any chance it can be traced back to us?”

“No, I’ll use trusted agents already in the USA.”

“Will any of the children be killed?”

“Mr. President, we can adjust the amount of poison to make them sick, not enough to kill them. Not unless they eat too much of their loved snacks, which is why so many of them are so fat and out of shape.”

“Do you have a written summary of your plan?”

“No sir, I thought it best not to put it in writing.”

“Good idea. How many of their children will get ill?”

“I propose a few hundred in ten or more of their cities, this will spread their forces very thin looking for the cause and who infected their food supply.”

“I approve your plan, one last point, when your agents have complete their tasks, terminate them. We don’t need them getting caught and talking.”

“Yes sir.”

@@@@@

Talk radio is overflowing with calls about the shortages in the LSA; the Anonymous video was real. Images of people standing in line are compared with images from the old Soviet Union in the 1950s when people lined up for hours to buy necessities. About the only thing, always available in the Soviet Union was Vodka, which led to a large percent of the population being alcoholics. In the LSA, there wasn’t anything that was always available. Central planning never provided everything the people required on a timely basis. The population of the LSA got used to purchasing winter clothing in the summer and summer shorts in mid-winter. Black markets and neighborhood trading areas flourished as people traded and/or bought and sold what they couldn’t find in the government stores.

Talk radio hosts are overjoyed to have some hard facts to smear the LSA. President Bloomberg was very unhappy with the recent events. He wanted to taste the sweet flavor of revenge. He wanted to shame and hurt the USA for publically mocking him. He sent his agents of pain and suffering into the USA to extract revenge on the most helpless of the USA’s people, their children.

@@@@@

Children came down with a mysterious illness. Parents panicked; emergency rooms were soon overflowing with sick children. All had the same symptoms, weakness, fever, sick to their stomachs, vomiting and dizziness. So far none had died. The CDC is quickly called to lend assistance. The numbers of ill children continue to swell in nine cities. No one could find a cause or reason. In the first four hours no one could connect the dots to figure out what caused the illness. Another mystery is the issue that children are getting ill in only nine cities. President Paul suggests the country is under biological attack. He orders the pentagon to call in the military’s biological weapons group located at Fort Detrick, Maryland, to support the CDC. Investigators spread out to check for what the children have in common. What they ate, drank, and wore, everything and anything that might connect the children is investigated. President Paul calls Randolph and John at Wolf and CNN asking them to postpone the fifth episode so every resource can be focused on solving the mysterious illness. President Paul goes on international television to ask every parent to check everything their children eat and drink; he asks them to keep their children inside for the next couple of days. The President orders all schools closed and all after school actives postponed. He further orders all military medical personal, even recently discharged ones, to report to their nearest base regardless of branch of service. He asks every first responder to return to work. He orders all leaves for the military and government health workers canceled.

The hospitals report no virus or other germs in the children’s systems. President Paul, being a medical doctor, instructs the medical staff to look for poison or a mixture of common chemicals that could lead to shutting down the children’s systems. President Paul calls his cabinet to an emergency meeting where he announces, “Ladies and gentlemen, I think we have been attacked. I think our children were attacked by a mixture of common chemicals mixed in with something the children have eaten or drank. Since its only making children sick in a small number of cities, I’m sure it’s deliberate. If I had to guess, I’d say the LSA attacked our children to change the focus from the Anonymous videos.”

The Secretary of Health and Human Services says, “Mr. President, so far our analysts agree with your thoughts. Our experts think something the children consumed was tampered with. We’re checking everything they could have touched.”

“Madam Secretary, thank you. General Zanderfield, please arrange for rapid action team to be ready to move against anyone we find did this to us.”

“Yes sir. I have the 101st Airborne on 15-minute alert.”

“Unless anyone has any objections, I’m going to tell Wolf and CNN they can continue with their program.”

All of the secretaries agree with restarting the program. The Secretary of the Treasury says, “Mr. President, I think this is a very good idea. It’ll help take our people’s minds off of the issues facing us.”

The President’s chief of staff places the call to the broadcast president’s informing them that they can continue their joint program.

Wolf and Sean agree to wait one additional day before continuing the program so that hopefully, the cause of the illness will be discovered. Sean is thinking that something is very wrong since the outbreak has only shown itself in nine cities within the USA.

@@@@@

Wolf News in association with Glenn’s new Burn network, spends the evening comparing costs in everyday products between the LSA and the USA. Glenn’s sound stage is filled with all types of consumer products. He starts off the special by saying, “Good evening, and thank you for joining us this evening. Due to the serious outbreak in nine of our cities Wolf News Network and CNN has decided to postpone the sixth episode in the special series for one night so that medical science can hopefully figure out what’s causing the mystery illness and come up with a cure.

“Tonight we’re going to look at the cost of typical products. For an example sitting on the table in front of me are two microwave ovens, the stainless steel one on the right is made by a major Asian manufacturer who sells millions of them in the USA and around the world. It’s 2.0 cubic feet 1100 watt unit and has a suggested retail price of $299.00. It can usually be purchased for around $249.00. On my left is a black 1.6 cubic foot unit which is one of the largest ones available in the LSA, it has a power rating of 800 watts, it has a suggested retail price of $699.00. It isn’t discounted, as discounting is frowned on in the LSA. You may be asking yourself why the large cost differences. Of course, one reason is the quantity of units built, the other is due to the unique requirements the LSA Department of Energy has mandated be built into the unit. The case must be recyclable and the seals must have a life span of 50 years. Before anyone asks the question, who keeps a microwave oven for 50 years, I don’t know the answer to that question. The glass in the door must be able to survive a four foot drop off a counter, the electronic main board inside the microwave has to be completely recyclable as does most of the other parts used in the unit. The LSA Department of Energy claims the LSA microwave oven will save the average consumer money over the unit’s expected life which is rated at 40 years. I checked my home; nothing in my home is over 40 years old except for my wife. Would you plan to keep a countertop microwave oven for 40 years? Another example is a typical home dishwasher, the one on my right is a 24” stainless steel built in model that’s rated at very low power, it’s earned a platinum energy star rating. It typically sells for $479.00; the one on my left is made by a subsidiary of the LSA government as are most products sold in the LSA. It’s also a 24” built in model and sells in the LSA for $999.00. It, too, is designed to last for 50 years. Every part of it is recyclable, it uses very low pressure and a low amount of water to wash dishes, in our tests it performed below the $479.00 model. Our engineers who reviewed the dishwashers say it lacks the pressure and water volume to clean heavily soiled dishes. On the other hand, it’s very heavy, weighing twice the weight of the lower prices unit. Just think, you can spend twice as much for a unit that doesn’t perform as well. However, it is designed to last 50 years, and if you keep it 50 years, you should save money on electrically usage.

“Next, we’re going to look into the most popular vehicles sold/used in each country. The Honda Civic is the most popular car sold in the USA; it’s build in Alabama, it gets 45MPG on the highway and 35 in the city. It’s earned a five-star crash rating. The new Honda Civic seats five adults and goes from zero to sixty in 7 seconds. It sells for $32,000. In the LSA, the most popular vehicle is a hybrid electric mini car that seats 3, has a top speed of 55 MPH, a range of 50 miles. It’s built in Oakland, California, and Detroit, Michigan, and takes ten hours to recharge. It sells for $65,000. The LSA government owns 97% of these vehicles; they are given to government mid-level employees to use. This keeps employees on the job building a vehicle that’s overpriced and only in demand because it’s given to government employees. The LSA builds products to both provide jobs for their people and also to reduce their balance of payments. The LSA has made claims that they’ve brought manufacturing jobs out of Asia back to the LSA. They now build cars, trucks, consumer electronic products and even construction equipment in their country because they don’t have enough jobs. Otherwise, the LSA can’t afford normally to import the goods and services they require on a daily basis. They borrowed over five trillion dollars from Saudi Arabia in exchange for being one of three countries the LSA imports oil from, the others being the USA and Venezuela.”

@@@@@

The broadcast crew travels to Raleigh, North Carolina, where they travel an hour to the Jones’ house. Beth is playing on their driveway waiting for the crew to arrive. When she sees the first van turn onto her street, she gets excited, jumping up and down waving to Sean and Wolf. The broadcast crew pulls up in front of Beth’s house; Sean is the first one out, Beth runs to him, hugging his leg. “Mr. Sean, welcome back. I wasn’t sure you were coming back. Mommy said she wasn’t sure the program was going to continue. I’m so happy you came back.”

Sean hugs Beth saying, “Of course, we came back. The program isn’t over yet and even when it is over I promise to stay in touch with you.”

“And Holly too?”

“Of course, Holly too. I have a treat for Holly; I brought her some home made cookies and a new play toy.”

“Oh, Mr. Sean, I can’t wait until she sees them.”

Beth goes running into the house yelling, “Holly, Holly where are you? Mr. Sean brought a gift for you.”

Wolf joins Sean on the driveway, “Have you been reduced to bribing little girls and their puppies?”

“Yes, you ought to try it.”

Bob and Carol meet the broadcast crew at the front door, all four hug. Carol welcomes them in, “Please come in; we’ve been waiting for you. Beth baked some fresh muffins to welcome you back.”

The broadcast crew gladly grabs a warm muffin, Joan says, “These are really good. Are these berries?”

Carol says, “Yes, we got them at the Giant this morning.”

Sean smiles saying, “Carol, can we accompany you to your local Giant?”

Wolf sees the trap, responding, “I don’t think that’s necessary. I’m sure everyone’s seen a food store.”

Sean says, “I think after the scam in Oregon, it’s a good idea for us to visit the store. I’ll tell you what Wolf, I’m sure there’s more than one food store in town; I’m going to let you pick which one we visit. This way there’s no way I or anyone in town could pull a scam like you tried to pull over the world last week.”

Wolf says, “I really don’t think we need to waste our time visiting a store. Carol, where’s Leon?”

“He’s upstairs working on a report. He has to create a video for his English class.”

Wolf asks, “Carol, would it be OK if Leon join us?”

“I’ll check.” A minute later Leon and Carol join the broadcast crew, Leon says, “Hi everyone. I’m sorry I was late, had a large assignment to complete. I had to create a video for English.”

Wolf asks, “Leon, do you study Spanish in School?”

“Mr. Wolf, no, we study English. I don’t know if you knew that English is now the official language of the USA.”

Wolf asks Carol, “Does this mean that everyone has to learn and use English?”

“Of course it does. It’s our official language. All documents are now printed only in English. We saved hundreds of millions in not having to print every document in many different languages.”

“Carol, isn’t that discriminating against anyone who doesn’t speak English?”

“If they want to live and work here, they need to learn English or bring their own translator. We shouldn’t be responsible for the cost of translating everything if someone doesn’t make the effort to learn our language. The country provides English classes to teach people how to read, write and speak English, if they don’t use the classes it's their fault, not ours.”

“Isn’t that cold hearted?”

“Not at all, if I went to another country, how is it their responsibly to change everything just for me?”

“So that you can understand what’s going on and take part in the country.”

“Than it’s my responsibility to learn their language.”

Before Wolf can respond, the doorbell rings, Bob says, “Please let me see who’s at the door.”

Opening the front door, everyone sees two eight-year-old girls selling “Girl Scout” cookies. “Hi, we’re selling Girl Scout cookies.”

Leon runs over saying, “I love Girl Scout cookies.”

Beth says, “I want some cookies too.”

Sean laughs saying, “May I buy some cookies for everyone?”

Half of the broadcast crew says, “Yes, please.” The other half nods no. Wolf says, “How do we know these cookies are safe?”

Sean says, “Huh? These are Girl Scout cookies. What could be safer or tastier?”

Wolf says, “They could have been tampered with. Food should only be purchased at approved locations from tested and approved sources.”

Sean says, “Wolf, come on; I’m sure you remember Girl Scout cookies, you’ve spent enough time in the USA.”

“Sean, I stand on my statement that the food should only be purchased from approved and tested sources. Plus why are these young girls out by themselves going door to door, they could be harmed or abducted.”

Bob laughs at Wolf, “Look at the sidewalk, one of their mothers is on the sidewalk watching them. No one is going to harm these girls in this neighborhood. Their cookies are made by a large company which is checked, their cookies are safe, now would you like a box?”

“Sean, thank you, but I’ll pass.”

Sean purchased two cases of cookies for the rest of the crew and the Joneses. The two girls thanked Sean before walking off to the next house. Their mother on the sidewalk waved thank you as she kept an eye on the two girls.

Wolf changes the subject, “Bob, Carol have you been following the news about the date rape case in Orlando?”

Carol responds, “Yes, of course, we have. Those poor girls who say they were raped at a college frat party. My heart breaks for them.”

Wolf says, “This couldn’t have happened in the LSA.”

Carol says, “Yes we know, we heard about your crazy new law. What do you call it? ‘Yes means yes’? What the hell were you people thinking of? Two people need to have a formal agreement to have sex, the agreement has to be written or recorded on both person’s personal devices, and intoxication nullifies any agreements. How far into people’s bedrooms does the LSA government stick their noses? You people seem to think the answer to any issue is to create a new law. Once the law is signed, problem solved. Did any of you very study human nature? Do any of you understand how people really act? Laws aren’t the answer. You can’t fix everything with a law.”

Wolf smiles a sly grin responding, “Carol, I disagree. We solved the gun issue. We passed laws that outlawed certain guns, we limited the amount and types of ammunition people could purchase; we finally moved on to the complete lack of civilian owned firearms. We removed hundreds of thousands of guns from our streets making our people much safer.”

Bob looks into Wolf’s eyes saying, “Wolf, since you don’t issue crime stats how does anyone know the truth? You removed all firearms from law-abiding citizens while the criminal element still has their guns. Your law only removed guns from people looking to protect themselves.”

“Bob, what I’ll call regular people have no need for a gun. There’s no need for our people to hunt and harm animals since anyone can just go to a food store and buy the food they need. Honestly, I, and most people, have heard enough about guns. We decided no one needed to own them. Just owning them places people at risk for being shot. By removing guns from our streets, we’ve saved thousands of lives.”

“Wolf, how did you save their lives? Guns don’t kill people all by themselves. Our guns haven’t shot anyone by themselves. The last time I checked our gun safe our guns were in the safe. I don’t think they’ve ever exited the safe by themselves.”

“Bob, you have guns here in your home with two children? That’s very dangerous. I’m not sure it’s safe for us to be here.”

Carol folds her arms across her chest; her face gets dark, “Wolf, then leave. You came in through the front door; you can also leave through it. Our safe is secured by our fingerprints and a password. Our children can’t open it. Our guns don’t sneak out of the safe at night to do harm to people. Guns are a tool, a tool that needs a person to use them. If a car goes out of control and runs people over, killing them, should all cars be banned? The car didn’t drive itself.”

“Carol, I’d like to see your safe to prove to myself that it’s safe before we do anything else.”

Bob laughs saying, “Wolf, I’ll make you a wager. If you can open our safe by yourself or with the help of any of your crew, I’ll destroy all of our weapons. If you can’t then, you donate whatever you’re getting paid for hosting this program to the USA Wounded Warrior program. DO we have a deal? You can’t lose. If you open it, you’ve disarmed one USA family. If you can’t then, you’ve donated to a very worthy cause. What do you say?”

Wolf looks to Sean for some help. Sean smirks at Wolf saying, “Well Wolf; it looks like they got you this time. What do you say? Are you willing to put your money up?”

Wolf’s face darkens, his body language makes it clear he’s upset, “I don’t need to take your dare. The question isn’t how secure your safe is. The issue is you have two young children and have guns in your house. I think we need to discuss this issue.”

Leon asks, “Mr. Wolf, why? I learned how to shoot. I took classes; I have my own rifle in my parent’s safe. If you know gun safety there’s not issue. Do guns scare you so much? Is it something like being afraid of heights or spiders?”

Bob and Carol laugh at Leon’s remarks. Bob asks, “Well Wolf, are you scared of the guns? Should I take one out and see if you can touch it without getting sick?”

“This is a silly children’s game of ‘dare you.’ I’m not going to play a children’s game with you on television. I’m saying that families with children shouldn’t own guns; it’s not safe to have guns and children under one roof. We in the LSA have proven there is a solution to the problem.”

Carol responds, “Wolf, you haven’t proven anything. You didn’t remove guns from the streets. You left them in the hands of the criminals.”

“Carol, that’s because our Department of Public Safety and our DepLIES make our people safe. We don’t need guns in untrained hands that could harm our children.”

“Wolf, then please release your crime numbers so the world can make an informed decision.”

“Bob, I’m sorry. However, I don’t have those numbers with me. It’s not my job to discuss the numbers, in fact; I’m not sure who collects these numbers in the LSA.”

Carol looks into the camera saying, “Wolf, I’ll repeat, the LSA’s answer to any problem is to pass a new law. Once the law is passed, you forget the issue and move on. You assume that having a law for anything solves the problem. You never seem to follow up and see that will really help correct an issue. You have a couple of young women raped, so you pass a law; you don’t like private gun ownership, so you pass a law, you don’t like drunk drivers, so you pass a law. Has any of these laws reduced the problems? No one knows because you hide the real numbers. You never release any numbers. You’re government lives like an ostrich; you pass a new law and stick your heads in the sand thinking, ‘you don’t see any problem because you’ve already passed a law, so there isn’t a problem.’ You’re worse than children. You never solve the real problems.”

Chapter 22

Watching the television, I laugh so hard I spit up my beer. Kathy looks over at me with an amused look on her face. “Brad, is something wrong?”

“No, I always spit up beer and have beer pour out of my nose, nothing wrong at all. I can’t believe these people. Did you hear about this new sex law the LSA signed? ‘Yes means yes’? My god, I can see it now, a couple has dinner, goes back to her place, starts to get into it, when she ways, ‘I need you to sign a consent agreement, feel free to have your lawyer look it over, only do it quickly because I want you now.”

Kathy starts laughing and rolling around in her chair. She can’t breathe, “Stop it, stop it, I can’t breathe. You’re killing me.”

“I can see new threesomes, guy, gal and lawyer to review consent forms. I wonder if they need a Notary Public to ensure the signatures are real and valid.”

Kathy is waving at me to stop talking; she’s laughing so hard tears are rolling down her cheeks. “Please Brad, stop it, I can’t take it anymore.”

“Honey, I think we need to call our lawyer before we go upstairs tonight, I’m feeling kinds of horny, I think we better put him on retainer and get a fax machine next to the bed.”

Kathy starts throwing pillows at me to make me stop talking. After she calms down she says, “They can’t be serious, can they?”

“I think they are serious, deadly serious. Someone in the LSA government saw a problem, a problem they could pass a law to solve even if the law is totally ridiculous and unworkable.  These people don’t care about the results; they only care about looking good and looking like they’re doing something about the problem. As long as they look like their trying, their people are happy. Nothing constructive ever gets done; the LSA’s problems only deepen, but the people living in the LSA are fine, because they can point to their elected officials trying to improve the situation that is more than they can say about us. In the LSA results don’t matter, it’s the perception that you’re trying to do something that counts. President Bloomberg has high ratings because he’s seen as always trying to do something to improve the lives of the citizens of the LSA.  He’s seen as caring even though next to Obsma he’s the most closed President in history.”

“Honey, how long can they continue to go in this direction? Won’t they have to make progress in some areas to grow?”

“Kath, they did. They brought manufacturing jobs back to the LSA; they put people to work. They can claim they cleaned up the planet. They claim they reduced crime. Without a free press, their people don’t know what truth is and what bullshit is. They have no choice but to believe the story they’re given by the government. There are no other voices saying anything contradictory. No one is allowed to say anything against the ‘great and powerful OZ’, also known as Bloomberg.”

“Brad, he’s not as bad as all that. He has done some good for his people. He did get jobs for most of them.”

“Kath, yes he did, they all work in various positions for the government, they all work for him. He simply expanded the definition of government until he could hire everyone. They have a low number of unemployed because everyone works for the government. As such, who’s going to say anything negative about their boss when the alternative is a one way ticket to the North West Territory to count trees with your family freezing to death? Bloomberg has it better than a king. At least a king has other nobles to worry about. Bloomberg doesn’t have any nobles, he makes and breaks people, so if he thinks you’re not loyal, puff, you’re gone and no one ever heard of you - you and your family never existed. After a few families had disappeared the story made the rounds, it’s kept everyone else in line. The only thing that would make me laugh even harder would be if Bloomberg said he was running a transparent administration, I might have a heart attack laughing so hard.”

Before Kathy and I can continue there is a banner headline rolling across our television, “LSA announces high-speed train service between LA and San Francisco and a second train will operate between Philadelphia and Boston, with stops in New York City. These new trains are expected to operate at speeds up to 400 kph. They magnetically float over the track. The Department of Mass Transit announced today construction will start within 90 days. The LSA Department of labor announced the new construction project will employ over a hundred thousand people for five years.”

I turn to Kathy, “That’s how he keeps his people in line; he hands them new toys and employs them to build their own toys.”

Before Kathy can respond the banner says, “President Bloomberg announced today that in order to pay for the new high speed rail system, the LSA value added tax will be increased by ½ percent. The good news is, the increases is only for five years so no bonds or loans will be required to build this revolutionary new train service.”

“See Kath, he employees them, and then he increases their taxes all so he can say he’s not leaving behind a big bill for their children to have to pay. He uses the debt Obsma left behind with us as an excuse to increase taxes.”

“Brad, why doesn’t he simply tie his currency to gold like we did, all of our prices went down, our dollar’s value went up.”

“Honey, if he did that, he’d be limited to issuing currency based on the gold reserves he has. There’s a nasty rumor floating around that Bloomberg stole or sold off the reserves, if this is true then he has nothing to base his currency on other than the good faith of the LSA that is why many countries don’t accept his dollar. It explains why when the LSA makes international purchases they have to use US dollars. Ours are backed by gold and silver.”

“I bet that burns his ass.”

“Kath, I’m sure of it. By the way, do you know what time it is? We promised to pick up Ron and Bev at the airport.”

“Whoops! Is that today?”

“Yup, they are due back at 2PM.”

“Honey, I think we’d better get over there.”

“I’ll grab the keys, let’s go.”

@@@@@

Sitting next to Sean, Wolf says, “Did you hear the announcement the LSA just made?”

“Of course I did. My phone pinged with the message. Do you really think you can build a high-speed train?”

“Of course we can. The plans have been floating around for over fifteen years. When President Brownie was Governor of California, he promised to build one between LA and San Francisco.”

“Wolf, if I remember right, he couldn’t fund the program, even with the federal government paying more than half of it he couldn’t raise the balance of the money, why does Bloomberg think he can do it now?”

“Because he can just print the money.”

“Won’t that cause your currency to lose value, force inflation on your people?”

“Sean, that’s the beauty of the President’s announcement, he’s not going to borrow any money to build a high-speed rail. He’s going to increase our value added tax, but only for five years so the people can see what they’re getting for their increased taxes. Sean, remember our Value Added Tax only affects the wealthiest. The poor don’t purchase many goods and services, plus the central government gives them a tax credit for the amount of the value added tax they spent.”

“So you’re going to hose the rich to pay for a train system no one will use, I bet that’s going to go over well with your rich.”

“Remember, we don’t really have a rich class, we’re mostly a single class. We broke the mold and moved the lower class up and moved many of the very upper class down. Today we’re blessed with one large middle class. In fact, it’s by far much larger than your middle class.”

“Wolf, you’re middle class is a sham, just like most of the things in the LSA. You raised the taxes so much on your upper class you pushed them down into the middle; you increased low-end wages for the lower class so that they moved up, however, so did all of the prices of everything. Hence, nothing really changed. I’ll bet you anything you want this new rail line of yours never sees service. Not in five years, not in ten or even twenty years. The short-term increase in the value added tax will keep increasing.  Government programs like this never really finish. I think the so-called ‘Big Dig’ in Boston went nine years past the projected completion date; it ended up costing more than $12 billion over budget. I can’t think of a single government infrastructure project that was completed on time or on budget. They’re all money pits designed to pour money into friends’ pockets and keep union members employed. Want to take my bet?”

“Sean, of course not. I don’t want to take anything from you. You know things are different now don’t you?”

“Wolf don’t bullshit a bullshitter, the only way things are different now are that they are worse. I stand by my bet. I say that the new high-speed train won't be operating ten years from any. I’ll put up my new Mercedes. You do remember what a Mercedes is don’t you?”

“Of course I remember. I just don’t want to take your new one from you. Your wife would be really upset.”

“No, she won’t, she’ll just go buy another. That’s one nice thing about living in the USA; we have low taxes. I get to keep most of the money I earn.”

“That’s because you have no social conscious. If you did, you’d pay more in taxes.”

“Why do I want to pay more in taxes?”

“So the needy and less fortunate then you can have something. I understand, I need to pay for the lazy to stay home and leech off of the system.”

“Sean, you know better than that.”

“Still are you taking me up on my bet?”

“And if I lose, what do you get?”

“I want you to go on international television and admit you were wrong.”

“What?”

@@@@@

Ron and Beverly land at Dulles International Airport on time, they exit the security area to find Brad and Kathy waiting for them by the luggage carousel. The four of us hug each other. “Ron, Bev, how’s Vegas? Has it changed much?”

Ron says, “Brad, its changed and it hasn’t. I know that doesn’t make much sense to you. In many ways, Vegas is and always will be unique. It’s different in that the LSA has their claws embedded into the city. We had an interesting time. In fact, we’ve decided we’re going to sell our house here and move there.”

Ron’s statement catches me completely by surprise. He looks at me laughing with my mouth hanging open. Ron says, “Brad, close your mouth. You look crazy.”

“Did you just say you’re selling your home and moving to ‘Sin City’”?

“Yes, that’s what I said. Look old buddy, I can’t sit around and do nothing.  Retirement isn’t something I look forward to. I reached the mandatory age, so I was forced out of the Sterling police department. I ran into some people in Vegas, who want me to work for them. They’ve offered me a job. Something I know how to do.”

“Ron, all you know how to do is be a police officer, you’re too old to play that game now.”

“Want to bet? You’re right in that I’m a police officer; even my blood is blue. I was offered a position on a special force which works with both the LSA and USA.”

“Huh? Are you going to work with the LSA DepLIES? Please tell me, you’re not going to work with them.”

“You’ll see later. Come on and let’s get home so Bev and I can unpack so we can begin to pack.”

“When do you plan on moving?”

“Soon Brad, very soon. I don’t want to sit around and grow old in my mind as well as my body.”

“Man, we’re going to miss you and Bev.”

“Come out and join us.”

“Can’t, Kathy doesn’t like the heat, dry or not, 120 is still 120.”

“Hell, everything is air conditioned. No one goes out when it’s 120.”

“Let’s talk later. How many bags did you bring home?”

“Three. There they are.”

@@@@@

The broadcast flight lands back at Portland Oregon. Sean says, “I think I can do this trip in my sleep. I’m living in a state of constant jet lag. My body never gets accomplished to one time zone, before we’re up and on our way across the country again.”

Wolf responds, “I agree, I like hosting this program, but, on the other hand, I can’t wait for it to end. I haven’t had a good night’s sleep in three weeks. Is there anything special you want to cover this evening?”

“Yes, I would like to dig into the issue of taxes a little more. Income taxes, sales taxes, value added taxes, personal property taxes, taxes on every service, road mileage tax, water tax, rain tax, I think the only thing Bloomberg hasn’t taxed yet is the sunshine.”

Laughing, Wolf says, “Give him a chance. He has time yet.”

Both men laugh.

Chapter 23

“Mr. President, General Arnold, MD, is on line one for you, he said it’s most urgent.”

“General, this is the President.”

“Mr. President, General Arnold at Fort Detrick, Maryland. Sir, we’ve run tests on the sick children, we’ve found that their school lunches the day before they came down ill, had been tampered with.”

“General, are you sure?”

“Yes sir. The chemicals used weren’t in enough quantity to kill the children; they were meant to make the children sick, which is what happened. In the five days since the first child became sick, none has died. All are recovering; even those in the hospital will be sent home today or tomorrow.”

“General, that’s very good news. Do you have any idea who tampered with the lunches?”

“Sir, it would have to have been a school employee in the cafeteria. They would have access and no one would have thought a thing about them being in the kitchen.”

“I want all of the workers in the affected cafeterias held till we get to the bottom of this.”

“Mr. President, the FBI is already handling it. I sent them an urgent message when the results pointed in this direction. I understand the Director of the FBI is on his way to see you.”

“Excellent. General, will the children be OK?”

“Mr. President, there should be no long-term complications.”

“General, that’s the best news I’ve had in a week. Do you have any idea who led the tampering of the food?”

“Mr. President, we have an idea, however before I speak it, I’d like to the FBI to gather a little more information for our review.”

“General, if you have an idea, why won’t you tell me?”

“Sir, because I’d rather a war not be on my head. We’ll know for certain in another day.”

“Very well General, please thank your entire team for me.”

“Thank you sir, we’ve worked the past three days without sleep.”

“I’m sure the staff appreciates your very hard work; I can tell you, the country appreciates your team’s sacrifice.”

“Sir, the Director of the FBI will have some additional information for you.”

“General, good day and God bless you.”

Hanging up the phone, President Paul looks at his Chief of Staff, Randy, “When is the Director of the FBI due to arrive?”

“Sir, I just now got word that he’s on his way, he says it’s very urgent he see you.”

“Randy, clear my calendar, show him in when he arrives.”

Only minute later, the Director of the FBI is shown into the oval office. “Mr. President, thank you for seeing me on such short notice.”

“Director, I cheated. General Arnold called me with the news.”

The Director of the FBI hands the President a sealed envelope, “Mr. President, here’s the results of what we found.”

“Is there anything in here different from what General Arnold just shared with me?”

“Mr. President, the FBI thinks, sir, thinks, the LSA was behind the attack.”

“WHAT? Why do you say so?”

“Sir, there are twelve school workers who have family or close friends that live in the LSA, we think the LSA DepLIES got to these people.”

“Do we have any proof, hard proof, not hearsay?”

“Not yet sir, I’m hoping for a report from our field people within a day.”

“When you have proof then call me. I want to know no matter what time it is. Do you understand?”

“Yes sir. Thank you sir.”

“Mr. Director, good work. I pray it’s not the LSA.”

“Mr. President, why?”

“If it is, we may have to attack them which would be similar to kicking off the civil war President Brownstone tried so hard to avoid.”

“Mr. President they don’t have a military.”

“Mr. President, they have an armed DepLIES and also armed security organizations within other government agencies. Plus they have the Russians as allies.”

“I was hoping we could avoid another war. I wanted to be one of the few recent President’s that didn’t send boys and girls to die.”

“Sir, may I suggest we wait until we see what the final reports from our field agents are?”

“Good suggestion Mr. Director.”

@@@@@

“President Bloomberg our sources have alerted us that the USA FBI, CDC and US military has figured out what caused the children to get sick. They are getting ready to blame us for the attack on their children.”

“I want a release ready to go denying we had anything to do with the sick children. Offer our hospitals to support the USA. We have some of the most modern hospitals in the world. If the USA needs help, we as a good neighbor open our arms to their poor patients. We can also fly some of our medical staff to their location if that would help.”

“Sir, wouldn’t the press see through our offer?”

“How? Most of their press is on our side.”

“Yes sir, would you like us to contact President Paul with our offer?”

“Why? We’re making the offer for the press, not to help really; President Paul won’t accept our offer.”

“Yes sir.”

@@@@@

Sitting on the leased broadcast plane, Sean is making a list of the various LSA taxes he knows about, he figures there’s some he forgot or just doesn’t know about. He’s meeting with one of his researchers when Wolf sits down across the aisle from Sean, “Sean, you’re not really going to pursue questions about the LSA tax system are you?”

“Of course I am. I think it’s something everyone is curious about.”

“I don’t know why anyone would be interested in what the Smiths pay in taxes, can I do the same with the Joneses?”

“Of course, we warned both couples that everything they do or spend is subject to on air discussion.”

“No one is going to be interested in what each couple pays.”

“Wolf, there I think you’re wrong.  I think the LSA families are going to be very interested in learning that the Jones family pays maybe half of the taxes as the Smiths pay. Don’t you find that interesting?”

“Of course not. I assume the Smiths pay in taxes, look at all of the additional services they receive. Someone’s got to pay for these benefits.”

“Wolf, I don’t call running the phone company or package delivery service a benefit. Unless these services don’t cost the average taxpayer anything. We already know that’s not true. I think the LSA is taking between 60~65% of the Smith’s income in some form of tax, or another.”

“Sean, no one cares, let’s focus on what they do for fun and on their vacations.”

“I think the tax issue is one more people are going to be interested about.”

“If you go down this ‘rabbit hole’ I’ll pull the discussion sideways.”

“That’s your option. I think you’ll look foolish for trying to pull a childish stunt that everyone will see through.”

“Sean, why don’t we spend some time asking the Smiths how they feel about the ill children in the US?”

“Wolf, no more, ‘how you feel’ questions or comments. Hard facts, no more soft feelings, we got creamed when we spent too much time on how they feel.”

“We only got creamed by your far right wing talk radio which everyone knows is on the very far right wing fringe.”

“Wolf, you haven’t spent enough time in the USA to realize those talk radio programs have some of the highest ratings and most loyal followers. Rash’s program alone is the number one rated radio program.”

“Who’s counting the listeners?”

“Same people who count on your side of the divide. Nielsen.”

“We can play it by ear and see how everything goes when we get there.”

“I’m preparing for a segment on taxes, you can do whatever you’d like.”

@@@@@

“President Grameniko, our agents have uncovered that President Paul is going to make an announcement soon blaming the LSA and President Bloomberg personally for poisoning the American children.”

“Minister Bradtov, is the FSB sure?”

“Yes Mr. President, we are. We don’t know if they will be able to connect the poison to us.”

“Make sure they don’t.”

“Mr. President, our analysts think President Paul may attack the LSA for retribution. If the USA attacks the LSA, President Bloomberg is sure to ask for our help.”

“If we provide the LSA with troops or weapons we’ll give President Paul cause to attack us. We’re no match for their new weapons. I now understand how Premier Gorbachev felt when he was faced with Reagan’s ‘Star Wars’ program. We can easily match the Americans in quantity; we can’t match their technology. I’m not prepared to risk the Rodina for the Jew in Los Angeles.”

“Sir, if the request comes in, what should we do with it?”

“Ignore it. If Bloomberg calls for me, tell the staff to tell him I’m not feeling well, or I’m in a special meeting and can’t be interrupted. I don’t want to talk with him.”

“Yes sir.”

@@@@@

“President Bloomberg, thank you for agreeing to an interview. We realize how busy you are.”

“It’s my pleasure. I’ve always said the better we know each other, the fewer problems we’ll have. It’s very important those in the USA know about us. Which is why I agreed to allow the current Wolf News and CNN program be filmed in Beaverton, Oregon.”

“Mr. President, you’ve been without a first Vice President for months now, why did you pick this point in time to appoint a new first VP?”

“Eric, that’s a very good question. Our government in the LSA is set up differently from what your readers in the USA are used to. We have a President, who as you know is me, I have a staff of one first Vice President, two second Vice Presidents and Directors of various departments.”

“Mr. President, what happened to your previous first Vice President?”

Taking off his reading glasses, President Bloomberg looking very sad looks into the camera; he wipes a phantom tear away from his right eye. Our loved first Vice President, who was one of my best friends, forgive me a moment. Pat Quint from the great state of Illinois came down with cancer. He submitted his resignation three times; I turned his request down three times. He worked from his hospital bed every day; he passed on three months ago. I thought I could handle the work load without a first Vice President. However, it’s just too much for one person. I reached out to a very practical ex-Senator who had retired. I asked her to help out for a few months until our next election; I’m happy to announce she agreed. Tomorrow I’ll be swearing in our new first Vice President, Elizabeth Wraant from the great state of Massachusetts. I’m very excited that Elizabeth will be joining my administration.”

“Mr. President, don’t you think she’s a little old?”

“Please remember in the LSA we don’t mention age, sex or religion. I have no comment on Ms. Wrannt’s age or anything else personal about her.”

“Sir, how do you see her helping your administration?”

“She’ll be spearheading a new set of banking rules.”

“Sir, can you comment on these new rules?”

“Yes, the LSA will be taking over all banks, brokerage companies, investment firms and consumer credit companies. The LSA is going to take over all financial companies. I think it’s unfair that our people have to pay high-interest rates that go to very high bank CEO pay. Even after signing into laws that limit CEO pay, these corporate executives have found ways around the law. They give themselves new cars, club memberships, unlimited expense accounts; they charge everything they purchase to bank owned credit cards. The only way to make everyone equal is to ensure we as a country stop these CEOs from going around our laws. The LSA was founded on the premise that everyone is equal; everyone is the same. Everyone is entitled to the same happiness; everyone is entitled to the same benefits. I called Ms. Wrannt to ask her to join my administration and oversee the federalization of the countries banking and lending system.”

“Mr. President, won’t this harm the country’s credit rating?”

“We won’t need a credit rating if we control all of the banks and brokerage companies. We can issue whatever funds we need.”

“Sir, won’t that cause massive inflation?”

“The government, I, control all prices and wages, so there can’t be any inflation.”

“Mr. President, is it legal for you to take over the assets of these companies? What about their shareholders?”

“We’re going to give them shares in the new banking company.”

“Mr. President, if the government owns the banks, then the shares you issue are really worthless, the shareholders won’t be able to trade them.”

“However, they will own a small share of the new government own banking complex.”

“Mr. President, won’t the shareholders sue the government? There are shareholders in the USA; they will most likely sue in USA courts who may try to block the takeover.”

“They can’t do a thing; they’re in another country. A country that we don’t have binding contracts with for lawsuits.”

“Mr. President, have you discussed this with President Paul?”

“No, it’s my decision to make, I made it. She’ll arrive tomorrow; I’ve already signed the bills into law.”

Chapter 24

Sean’s phone rings, the caller ID says, “classified” he thinks to himself, “crap” that has to be the White House. Sean gets up to move to the restroom, “Hello.”

“Please hold for the President.”

Perspiration breaks out across Sean’s forehead. It starts dripping and stinging his eyes. After a minute Sean hears a familiar voice, “Sean are you there?”

“Yes Mr. President, I’m on the broadcast flight on the way to Oregon.”

“Sean, I want to confide a few issues with you so you’re prepared for what may come up later today.”

“Yes sir, I’m listening.”

“We have evidence that the LSA was behind the poisoning of our children. The FBI, CDC and military all confirm that there are persons in each school cafeteria with ties to people in the LSA. Further, the CIA says the formula used is from the FSB. I plan to make an announcement tonight. I want you to be prepared so you can respond correctly.”

“Mr. President are you saying the Russians supported the LSA to harm our children?”

“Sean, that’s what the evidence is showing.”

“Sir, are you going to take any action against Russia?”

“Sean, that’s something I can’t discuss with you.”

“I understand. What do you want me to say if, when I’m asked?”

“Say what you know and how it makes you feel.”

“Yes sir, is there anything else you think I should know?”

“Just a few minutes ago President Bloomberg announced he’s appointed Elizabeth Wrannt to become his First Vice President with the role of nationalizing all of the LSA’s banking and investment industry.”

“Sir, what does this do to the shareholders in our country?”

“It appears he plans to give them shares in a new banking company owned by the LSA government.”

“Many of our people and pensions are going to lose hundreds of millions. I thought part of the separation agreement was protection for shareholders of companies on both sides of the divide.”

“Sean, you’re correct, however, it appears that President Bloomberg has decided to cancel this part of the agreement. We’re looking at the agreement to see if there are any sections we can cancel to strike back at him.”

“Sir, if you do, will Russia come to his aid?”

“Sean, there’s nothing concerning Russia I can discuss with you at this time.”

“Sir, I understand. Thank you for giving me a heads up.”

“Wolf, the program may come to an abrupt end when this blows up, keep your eyes and ears open.”

“I will, thank you sir.”

Sean returns to his seat using a paper towel to dry his forehead, Wolf looks at him saying, “Problem call? Looks serious.”

“Might be, nothing I can talk about.”

The two of them sit in silence for twenty minutes until the flight attendant bends down to quietly whisper to both of them. “The pilot received a message saying you’re to wait at the FBO terminal when we land. We’re not supposed to allow you and your crew to leave the terminal.”

Wolf says, “This is very strange, any idea how long we’re supposed to wait at the FBO office?”

“No sir, our instructions were to simply inform you. Further instructions will be waiting at the FBO office for you.”

“Oh, thanks for giving us a heads up.”

Wolf turns to Sean asking, “Does this have anything to do with that call you received?”

“I can’t say. I don’t know why we’re being held or what instructions wait for us when we land.”

“Something doesn’t smell right about this.”

Sean smiles saying, “Not me; I showered before we boarded.”

Wolf laughs saying, “Let’s have another drink.”

“Thanks, but I want to keep my mind clear till we know what’s going on.”

Wolf calls the flight attendant over, “Two Johnny Black Label with water, please.”

Sean asks for, “Coffee with one sweetener and cream for me.”

“Coming up.”

Wolf nods saying, “Sean, can you tell me if the program has been pulled? Our ratings set new records every night. We made millions for our two broadcasters. I wonder what’s going on.”

“Sit tight, we’ll know when we land. Another two hours.”

@@@@@

President Bloomberg with his new first Vice President Wrannt standing next to him announce the LSA is nationalizing all of the banks and financial institutions located within the LSA. If the location is a branch office, all of its assets will be nationalized. Elizabeth Wrannt is named as the new CEO of the LSA Financial Services Corporation. President Bloomberg announces the interest rate on all loans and credit cards is fixed at 1% over the prime rate as set by the LSA Financial Services Corporation, effectively lowering the monthly cost to everyone in the LSA. The news is cheered within the LSA while at the same time upsetting everyone who held shares in these companies outside of the LSA. Wrannt says anyone holding shares in the old companies will be getting shares in the new LSA Financial Services Corporation. She refuses to say what percent of ownership the new shares are valued at. She refuses to say how or even if the new shareholders can sell their shares. President Bloomberg promises that every shareholder is being treated equally. Many shareholders in the USA say, they’re all be screwed equally. Ms. Wrannt smiles into the camera saying “The nationalization of the financial institutions is another step of total equality in the LSA. Everyone in the LSA will benefit from this move.”

Within minutes of the announcement, China, the EU and the USA cut off all credit to the LSA. All existing loans are called in as the world financial community doesn’t trust the value of the currency in countries that have nationalized their banks. Ms. Wrannt responds to the repayment demand with a smile saying, “Of course the LSA plans to honor all existing debt and loans. We will be making payments with the new LSA dollars which have begun to be printed. In order to be fair to everyone, starting in two weeks, the LSA is recalling all old LSA dollars and exchanging them for new dollars. She picks up samples of new bills showing them to the camera. “We in the LSA are proud to have a new currency. We will be accepting and using our new currency effective today. All old debts will be paid in the new currency.”

The USA, who has contracts that specify repayment in precious metals, protests the move to repay all debts and loans only in the LSA’s new currency. Wrannt responds to the demand to honor the existing contracts by tossing copies of them into a fireplace. She says, “The world can either accept our new currency or not be paid at all; the choice is yours.”

International credit to the LSA immediately ceases. Since the LSA doesn’t drill for oil or gas, and no one will accept their new currency, shortages appear within a day. What fuel is stored in the LSA is appropriated by the central government for their use. Long lines appear at every gas station that has gasoline. Any station that tries to increase the price per gallon because of the shortage is arrested for breaking the fixed price rules. The worst problem is in the North East section of the LSA where most homes are heated by fuel oil. Without imports and without permission to increase the price per gallon due to the shortages, fuel oil companies cease making deliveries, within a couple of weeks homes will start to run out of fuel oil panicking the homeowners.  In order to keep costs as low as possible, the LSA operates on a just in time delivery program. Without new deliveries, electrical power generating plants start to run short of fuel required to generate steam used to spin the turbines which generate electricity. President Bloomberg orders every LSA power generation plant to start rolling brown and black outs to stretch their existing fuel supplies as long as possible. At first the power goes off for two hours a day, within four days the electrical power is cut for five hours a day, within a week, there is power only three hours a day. People take to the streets protesting the lack of electricity and the lack of fuel oil. People are cold and tired of living in the dark. Crime, which the LSA boasted had been reduced, expanded quicker than at any time since records were kept. Gas is stolen from parked cars, gas stations find their underground tanks emptied. Generators are the newest ‘hot item’ to steal. Every existing generator is bolted to cement pads. The number of protesters grows daily. The LSA DepLIES increases the number of agents on the streets. People are arrested for talking about the problems in their own homes.

@@@@@

The broadcasting crew is sitting in the FBO hanger at Portland, Oregon, airport waiting for instructions. The office manager motions to Wolf and Sean to come to her desk. They get up to meet with her. “Gentlemen, we’ve received word from the ‘Gray House’ that you can proceed to the Smith’s home to continue with the special program. We do have an issue; that being you are going to have to either supply fuel for your airplane to return to the USA after your broadcast this evening.”

Wolf says, “Marsha that’s an illegal request in the LSA. If you don’t withdraw it, I’ll be forced to contact the DepLIES.”

“Sir, you’re free to call whomever you’d like. Unless the DepLIES has Avgas you’re not going anywhere tonight or tomorrow, or anytime soon. Fuel is going to be worth more than gold very soon. Whatever amount we have or are getting is going to be used to bring us the most profit.”

“Marsha, the DepLIES can make you fuel our airplane. You know changing prices isn’t allowed unless the Gray House approves it. You can’t raise the price of fuel or ask us to pay more for it.”

“You can call anyone you would like to, the only way you’re going to be able to leave here is if whoever you call brings fuel. We didn’t get our delivery today. We don’t have enough fuel to fill your plane.”

“That can’t be. You’re on the special delivery list. We need to get back to the USA tonight.”

“Only if you have fuel.”

Putting his phone back in his pocket, Wolf says, “We’ll see about that. The DepLIES will be here within twenty minutes.”

Black armored SUVs pull into the FBO, five heavily armed agents dress in black exit the vehicles. “I’m DepLIES officer DeFranco, I understand you have refused to a legal request from the LSA media representative to refuel the special broadcast airplane.”

“Officer DeFranco, I suggest you check our fuel tanks yourself, if you find the fuel to refill the airplane in question, we’d be happy to refuel it, once, once we are paid for the fuel.”

“Corporal Jackson, take four people with you and check the fuel tanks.”

“Yes sir.” Five people jog towards the fuel tanks located at the south end of the FBO hanger. Minutes later the corporal is back, “Sir, the tanks are very low, there’s not enough fuel to fill the plane. In addition, the fuel that is left is very dirty.”

“What happened here?”

“Officer DeFranco, we didn’t get our delivery today. Unless the fuel is delivered we have nothing left to refuel any airplane with.”

“Why didn’t the trucks arrive as usual?”

“Officer, you’re asking the wrong person. I only work here as the office manager. I suppose the lack of fuel deliveries may have something to do with the announcement last night.”

“I don’t understand the connection.”

“That doesn’t surprise me.”

“Are you making an un-respectful comment?”

“No officer, I would never do that.”

While Marsha and Officer DeFranco are discussing the tone of her discussion Sean says, “Wolf, any ideas how we get to and from the Smith’s and then home?”

“I could call the ‘Gray House’ to request the use of the DepLIES vehicles and fuel.”

“That may be our only option. I’m going to get another cup of coffee before it too, runs out, while you make the call.”

Five minutes later a smiling Wolf stands in front of Sean saying, “It’s all arranged, Officer DeFranco will take us and our crew to the Smith home while another squad from the DepLIES sends a fuel truck to take care of our plane.”

“I hope they provide some security for the plane, since anyone seeing it fueled will be trying to steal the fuel.”

“Believe me, no one will mess with a squad from the DepLIES.”

“When will we leave?”

“As soon as you’re finished with your coffee.”

“Let’s go before things get out of hand.”

“Sean, things never get out of hand here.”

“If you say so.”

Sean says, “This is the first time I’ve ever ridden in an armored MRAP.”

Officer DeFranco responds, “Sir, I’m sorry; however, that word is no longer used. It’s on the daily word list.”

Sean looks confused, “Officer, I’m not following you, what word? What’s a daily word list?”

Wolf responds, “Sean, we’ve determined that certain words can effect different people, as such we’re very careful about which words we use. We don’t want to offend people.”

“Wolf, I understand some words may offend some people, which is why even though the FCC has relaxed the rules, we still try to not use the famous ‘31’ words you can’t say on television. What I don’t understand is which word did I use that’s now a ‘bad word’ and what’s a daily word list?”

Wolf responds, “You used the word, ‘MRAP,' that’s now a banned word. The daily word list is a list of words that’s usually, but not always, updated daily with the words that we shouldn’t use.”

“Wolf, MRAP isn’t a word, it’s an abbreviation, how can MRAP be offensive?”

“Sean, certain abbreviations are included in the list, MRAP may remind some people from Islamic backgrounds of the various wars in the Middle East. MRAP may remind those people of the times American and NATO troops invaded their countries. We try to ensure nothing we say or print will offend others. Its all part of our everyone is equal foundation of the LSA.”

“Wolf, don’t you think you’re taking this too far? Issuing an updated list of words that may offend someone seems a bit of overreach.”

“It isn’t if you lived here and worked as hard as we do to make everyone feel included.”

“Wolf, if you say so.”

Sean sits quietly for the rest of the ride wondering how to get his hands on the complete banned word list. Such a list would make a good program.

The broadcast crew pulls up to the Smith’s home, this time there’s no one waiting for them on the front yard. As they drive down the street Sean notices that every house closes their blinds or shutters. Two houses along the street had their front doors open, someone started to step out, when they looked down the street they turned around and went back inside their homes. Sean thinks to himself; “It’s these vehicles. Everyone knows they’re DepLIES trucks. We’re scaring everyone. They think we’re here for one of them. It reminds me of history I read about the old Soviet Union. They’re afraid of us. They’re afraid they will be picked up and sent somewhere or to prison. These people live in deadly fear of their government.”

The convoy pulls up to the Smith’s house. Sean notices someone is peeking through the blinds. The blinds are pulled closed before Sean can figure out who it was watching them from inside the house. The broadcast crew starts climbing out of the vehicles; they unload the cameras, lights and sound equipment. The Smith front door remains closed, usually the door opens and Sissy runs out to welcome them. Sean thinks; “They’re afraid something has changed because of the vehicles we’re pulling up in.”

Sean walks to the front door; he rings the bell; Sharon opens the door with a concerned look on her face. “Hello Sean, is everything OK?” Her eyes look towards the line of DepLIES vehicles.

“Hi Sharon, oh yes, we’re all fine. We had a little trouble with the rental cars, seems the depot was short of fuel something about a delivery not being made. Wolf arranged for these kind officers to give us a ride.”

“I understand. Are they going to be waiting for you until the broadcast is completed this evening?”

“Yes, is there a problem?”

“No, not at all, will they be spending their time inside or outside our house?”

“I really don’t know, does it matter to you where they spend their time?”

“Yes, I think it would be easier on the children if they waited by their vehicles.”

“I think I understand, I’ll talk to Wolf.” Smiling Sean walks over to Wolf. “Wolf, may I see you for a minute?”

“Sure, what’s up? Problems?”

“Is officer DeFranco going to come into the Smith house or wait for us by the vehicles?”

“I think it’s going to be very crowded if they come in with us, is there a problem?”

“No, not at all. I’ll see you inside.”

The crew starts setting up for the broadcast when Scott enters the living room asking, “Dad, I left one of my school eBooks at Randy’s, can you give me a quick ride to his house to pick it up?”

Whispering to be as silent as possible Jason says, “Scott, you know with the new fuel rationing, we need to conserve the energy in the cars.”

“But dad their electric, they don’t run on gas.”

“Son, the fuel shortage effects the generation of electricity, which is why we were blacked out this morning. The cars take much longer to charge on a lower voltage. They're not charged from our drive to work yesterday. Do you really need your book today?”

“Yes, I have a project due, my notes are written in the border of the book.”

“Can Randy email those pages to you?”

“I’ll ask him.”

Scott returns a few minutes later, “Dad, Randy said they don’t have any power in his area. It’s supposed to be off all evening. He can’t send my notes to me.”

Sean says, “Jason, I didn’t mean to listen in to your conversation, how about we ask Officer DeFranco to take Scott to his friend’s house.”

Scott looks terrified, “Mr. Sean, it’s OK. I’ll do without it. No, there’s no need to bother the officer. I’ll call Randy, maybe he can read me my notes or enough of them so I can complete my assignment without the book. Please don’t ask the officer. I’m going upstairs until you’re set up for the broadcast.”

Sean realizes that Scott is truly terrified of the officer, maybe the DepLIES is hated and feared here more than the KGB was in the Soviet Union. He decides to not to mention anything about the special driver they had this evening.

In two hours everything is set up, Sean and Wolf welcome everyone back to the program. “Jason, Sharon, Scott and of course Sissy, thank you for having us back with you today. First of all, is there anything new you’d like to discuss with us or with the viewers?”

Jason looks up, smiling, he says, “Hello again everyone, not much has been new over here in the previous 48 hours, we hope everyone watching has been well.”

Before Jason can finish his sentence, Sissy says, “Daddy, you know that’s not true. We didn’t have ’lectric most of the today; that’s what’s new. No heat, no TV, no phone, things are all turned off.”

The look of terror flashes over Sharon’s face. “Sissy, you know this is a game we were playing. See we have electricity. If we didn’t how could Mr. Sean or Mr. Wolf do their program from here?”

“Mommy, it came on bout hour ago, you said it would for the program. You said we were lucky because our street was going to have power tonight.”

Sharon tries to change the subject, “Scott, how was your day at school?”

“Mom, it was good. I left my school eBook at Randy’s, I think I’ll still be able to finish the homework without it.”

Sissy looks out of the front door, “Mr. Sean, what kind of trucks are those you drove in today.”

“Sissy, we had to hitch a ride to get here tonight.”

“You hitched a ride with the black suits? Are you really one of them?”

All of the color drains from Jason and Sharon’s face.

Wolf, jumps in saying, “Why don’t you tell us about your neighbors and friends?”

Scott and Sissy both nod yes, Sissy says, “You go first Scott.”

“My closest friend lives four blocks away, none of the neighbors have anyone my age; that is except for the house three down to the left where a really cute girl moved into with her parents about two weeks ago. I’m trying to find an excuse to meet her.”

Wolf laughs, saying, “Scott, I think you may have just solved that problem. I’m sure she’s watching; I’m sure you two will meet up tomorrow.”

Scott mumbles under his breath, “She won’t have anything to do with me with a DepLIES convoy sitting in front of my house.”

Wolf asks, “Scott, did you say something?”

“No, no I didn’t. I hope I get to meet her. The rumor is she moved here from Seattle.”

“Do you have any classes with her?”

“No, wish I did.”

Sean jumps in asking, “Jason, are you comfortable talking about the income tax burden here?”

Jason looks as pale as the walls, he says, “Sure Sean, what would you like to ask?”

“Jason, how much, in a percentage do you pay for all of your taxes?”

“Sean, that’s a very good question, I don’t think I’ve ever counted it all up, let me start, there’s the national income tax of 55%, plus the state income tax of 10%, the right to live tax in Beaverton of 1%, there’s our real estate tax of, I think of it as a money amount, not a percentage.”

“Jason, that’s ok, how much is it a month?”

“It’s around $800 a month; there’s the personal property tax which is 2%.”

“Jason, 2% on what?”

“I’m sorry; it’s based on the book value of everything we own.”

“Everything?”

“Yes, every time we buy anything the new, the item is automatically added to our personal property inventory, so the government knows how much to send us in a biannual tax bill.”

“Everything you purchase is recorded and tracked by the government?”

“Sure, otherwise how would they know what our taxable deductions are?”

“Don’t you have an accountant do your taxes?”

“Why would we do that? The government sends us a spreadsheet outlining what we earned, what we spent, what our deductions are, what we owe or what refund is going to be deposited into our retirement account.”

“The government sends you your taxes already filled out? If you’re due a refund, you don’t get it in a direct deposit?”

“No, why would I? Any refund is deposited into our government managed retirement account. We’ll see it when we retire. Everyone’s purchases and incomes are tracked. The government has access to our credit cards and debit cards; they track what we spend. This also helps them work with their factories inventory planning. The factories take their manufacturing direction from the government.”

Sean says, “I think it’s a good place to take a short break.”

Chapter 25

The group comes back together in the living room. Just before Sean can continue the Smith’s home phone rings, “Incoming call from Debra Williams, incoming call from Debra Williams, accept or decline.”

Sean says, “Sharon, take the call.”

Picking up the handset Sharon says, “Hello Debra, how are you? How’s the new baby? Are you getting any sleep?”

“Hi Sharon, I’m sorry to bother you, I hope I’m calling before the broadcast crew arrives.”

“They’re already here, but no problem, what’s up? Is something wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong. Matt and I want to invite you and Jason to stand with Matt and me at the baby's chipping ceremony on Friday.”

“Oh Debra, we’d be happy to be there and stand with you. Is it this Friday?”

“Yes, at 5:00 PM, ours is the last ceremony of the day.”

“Debra, this is such good news. This means everything’s great with the baby and he’s going to be accepted into the community now. I’m so happy for you. Listen, can I call you back later?”

“No problem, sorry to interrupt you. I was so happy. We just got the call from the Department of Health. Bye, now.”

Hanging up the phone Sharon has a huge smile on her face, she turns to Jason. “Honey, Debra’s and Matt’s new baby has been cleared by the Health, they are going to hold the chipping ceremony on Friday. They asked if we’d stand with them.”

Jason replies, “Honey, that’s wonderful. I’m so happy for them. I was a little worried since Debra was a little old to have her first child. There’s always the chance Health would find something wrong with the baby. I’ll tell my manager. He’ll have no problems letting me leave a little early. Chipping ceremonies are important.”

Sean looks at both of them; he doesn’t mention that everything since the phone call has been broadcast. “May I ask, what’s a chipping ceremony? Why is this such a special event?”

Sharon smiles, responding. “In the LSA when babies are born, the Department of Health holds the babies for three to five days to check the baby. They want to make sure the DNA of the baby is clean; they check to make sure the baby isn’t carrying critical diseases. They check to make sure the baby is a normal healthy baby. Once they’re sure, they release the baby to the parents and a schedule is established with the Department of Population for the baby to be chipped. It’s a special ceremony. The new healthy baby has a small chip implanted in their arm. This chip is powered by the body; it transmits the person’s location and general condition to the master databases at DepPOP - that stands for our Department of Population.”

Sean gets very excited, “Sharon are you telling me that the government holds newborn to check if they're healthy? If the baby is healthy, you implant an RFID chip inside the baby’s body? A chip that acts as a location device?”

“Yes, that’s correct. Isn’t it exciting? This is the first chipping ceremony in our group of friends for a long time.”

“Sharon, I think I know the answer to my next question, but I have to ask it. What happens if the baby is found to have something wrong with it?”

“Sean, would you want a sick baby to drag down your entire health care system for as long as it lived?”

“Your government kills the babies?”

“It’s not like that. If the baby is sick they simply put it to sleep, so it’s not a burden on our entire society. I’m told it’s totally painless.”

“Sharon, why would you do that to a baby? A newborn? Maybe science will develop a new cure. Maybe science will find a way to make the baby a productive member of your country.”

“There’s a list of issues the Department of Health has if the baby tests positive for any of the diseases on their list the baby is classified as non-stable.”

“That’s a new one on me, ‘non-stable’?”

“Yes, it means the baby won’t be able to survive on its own.”

“How long has this been going on?”

“I think around ten years.”

“Does everyone in the LSA have one of these chips?”

“Of course. Those of us that were born before the divide were chipped when the chips were developed, about the same time, ten years ago. All of us have one. Don’t you in the USA have one?”

“No, we don’t. We don’t want our government tracking us from birth to death.”

Jason picks up the discussion, “Sean, we’ve read about your NSA and FBI tracking everyone’s phone. Listening in on everyone’s calls and reading your emails before you even know they’re in your inbox, in our case, they track our bodies. It slows down on kidnapping.”

Sean responds, “Couldn’t a kidnapper just cut the chip out and then hide from the government?”

“Very hard to do. The chips are not just under the skin. They’re deep inside of us, plus if they are removed, they send a special alarm signal. The last time we had a kidnapping case, which was over eight years ago, DepLIES was able to locate the kidnapper within minutes. The government runs tests every six months showing how accurate the chip is. They run demonstrations on live TV so would be kidnappers can see they won’t be able to get away with a kidnapping. Sean, we’ve heard about all of the missing and lost children in the USA. Chipping our children enables us to find our children. If someone grabbed one of our children, we could track them within a minute. We also don’t have the problem of elderly wandering away. The chip allows the Department of Population quickly to locate anyone who forgets where they are. Many of our senior homes have a sensor in the doorways if any senior walks past the doorway their chip starts broadcasting their location. This helps us quickly locate a missing person. Elders in the USA wander off and die from exposure or lack of their medications, which can’t happen here. Isn’t allowing a chip to be placed in your body worth the benefits? We’re saving lives; we’re using technology to protect our people.”

“Aren’t you giving up all of your privacy rights?

“So what, everyone knows where we are all the time anyway. What am I giving up? My family can be quickly found in a crises, can yours? We’re even going to chip Rebel so she can be found if she runs away.”

“Do you have an issue with visitors being kidnapped?”

“That used to be a problem until visitors were given IDs that had chips in them.”

Sean holds his ID up, “Are you telling me this ID has an RFID chip in it?”

“Yes it does. The DepLIES can track you anywhere you are in the LSA.”

“I should have figured that one by myself. Sharon, I know religion isn’t a topic that’s openly discussed. However, I have a quick question that may step into the religion issue, may I ask?”

“Sean, you can ask, however if we feel you’re crossing into forbidden spaces we’ll tell you and not answer.”

“That’s fair. Sharon, Jason, does the ‘mark of the beast’ mean anything to you?”

“Sean, I’m sorry, but you’ve crossed into an area we don’t discuss or talk about on the air.”

“Thank you, I understand. Sharon, do you know any families that couldn’t bring their newborn home?”

“Yes, there’s the family three houses down the street; they had a little girl, however, the DepHEALTH found she had one leg and one arm longer than the other. There might also have been something else wrong which we don’t know about. Usually the parents are given a medical and DNA report if they can’t bring their baby home. It hit our neighbors very hard. She fell into depression. Her husband had to agree to place her in a special home where they keep an eye on her. We hope she recovers soon.”

“How long has it been since she went to a nursing home?”

“About three years.”

“Three years? Has her husband visited her often?”

“I don’t think so, when she was committed, their marriage was automatically terminated.”

“I think I’m going to stop this line of discussion. I have another question about some of your neighbors. Do any of your neighbors have a multiple partner marriage?”

Scott jumps in saying, “My friend Randy has two mothers and one father, my friend Jenny has three mothers and no father. There’s a couple down the street, the house at the STOP sign; they have a family of three husbands or something like that.”

Sean sits in his chair looking at Smith family, “Is this type of marriage that common? I thought when we first discussed this it was rare.”

Jason replies, “Sean, it was rare around five years ago, since then, it’s gotten much more normal.”

“Jason, are most of these people in what you call an Alpha or Beta marriage?”

“No, most are in regular marriages, meaning a marriage without a built in term limit.”

“I see, I’m not sure I do, but that’s most likely my upbringing talking.”

Sharon says, “Sean, you have to look past your religious background and look at the situation from the peoples involved point of view.”

“I’ll try to keep an open mind on the subject. I still have personal issues with the co-ed gym situation in your schools.”

Scott says, “You weren’t born here. You don’t have the same education as we do.”

“Scott, that’s a very wise statement, you’re much smarter than your years.”

“See dad, Mr. Sean thinks I’m smart. I think I’m smart and aware enough to take my bike over to Randy’s or Jenny’s house.”

“He said you were smart on that one subject. As to you getting your bike expert license that would allow you to travel up to five miles from home on your bike, let’s see how you handle your chores and show your mother and me how well you handle your responsibility.”

“That means you might agree?”

“You heard what I said.”

Wolf jumps in saying, “Sean, you’re a real King Solomon, you may have just made a life long friend.”

“Hey, the way I’m going I can use all of the friends I can get.”

The crew laughs as they take a short break for a couple of commercials CNN decided to accept into the program.

Returning from the break Sean asks, “Sissy, Scott can you tell us more about your school. If I asked you to add 9 and 6 can you quickly tell me the answer?”

Sissy responds, “Mr. Sean, can I use my tablet?”

“Sissy, you need a tablet to figure out the answer?”

“It makes it much easier to do.”

“Here, use mine.”

“Mr. Sean, first we write 9 + 6 =, the next step is to take the number 6 apart, It’s made up of 1 + 5. If we take the 1 and add it to the 9 we get 10. 10 is good. We like 10. Now the 6 is a 5, so we add the 5 to the 10 which gives us 10 + 5 or 15. See how quick and easy that was?”

Sean looks at the tablet saying, “Sissy, yes I see. You’re not able to do math in your head can you?”

Scott jumps in saying, “Why would we? Everyone has a smartphone or a tablet.”

“Scott if you go to the store and one item is priced at $8.75 another is priced at $3.69 how do you quickly figure out if you have enough money to buy both items?”

“Mr. Sean, first of all almost everything is priced at whole dollars if I wanted to know if I have enough money to buy both I take them to the scanner. I scan the two items and my payment card; it’ll tell me if I can buy both items. We don’t usually use what was called cents. It’s too hard to use cents and try to figure out in our heads or even on our tablets.” Scott sits back on the love seat proud of himself.”

Sean looks confused, he says, “If I understand this correctly, everything that deals with numbers has been changed to make it easier for people to calculate. Math has been changed to stay within the student’s ‘comfort zone.' If one were to follow this to its logical conclusion, students’ and everyone else’s comfort zone will never be expanded. How is anyone learning new things if everything is being kept to the easiest?  Scott, thank you for explaining that. I would say your response clears up a lot of questions about your math education. At the same time it generates a lot of new questions, those we won’t touch tight now. Scott, if I said to you CO2, what would you respond to me?”

“That’s an easy one. I’ll tell you CO2 causes Global Warming. It’s a very bad chemical. We have to do everything we can to lower the amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere. We’re doing everything we can to save the planet. We have to work twice as hard since you in the USA refuse to sign any treaty to slow and stop Global Warming from destroying the planet.”

“Scott, do you realize that you exhale CO2? If you have to do everything possible to reduce CO2, does that mean reducing the planet’s population?”

“Yes, that’s one of the things we’re taught. That’s why soon new families are going to be limited to one child instead of two. We have to work very hard because so many other countries, and that includes the USA, aren’t doing anything to stop Global Warming.”

“Scott, have you been taught that plants use CO2 to make Oxygen? Do you realize if there’s a major reduction of CO2, there could be a reduction of Oxygen?”

Scott looks confused at Sean, “Huh, I don’t understand.”

Jason says, “Sean, I think you’re trying to sway and change what Scott’s being taught. We agreed not to cross into discussions like this.”

Sean responds, “Jason, you’re correct, I’m sorry for saying that. Jason, do your teachers discuss how much warmer the planet has become in the previous ten or twenty years?”

“Mr. Sean, we’re shown pictures of the ice melting at the North Pole and icebergs floating in the oceans. We’re shown the number of animals that no longer exist. Which is proof of the planet getting warming. Another proof is school is kept warmer every year which must mean everything is getting warmer.”

“Scott couldn’t it be that to save energy they’re just increasing the temperature of the air conditioning which increases the temperature in your classrooms?”

“I’m sure it could be possible, but I’m not sure why every building seems warmer than before.”

“My guess is the government has adjusted the temperature up a half or a full degree every year to save money.”

“Mr. Sean, I don’t know. I’ll ask my teacher.”

Sharon looks at Sean saying, “Sean, please back it down a little.”

Wolf laughs saying, “Sharon, Sean and most of the people in the USA still live in the dark ages. They don’t believe in Global Warming or in saving the environment for their future generations. The USA still lives like they were in the twentieth Century. They recycle only 45% of their waste, while we recycle close to 80%. In a few ways, the USA is very backward. Don’t be upset with Sean, just do as I do, I pity him and most of those in the USA. We hope that the day will come when they see the value and truth in going green. Europe led the green movement; we followed and soon exceeded even their level. The LSA is proud to be the ‘greenest’ country in the world. We can all hope that one day the USA will follow our lead. As to the schooling of the LSA’s children, we’ve taken an approach that the USA launched fifteen years ago. We learned that children learn quicker if they are taught within their comfort zone.”

Sharon says, “Sissy is learning things at her age I didn’t learn until much later. I can’t even help her with her homework any longer. Most parents can’t. That’s how advanced our education system has become.”

Sean asks, “Sharon is there a single Department of Education or does each town have their own?”

“There’s the national DepEd, followed by the state department of educations, we did away with our local educational departments. Every child is tested against a national standard. I’m very proud that Scott and Sissy have both scored very high on the national tests.”

Sean follows up, “Does every student take the standard tests?”

“Yes, the scores are posted on our national education website.”

“Oh? May I see it?”

“Jason taps the commands into his tablet, “Here is it, and here is the listing of the last test results.” He hands the tablet to Sean.

“It doesn’t look like anyone failed the test.”

“Almost no one fails. Remember we’re all equal, most of the scores are very similar, they are graded on a curve.”

Sean asks, “Sharon, then what good is the tests if they are graded on a curve?”

@@@@@

President Paul asks his chief of staff, “Marvin is the information complete, there’s no doubt on the results?”

“Mr. President, there’s no doubt. The poison itself was designed in Russia, the scientists who developed the formula even published it. We found a copy. I’m sure the FSB is currently trying to clean the Internet of any reference to them or one of their labs. The people who performed local poisoning all had ties to family currently in the LSA. One broke down telling us if she didn’t agree she’d never see her parents again.”

“What does the cabinet suggest?”

“Sir, the cabinet went back and forth all day.”

“Back and forth over what suggestions?”

“An all out attack response in kind or some sort of blockade, seizure of assets, those sort of actions.”

“Did the cabinet reach an agreement?”

“Sir, not really. Half of the members side with Defense who wants to bomb the LSA, and half want to respond in kind.”

“My choices are responded in kind, hurting children; that’s off the table. I’m a doctor; there’s no way I will agree to hurt children because they hurt ours. As to an all-out attack, that’s out too. I’m not going to hurt people who have no idea what happened or who did it. There has to be another option. Find one.”

“Sir, what if we froze their assets?”

“It might have worked at one time, now the LSA don’t have any of their resources in our banks. They nationalized all of their banks. As soon as they did they moved all of their assets back into their own banks.”

“Mr. President, how are we going to respond?”

“I don’t want to use the military because they don’t have a military; in addition, if we bomb them, we’ll harm their civilians. We need to find a way to respond so that President Bloomberg gets the message to leave us alone or else.”

“Sir, we could bring down their wall, opening up the border for their people. We could find a way to broadcast into their territory.”

“Let’s spend one more day looking at options.”

Chapter 26

The current episode ends with a special announcement, President Brownie and President Brownstone will be speaking with each other in the next segment. Even people who hadn’t followed the series decided this was a program they had to watch. This will be the first time in history the two presidents will share a table to discuss the split and why each went the direction they did. The presidents of the other networks threw up their hands in frustration. None knew how they were going to compete with this program. The president of ABX tells his staff we might as well go black for the night, who is going to be watching the reruns we broadcast. “Hell, even I want to watch that program.” The Senior VP of programming suggests, “Sir, I have an idea if I may?”

“What is it?”

“Sir if no one is going to watch us, why don’t we offer to carry the program for that night too. We can offer Wolf and CNN a share of our advertising revenue.”

“That’s not a bad idea at all; we may at least hold some viewers for the evening. In addition, we’ll earn something versus earning next to nothing. I’ll call Randolph right now.”

In three hours, the first of its kind announcement is made - every station will carry the program with the two Presidents.  The stations usually all carry the same program if it’s a Presidential debate or special event like the 1969 moon landing. Wolf and CNN are ecstatic, they're getting 65% of the revenues from the other three stations without any additional costs.

On the night of the presidential discussion, the streets are empty, stores close early, those who had to work held their portable communications devices to watch the program. The program opens with two flags behind two chairs at one table. The camera zooms into the focus; President Brownstone is sitting in the right-hand chair, President Brownie in the left. Sean and Wolf sit across from their Presidents. The camera focuses on Sean, who opens the program.

“Hello everyone. It’s our pleasure to welcome everyone to our program this evening. We’re honored to have with us President Brownie from the LSA and President Brownstone from the USA. As I’m sure everyone knows, our two guests were the two men who faced off against each other when the LSA split from the USA. These two men could have taken us into a very violent time. A violence that surely would have destroyed America. Our program this evening is going to be completely different from our previous ones. Tonight, we’re going to let our two guests speak to each other, in addition to responding to questions send in from you, our audience. Without further ado, President Brownie.”

“Hello and thank you for joining President Brownstone, Sean, Wolf and me. Our goal is to answer your questions about the differences between the LSA and the USA. If we run out of viewer questions, we’ll let Sean and Wolf to ask us some questions. I see from the incoming email list that we already have more questions than we’re going to have time for this evening. Our first question comes from Mrs. B. no age given, from Sparta, South Carolina, she asks, “Why did we build a wall between our two nations?”

“Mrs. B, when we split away from the USA to form a progressive nation, we, I felt we needed to have a clean start, a fresh start if you will. I was also presented with a problem of having hundreds of thousands of people who were unemployed; many of the companies they worked for were located or were moving to another country. If we didn’t have a way to truly differentiate ourselves from the USA, we would have had a very difficult time forming a new country. I knew the USA would flood us with propaganda to sway many of our people to cross over and return to the USA. The wall, or divide as we call it, allowed me to put everyone to work, many learned new skills while also creating a way to separate us from the USA.”

John Browning, age 9, from Aurora, Illinois, asks, “Was it hard building the wall, how long did it take to build?”

“John, the plans were very simple, the construction was much harder than we expected. We had to teach almost everyone how to build a wall that is two stories high and up to twenty feet thick. I’m sure John’s follow up question was going to be what’s the wall made from? John most of the wall is made of rock and reinforced cement.” President Brownie shows images never seen before, on a large screen behind him, of the wall being built. President Brownie says, “I’m happy to announce that next week Wolf News Network and the Continuous News Network will show a two-hour program of how the divide was built. Rare images of the original blueprints and a video of the rocks being cut and made into the wall. Stay tuned to your local stations for news on this exciting program.”

“Here’s a question for President Brownstone, it’s from Jackie R, age 28, who lives in South Orange, New Jersey, she asks, ‘Why didn’t you sign the Global Warming accords?’”

President Brownstone replies, “Jackie, I didn’t sign onto the latest round of Global Warming accords because our own scientists didn’t find proof the planet has warmed in the previous twenty-five years. In fact, our records show the planet cooled around half of one degree.”

He continues selecting a question from those submitted; “This question is from Frank G, aged 75, from Austin, Texas, Frank asks, ‘What happened to the US Military bases and equipment that was in the LSA?’”

President Brownstone replies, “Frank, part of the separation contract was an agreement we could have up to one year to remove all of our assets from the LSA area. We used a steady stream of US Air Force cargo planes and merchant shipping to remove all of the US military equipment. Let me say, if it wasn’t nailed down we took it home, if it was nailed down, it usually took us a little longer, but we took it. We even took apart buildings and brought the materials home. We left foundations and runways, not much else.”

President Brownie added, “He did too. I never expected the US military to be able to strip a military base down to its foundations, but they did. I think if they could have pulled up the runways they would have. To be fair, they did hire over one hundred thousand LSA workers to help them take apart and ship everything home. I appreciate them hiring our people versus them bringing their own people to handle the movement.”

President Brownstone selects another question, “Here’s a question from Stephanie H, aged unlisted, living in Seattle Washington; she wants to know why the USA doesn’t sell more oil and gas to the LSA.”

“Stephanie, we’re willing to sell any amount of oil and gas to the LSA they want. The oil companies in the USA offered the LSA a special price because a lot of the pipelines already exists. I suggest you ask the LSA why they don’t buy more from us. I know our petrochemical companies would love to sell you whatever you want.”

President Brownie stands adding, “Stephanie, when I was your President I pushed forward what I called the ‘Total Green Agenda’ I knew that dependence on oil and gas would cost us in any times of disagreement. The USA petrochemical companies could have been ordered to stop our shipments leaving our vehicles empty and our homes in the North East cold if they didn't get heating oil. I know the initial years were very difficult as we started our conversion. I’m proud that today the LSA is the ‘Greenest’ country in the world.”

Sean says, “I’ll earn my pay, here’s a question from Cecil Q from Boston, age 27, Cecil wants to know why are the customs agents so strict along the border, he says there says when he has to cross the border more than once a day.”

President Brownstone says, “Cecil; that’s a good question, I think the issue is both countries are concerned with people bringing contraband goods across the border as their business.”

Wolf, says, “We should have said, we’re not going to be taking any questions on the subject of why President Brownstone and President Brownie decided to split the country.  First of all because President Brownie wasn’t in office when the decision was made and second because this has been discussed and written about many times already. Thank you for your understanding.” Wolf continues, “Here’s a very good question from Ronald P, aged 41, from Orlando, Florida, Ron wants to know if the two countries share or exchange medical personal.”

President Brownie says, “Yes we do, we also share resources when there’s a major natural disaster. Both countries have shared resources when the Mississippi River flooded. The USA sent thousands of people and tons of equipment when a storm struck north of Boston three years ago.”

Wolf says, “The next question is from Alicia Q, aged 18, living in Oakland, California, she wants to know if both countries will work together on common education standards. And she has a follow up question which is, are degrees from one country accepted in the other?”

President Brownstone says, “In one word, yes. We accept degrees from each other. As to common education standards, we don’t. The USA allows our states to set their own processes as long as their students meet or exceed the national standards. The LSA adopted the program called Common Core. While the two countries don’t have the same education standards, we do accept each others degrees when one from either country wants to fill a position. We have made it very easy for citizens of either country to fill openings in either country. While the LSA has pretty much an open immigration program, the USA has a tighter process, where need has to be shown. The USA wants our citizens to have the first chance to fill all of our openings. I will say it’s very hard, if not impossible, for non-USA citizens to get government jobs in the USA. In addition, government jobs in the USA require a loyalty oath to be signed.”

President Brownie asks, “Mr. President, don’t you think it’s time to put an end to these two policies in your government hiring? Don’t you think the USA should open all government jobs to best qualified?”

“President Brownie, I’m sorry, but after the problems we had, which are still very fresh to me, I, one hundred percent, support these policies in the USA.”

President Brownie continues, “Mr. President, do you support the law you signed that forbids members of the GLBT community from being preschool and elementary school teachers?”

“Yes, I do. Young children need traditional guidance when they’re just starting their education.”

“I and most people in the LSA don’t agree with you.”

“Which is why we’re two different countries.”

“That’s not a good answer.  You’re discriminating against an entire group of people.”

“I’m not sorry; it’s how I and a large number of people in the USA believe.  I’m also one of those who still clings to my religion and my guns. I still open doors for women, and I don’t think its right to be yelling out four letter words in front of children.”

“Since you left the military, what have you needed a gun for?”

“I don’t need a reason; I live in a country where my rights are built into the founding documents.”

“Don’t you feel bad that your religion could be making others feel bad?”

“I don’t wear my religion on my sleeve; I go to church; I don’t force others to do the same, I don’t care what others believe as long as they leave me alone. I promise not to try to convert anyone; all I ask is that no one try to convert me. Is that too much to ask for?”

“Which is why we’ve have taken a better approach, we’ve outlawed all displays of religion.”

“You treat people like they’re little children and need a mommy to tell them what to do. You treat your people like they have no common sense; you treat them as if you weren’t there they would be running down the streets like spoiled four-year olds. I believe in the good side of people. I believe people can and should be responsible for their own lives. Government has a place in people’s lives, but not as their parents. While on the subject of parents I believe that a child’s parents are the best ones to bring them up. I know you think it takes a village, I believe it takes a loving, caring, parent. Two is best, one if that’s all available. Parents should take an interest and partake in their children’s lives.”

“Mr. President, we can agree not to agree. We think it takes a professionally trained person to raise a child, most parents lack the training. We tried a program to provide special educational classes for parents to be, we got a lot of pushbacks, parents-to-be didn’t want to be forced to take classes in order to have children. We tried to provide them with the knowledge they needed; they pushed back. We had to cancel the requirement to have children; we redesigned our education to provide professional support for our children. We consider children belong to the state because they are society’s future, you, in the USA believe that children belong to their parents. If the parents don’t do a good job raising their children, all of the country will suffer. You’re selfish in your thoughts concerning children. This is something we’ll never agree on.”

“President Brownie, children are created by a man and a woman, hopefully the child’s parents. Two people who we hope love and nourish their children. The state should stay out of the family. We don’t believe the state has any say in how a child is raised.”

“You’ve made that very clear. Even when you were in office, you vetoed every bill that tried to provide additional professional guidance for children. You cling to your old believes just like you hold on to your beliefs that people can own guns and have the right of total free speech.”

“Mr. President, without freedom of speech, the press can’t be a true guardian of the government. A free press protects the freedom of the people.”

“Freedom is a term that is overused and little understood. People don’t really want freedom; they want to have their needs taken care of. They want a full belly and a roof over their heads. They want to be secure. They want a job. Freedom is a word most don’t understand.”

“President Brownie, I have to totally disagree with you. Without the freedom, society falls apart. Without the freedom being guaranteed, there is tyranny. Look at the progress each of our countries has made. We’ve moved computing into a new age; our AI systems rival those of the human mind, soon they will exceed the ability of our own minds. Our medical science has added 5 years to our people’s average life span. We’ve cured many types of cancer. We’ve done this because our people are free to think, they are free to start new companies, they are free to think outside of the box. In the LSA no one can think outside of the box, you nail them inside your box. While we’re moving forward, you’ve become stagnant, or in some cases, moved backwards. Soon we’ll be decades ahead of you. While you’re busy spying on everything your people do and say, we’ll be moving into outer space. We’re building a new space station; we’re planning a permanent base on the moon and from there we’re going to Mars and beyond. It’s the freedom to be able to think outside the box that allows us to do these things. Our people’s average net worth has increased, while yours has fallen, our people’s average life span has increased while yours have remained stagnant. We’ve built our military into the strongest in the world. Our people are safe wherever they travel; everyone knows that to harm an American is to lose a city. You might say we’re free because the world fears us. I’d rather they fear us than like us. I’d rather they fear us than screw with us. Your people are easy pickings. No one fears the LSA; you’ve made that very clear by paying the ransom on hundreds of your kidnapped citizens, I understand the cartels have made a new business by kidnapping LSA citizens.”

“At least I don’t have the title of mass murderer attached to my name. At least I can leave my country without risk of being arrested for crimes against humanity. Are you proud of being only the second person in history to use a nuclear weapon against a city? Why don’t you admit the real reason you didn’t run for reelection is because you used a nuclear weapon against a terrorist camp. That was like hitting an ant with a 500 pound bomb. How many did you kill?”

“I did what I had to do. I had to prove a point. I promised America that our citizens would be safe. I warned the world that any who kidnapped an American citizen with the intent of killing them would end very badly for those who harmed an American citizen. The first time I used 100 bombers to wipe their city off the map, this time I used a small missile to accomplish the task. I saved the American taxpayers millions of dollars and made my point. We’ve never had another citizen kidnapped and murdered by a terrorist organization. I’m not proud of those I killed; I am proud I saved countless numbers of Americans. “

“President Brownstone, a nice excuse, however is one American life worth the thousands of innocents you killed? Is one of your citizens worth the damage to the planet your use of the weapon caused?”

“Mr. President, yes, one American life is exceptional. America is exceptional. I won’t apologize for what I did. I saved my people suffering, in the long run I saved the world suffering. My actions convinced the world to stop allowing terrorists from using their countries for bases. The countries of the world were afraid we would take our revenge against them. The world finally got together and took action against all of the terrorist organizations. I used one small weapon and saved millions. I lead the world into a more peaceful time.”

“But sir, you did it by using the world’s worst weapon.”

“I disagree with you there; nuclear weapons aren’t the world’s worst weapon; biologicals are the worst weapons every designed.”

“President Brownstone, your claimed advances are nothing compared to the calm and peace our people have built. Our people are happy; we have no homeless; we have no hungry; we have none who don’t go to college. We provide the needs of our people. Most important, our people are equal. You can’t say the same.”

“I can say the people of the USA all have an equal start; anyone can become a millionaire, anyone can accomplish anything they want. Our major difference remains; your people are equal at the finish line; ours are equal at the starting line.”

Sean stands saying, “Mr. Presidents we thank both of you for you time. Time flies when we’re having fun. Our time this evening has run out. We thank you for tuning in and spending two hours of your evening with us tonight. Remember the discussion continues online. Goodnight and thank you.”

The two countries sit in front of their computers and televisions in a state of shock. Most couldn’t believe two previous presidents shared a stage debating their two systems on live television.

@@@@@

“Well, that’s telling him Brownstone! Hit him again.”

“Brad, will you please cool down? They can’t hear you. This isn’t a two way television.”

“Well, it should be. We need to re-elect President Brownstone. He knows how to stand up for us. He knows how to be presidential. He put in place the policy that to kidnap or harm an American will cost you a city. The first time he did it, most wanted to impeach him. Do you remember?”

“Of course I do, who could forget, it’s like asking someone if they remember where they were when the towers were hit. The terrorists kidnapped an American journalist; they killed him on the air. It upset President Brownstone so much; the next day 100 US Air Force bombers leveled the city their base camp was located in - 100 bombers each carrying 48 bombs and twenty-four long range missiles. By the time the last bomber was over the target there was nothing left, the last bombs made the debris bounce because there was nothing left to destroy. The terrorists tried it only one additional time. The next time they kidnapped an American and killed him on the air, the President sent a small tactile nuke, I think it was only 5KT which was smaller than the ones used in World War 2. Every country in the world screamed and called Brownstone a mass murderer, he told the world not to harm Americans, it was the last time any terror organization every tried to kidnap an American again.”

“He did get the world to come together and clean out the assholes, they were all worried that if they didn’t clean them out Brownstone would attack them. He finally made them see the light of day. I really wish he would have run again. President Cruise was a good president; President Paul is turning out to be a good one too, it’s just that neither spoke the common way President Brownstone did.”

Chapter 27

Beth asks Carol, “Mommy are Mr. Sean and Wolf coming back to play with us soon?”

“Yes honey, I think they will be here tomorrow.”

“Yea, I don’t have to go to school. I get to sleep in.”

“No, you don’t. I called your teacher, you’re going to do your school work until they arrive, Daddy, and I have to work too. Daddy is going to his office; I’m going to be working from here. I want you to keep Holly under control this time. I’m tired of finding her chewing on one of our shoes. I bought her some chew toys; honey make sure she chews on her toys and not our stuff.”

“Mommy, Holly doesn’t mean it. She’s a puppy; she likes to chew.”

“I know, just keep an eye on her. If she starts chewing on one of the cables they lay around the house, she could get hurt. Remember don’t let her near their equipment.”

“Yes mommy I know.”

“What to help me make a cake for tomorrow?”

“YEA, Holly, we’re going to help bake a cake.”

Bob calls out, “Carol, do you think the issues with the sick children and what happened last night is going to have an impact on the program?”

“I don’t know. I understand the sick kids are getting better, I didn’t think last night went too bad. I was surprised President Brownie and Brownstone went after each other on live television.”

“I didn’t think it was too bad, Brownie egged Brownstone on, and there was no need for him to bring back the nuclear issue. That was a long time ago. I supported him then and still support President Brownstone’s decision to use the weapon. I’m not sure I agree with him using the excuse it saves us money to use it versus sending a hundred bombers. I think he had to use the nuke to send a message to leave us alone. It worked, eleven years without another terrorist attack or an American harmed. He taught them a lesson they’ll never forget. He gave them what they wanted which was to be a martyr; he sent them to paradise by the tens of thousands. If he hadn’t used the nuke, they would have attacked us. We would have had to fight them on our soil. It would have cost us many innocent lives. Can you imagine what the situation would have been if Obsma had been president?”

“He would have made a speech then gone to play golf.”

“Speaking of Obsma, do you think Wolf will be returning tomorrow?”

“Yes, why are you asking?”

“There’s a lot of rumors floating around that either President Bloomberg was going to pull Wolf or President Paul was going to cut the program off. The forums are filled with all kinds of bullshit. A few are saying there’s proof floating around that the LSA was behind the kids getting sick.”

“I hadn’t heard that one yet. Do you think they were behind it?”

“Yes, I do. The timing is classic Bloomberg; he tried to shift our focus away from what had been said on the program. He almost succeeded. If Bloomberg did it, then I could see President Paul pulling the plug in revenge.”

“If they pull the plug, we had our fifteen minutes of fame. We can get back to work; Beth will be fine, its Leon I worry about. The show’s gone to his head. I worry if they pull the plug how he’s going to take it.”

“We should get him focused on something else. Something that will take up a lot of his time. I was getting worried about him. He was trying to use his new found fame to pick up girls; he’s too young for that.”

“Kids grow up much faster now.”

“I don’t want to be a grandparent while we have a six-year-old.”

“Yea, that would be strange. I’ll talk to him. I’ll also have a talk with his coach.”

“Great idea.”

@@@@@

Sean softly sings, “We’re on the road again.” He doesn’t sing the entire song, just the one line over and over, driving Wolf crazy.

“Sean, can you please stop singing, you’re driving me crazy. I think last night went well don’t you?”

“I think President Brownie hit President Brownstone under the belt with the remarks about being a mass murderer, I thought everyone put that incident to bed a long time ago. When they were both in office Brownie at that time, spent months dragging Brownstone over the coals, I don’t think it was right to hit him with it on a live show.”

“Sean, why not, it’s all true.”

“That’s not the issue. Brownie was getting hit by facts he didn’t like so he opened an eleven-year-old incident to throw mud in Brownstone’s face. He should have stayed within the issue being discussed.”

“In war you use every weapon you have.”

“Wolf, you just let the cat out of the bag. You progressives base everything on winning. You think nothing of causing collateral damage or leaving bodies in your wake. The only things you care about are staying in power and winning your arguments.”

“Sean, we’re no different than you, we all want to win.”

“Wolf, to you it’s a religion rolled within a cult. Anyone not with you is against you, Compromise isn’t a word you understand. You built the divide so you could have a free hand in brainwashing your people.”

“That’s not true; we built the divide to protect our people.”

“Protect them from whom?”

“From the evil that comes from the USA.”

“Evil? Us evil? You can’t handle anything that doesn’t come out of your Department of Propaganda. You have to control every aspect of what is said and heard.”

“Sean, we have to prepare for the show, let’s agree to put this discussion behind us.”

“Typical, when you can’t answer, you change the subject. OK, let’s discuss the program. What do you think we should discuss tonight?”

“I’d like to discuss their take on the homelessness, crime and the crisis in the USA with obesity.”

“Wolf, Sounds like the Department of Propaganda sent you their list of favorite talking points. I’m going to give this one to you and go along with it; if you’ll listen to the truth you may get your eyes opened.”

“Ha, we’ll see whose eyes get opened. How long till we land?”

“About an hour.”

“Do you want to write anything down or just go with the flow?”

“Wolf, let’s go with the flow, Beth and her puppy are always good to pull on viewer's heart strings. People don’t know if they should love or hate Leon, he’s so much a typical teenager. Many can’t handle him. Most don’t realize he’s the perfect poster boy for the typical teenager. He’s focused on girls, sex, video gaming, sports and his friends. Aren’t all teenagers like him? The difference is Bob and Carol didn’t over smother him; they let him be himself on camera. I’m happy to see them accepting Leon as a regular teenager and aren’t using the program to try to make him into a star.”

“Sean, I also think he’s perfect. He’s perfect for everything that’s wrong with the USA. I love him; I love giving him airtime. Every time he opens his mouth he puts both feet in until they pop out of his ass.”

“Wolf watch that, he’s a teenager.”

“OK, you’re right. I’ll be good.”

When the crew is a block away from the Jones’ home, Beth and Holly see the lead vehicle turn onto her street, she’s overjoyed. Beth, with Holly at her heals, runs down the street to meet the crew. Wolf says, “Look, here comes Beth and Holly, I’m worried that she’s running along the street by herself, it’s too dangerous for her to be doing this.”

“Come on Wolf, she’s on the sidewalk, it’s already been discussed they have a neighborhood watch program. I think you need to chill out. Let’s pull over and pick them up.”

Sean opens the door; Holly jumps onto his lap, “Beth, how are? Come on in, we’ll give you a ride home.”

“Mr. Sean, it’s so good to see you again, see Holly missed you too.” Holly is sitting on Sean’s lap licking Sean’s hands. They drive past a few homes before pulling into the Jones’ driveway where Carol is waiting for them.

“I see you found my lost little girl and puppy.”

Sean says, “You mean this little girl? And my puppy?”

Beth grabs Holly, “Mr. Sean, that’s my puppy, she’s not yours. Give her to me.”

The crew piles out of the vehicles waving at the neighbors and those hanging around to watch the program. Sean and Wolf chat with some of the people hanging around, they sign autographs; take selfies with the people on the street, while the crew goes about their business setting up the equipment. Sean and Wolf chat with Bob and Carol catching up on everything they’ve been doing. Leon bounces into the house grabbing a bottle of soda from the fridge. “Hi guys, guess we’re a go for tonight, want me to wear anything special? Want me to prepare anything unique?”

Wolf smiles responding, “Hi Leon, we plan on spending some time with you today, so be ready for anything.”

“Great, I love my camera time, my FB page is exploding. I’m the big man at school. I wish the program would continue forever.”

Carol taps Leon on the shoulder, “Leon, remember what we discussed, this is going to end very soon, when it does, you’re going to return to being the preshow Leon. Your Facebook pages will shrink; all of those girls who are eager to meet you will disappear, don’t let this go to your head. You’re just a teenager. You’re not going to be some big star. Got it?”

“Mom I know, but, while it lasts, I’m going to take advantage of it.”

“Just remember what your father and I are telling you.”

The crew nods to Sean and Wolf telling them they’re set up and ready to go. Sean nods saying, “OK then, let’s go.”

Wolf opens the program, “Hello everyone. We’re back in North Carolina with the Jones family. I have to say, we’re happy to be here. We got a special welcome, as we were a few homes away; Beth and Holly ran to meet us. We picked them up to bring them home. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I’m very concerned about young children being able to run around outside by themselves.”

Bob’s face turns red, “Wolf, we’ve discussed this before. We allow out children to be children, we allow them to go outside and play. This isn’t some sort of prison camp. We live in a very safe area. We have a neighborhood watch program that keeps an eye on all of the children.”

“Bob, what about the high crime rate?”

“Wolf, what high crime rate?”

“Bob, everyone know that crime is out of control in the USA.”

“It is? Where?”

“We’re told all of the time that the USA has a very high crime rate because of income inequality problems and the very low base pay in the USA, people can’t live on what they’re paid. They have to turn to crime to support their families.”

“Where do you get this made up information? I bet you have a propaganda group in the LSA who feeds all of you news people with pure bullshit to talk about.”

“Bob, don’t get excited, I’m only saying things that ‘everyone’ knows is true.”

“Wolf, I don’t know who this ‘everyone’ is, but you’re full of it. We have a minimum wage which is designed for entry level jobs. Minimum wages are designed for teenagers, part time jobs for people are looking to pick up a little bit of extra cash. These jobs are not designed to be the primary jobs to support a family. Why would anyone flipping burgers or working a cash register think they can support a family working in a fast food joint or a discount store?”

“What if that’s the only job they can get?”

“I’d say they should look for an entry level job where they can learn the ropes with a potential for growth.”

“What if there are no such jobs?”

“Walmart has many as do other stores. The people have to be ready to work, to report every day and treat it like a job. If they lack the skills required we have many program that teach computer skills, typing, English and even how to dress for work. All they have to do is ask for help.”

“Why not just increase their pay?”

“Small businesses can’t absorb wage increases without being offset by something else.  Once their pay is increased it puts stress on the business owners who will have to either reduce costs or increases prices to cover the increased pay. If they increase prices, their total sales may decrease thereby lowering the number of people they need. They may turn to automation that will further reduce the need for manpower. If, as you’re really suggesting, everything remains the same except that the minimum wage increases, all prices will go up. It’s called inflation. Did you ever study basic economics? By the way, where does the money come from to pay for the increases? Huge companies don't own most of these shops, they’re small businesses. Let’s assume that we take Walmart and increase the wages, it will turn their profit to a loss. Companies exist to make a profit for their shareholders; they don’t exist to employ more workers. We’re not a socialist country like you are.  If you increase wages, the increased wages flow across the entire economy, putting the workers in the same or a worse position than they were before the increase. Increasing wages is never the answer. Getting people educated and moved into better jobs is the answer. They have to want to improve themselves.”

“Bob, your lower class workers are really slaves.”

“Huh? How can you say that?”

“They’re not paid enough to support their families; they can’t get a better job because there aren’t any better jobs to be had. They’re slaves to the business owners. Your system was designed to keep them down and controllable.”

“Wolf what the hell are you saying? This isn’t the 1850s; we have no slaves here.”

“Why don’t you figure a way to help those on the lowest rung of the ladder? The USA is still the richest country in the world, why don’t you spread the money around a little? You figured out how to create science fiction laser weapons and put men on the moon, yet you can’t figure out how to improve the lives of many of your people? What kind of country are you?”

“Wolf, we’re a free country, one that allows people to make their own choices. No one ordered the workers to take those jobs. No one put a gun to their head. No one told many of them to drop out of school. There are many programs available to help them learn to improve themselves. We provide all types of opportunities for people.”

“Bob, I’m sure you believe that. I don’t, and I know millions of viewers don’t either. Let’s take the last racial incident when a white police officer shot a young black child.”

“Wolf, that young black child as you call him, was an adult who outweighed the officer by more than 100 pounds, he tried to beat up the officer, who’s in the hospital with a broken nose and jaw. He didn’t listen to the officer. No matter what happened, there was no reason for the minorities to riot and burn a third of the city down.”

“Bob, they had the right to express themselves.”

“Wolf, express themselves? They went wild; they burned a third of the town down. They didn’t wait for the legal system to work. They attacked everyone they encountered. They refused to listen to anything. They made up their own story, believing their own bullshit. When many of the stores and homeowners said they’re not going to rebuild, the community went wild again. They feel entitled to whatever they want. They refuse to work and earn it like others. They’ve been educated by progressives like you to believe it’s not their fault they can’t get a decent job; they’ve been educated to believe they are entitled to everything. The truth is no one is entitled to anything. People have to earn what they get.”

‘Bob, we believe that people are entitled to certain necessities, like a decent place to live, three meals a day, clean air to breath, clean water to drink, a decent job that pays a living wage, and clean and safe streets.”

“Wolf, who pays for all of these entitlements? Why does everyone else have to pay to support the desires of these people? Why can they make demands from others? Isn’t them making demands from others and the state forcing those who earn more to pay for the less wealthy make the wealthy slaves to the less fortunate? Aren’t you creating a new class of slaves?”

Leon pushes his way into the conversation, “Hey, you guys are getting into some heavy stuff. I want some screen time. I need to say hi to all of my FB friends. I want to give a big shout out to all of my friends and followers out in viewer land. I got a new hair cut today; you’re getting to see it here first. Like it? Post on my page what you think about it. I made the first team yesterday; we’re going to win state. I’m starting to work out with weights to bulk up for spring. I’ll be posting new pics tonight. Check out my updates. Love you all. And, hey, when the program is over, please keep following me. I hope to see you all soon.”

Sean says, “Leon, I see the instant fame hasn’t gone to your head has it?”

“Mr. Sean, I’ll be honest, I love it. I wish the program would continue forever. I’m number one at school. Nothing like this has ever happened to me before.”

“Leon, take some advice, don’t let the instant fame go to your head. Fame is funny, it can hit you real fast taking you up like a rocket and turn around and forget you in an instant too. You’re too young to let it go to your head. At your age, fame can ruin your life.”

“Mr. Sean, I hear you, but when you’re my age and girls chase you, there’s nothing like it.”

“Leon, my best advice to you is you should concentrate on your school work and your sports. Being really good with either can get you scholarship to a really good school putting you in a great position for your future. Don’t put your faith in this quick fame, it burns out as quickly as it lights. When the program ends, you’re going to be in for a large fall, prepare for it now. Don’t let yourself get trapped in instant anything.”

“Mr. Sean, I hear you. I’ll think about it.”

“You do that.”

Wolf asks, “Bob, can we talk about your tax burden?”

“Sure, we have federal and state income taxes, like most, I think there’s still one or two states without a state income tax.”

“What about a sales tax, and gasoline tax, phone tax, TV tax?”

“Yes we have those, the sales tax here is very low, I think it’s about 3%, I have no idea what the tax on our phones are. I don’t think I ever looked into it.”

“What’s the percent of income tax you pay?”

“Our tax rates have been reduced in the past five years. President Cruise lowered the corporate tax from 35% to 15%, with dramatic results. He also allowed the companies to import their international funds without paying tax on them.”

“I remember, we all laughed at him, all of the revenues he lost. How did it turn out for everyone?”

“Most of the companies brought their money home, I think Apple alone brought over $5billion home. Many companies used the money to build factories here and added employees. All of them increased hiring which increased our labor participation rate. We’re at the best participation rate since the second-world war. This enabled our own taxes to be reduced. I think we end up paying a net of 20%. It’s worked out really well. We have more people working paying taxes. The government has taken in more revenue every year since they reduced taxes. In addition, innovation is off the scale. Companies can write off their R&D expenses; this has spurred an explosion in new products and services. I think we’ve jumped generations of products. Take Carol’s Mercedes for example, she has a midsized car with all-wheel drive that makes 400 HP, yet returns 35MPH on the highway. I think you could hit it with a garbage truck and she would open the door and walk out without a scratch. It’s driven our auto insurance rates lower every year. Look at President Brownstone’s new toy, his car can break 200 MPH and return 30 MPG. Look at our smart phones. Most people don’t have stand alone cameras any longer; my iPhone 12 has 50 megapixel cameras with 3D images and videos. It has battery life that lasts a full week. I do everything with it. They’ve finally figured out the AI software; it assumes many things I want to do and does them for me. It remembers things about me; it hears our conversations and reminds me of things it’s heard in the background. It senses if something is wrong, it even checks my body temperature and sends reports to my doctor’s office. Sometimes it senses I might be sick, the doctor’s AI calls me to suggest different things. I don’t know how I lived before this technology. The country’s revised tax programs enabled this to happen.”

“Bob, not everyone has access to this wonderful new technology do they? The poor have to make do with hand me downs or last year’s generation. You’re not all starting from a common starting line which is something the USA has said they do. We ensure everyone is equal, while the USA said you ensure people are equal at the starting gate, but using your own words; you don’t give everyone the same opportunity to start equally. As technology advances the rich, who can afford it, move further ahead of the poor expanding the breach between the two classes.”

“Wolf, everyone can afford the technology, it’s not really expensive. My new iPhone costs me less than $100.”

“Bob, people who earn minimum wage can’t afford that.”

“Wolf, there are many assistance programs to help them. Hell, I’ve seen these kids wearing $250 a pair sneakers, wearing heavy gold chains, they can afford the technology to help them get ahead if that’s one of their priorities.”

“Bob, who are you to say what these people can and can’t have or should have or not, you sound very racist knowing what’s best for them.”

“Wolf on that note I think we need to call a break.”

Chapter 28

While the show is being broadcast from the Jones’ home, President Paul is meeting with his closest advisors. President Paul looks around the conference room, “We’re sure on the results?”

The Director of the FBI replies, “Mr. President, we’re 100% positive; the formula was developed in Russia. FSB agents gave it to the LSA DepLIES who blackmailed people working in our schools who had relatives in the LSA, to put it in the school lunches. It was designed to make people ill but not kill them. The theory being a wounded or ill person takes up much more resources than a dead person. A new illness requires a lot of resources to determine a cure. We got a little lucky that our computers are generations ahead of either Russia’s or the LSA’s.”

President Paul nods, saying, “We can be very thankful that Presidents Brownstone and Cruise invested so heavily in building our technological base. They were very wise in preparing us for the future. The question is how should we respond.”

The Secretary of Justice says, “Mr. President, we could do nothing. Just let it go. Russia has enough of their own problems; we don’t want to expand our conflict with them. As to the LSA, they will self-destruct soon enough.”

The Secretary of Defense says, “If the people find out we know who caused the kids to get sick and did nothing, they would vote us out of office due to no confidence. I’m not so sure we should have allowed that change to pass. The people have us on a short leash, we might not even have a full four years to full fill our promises.”

President Paul responds, “We have to respond in order to show they can’t screw with us. I’m open to suggestions how we should respond to put both on notice not to mess with us again.”

“The chief technology advisor says, “Mr. President, we could take their grids down. Putting them in a full blackout, unlike the brownouts they’re currently experiencing due to a lack of fuel. I hear that Russia is shortly going to announce an agreement with Bloomberg to supply them with oil. This would allow the LSA to return to full power. Even if Russia does supply them with oil, we’ll bring their grid down.”

“How could we do this?”

“Our network can easily hack into their systems, causing their grid to collapse.”

“Will they be able to bring it back up?”

“Yes, it may take them anywhere from two to twelve weeks to find the source of the crash and correct it. If we use a special type of worm, as they correct the problems we the worm can wait until they turn their grid back on before it takes it down again. We can keep doing this until they agree to leave us alone.”

“What about their hospitals?”

“I’ll see if we can program the worm to leave their hospitals alone while taking down the rest of their systems.”

“Program the worm to leave their hospitals, nursing homes, and any outpatient surgery centers alone. I don’t want to be the cause of deaths of the old or ill. Other than those conditions, I like this, when can you be ready to launch it?”

“A couple of days.”

“You have permission to move forward, just let me know before you release the worm so I can tell our close and dear friends what’s going to happen.”

The Secretary of Defense asks, “Sir, is that wise?”

“The LSA doesn’t have a military; their DepLIES is no match for us, Russia would have to move their forces to the LSA in order to attack us, or they would have go nuclear. If the tests are accurate, none of their missiles will reach us. Make sure the ABM system is online before we release the worm. Put our defenses on DEFCON 2 when the worm is released, they will see us increase our defense readiness which give them pause. I also want the program Wolf and CNN are producing, shut down, I don’t want any of our people getting caught on the other side of the divide before we launch our cyber attack. I’ll call Randolph to explain it to him. Does anyone have anything else to they’d like to say?”

The Secretary of HHS says, “Sir, I think it would be a good idea to send a message to all of our people who, for one reason or the other, may be behind the divide, to come home. We can inform them of a national emergency condition. Our emergency conditions law which replaced the DHS, calls for everyone’s phone to receive emergency signals from us. Our people know they may have to return when asked to, if they ignore the return home signal we’ve made it clear we’re not coming to get them.”

“Do they have a way to communicate with us in case they can’t return for whatever reason?”

“Yes, Mr. President, if they touch their number one button, they can speak directly or text us if they have a reason they can’t return. A couple of examples we practice for are someone stuck in the mountains, very sick relative who can’t be left, they are injured.”

“What happens in these cases?”

“We have specially trained teams to retrieve them.”

“Will our teams get caught by the LSA?”

“Anything is possible. However, we use very highly trained teams equipped with our new stealth skins; they are almost invisible, they bend light plus they mask IR and thermals.”

“I remember the demonstration, I was surprised by their abilities. I watched as a trooper turned one on, he was 50 yards in front me and just disappeared. Do it. Get our people out, and hit them.”

The meeting breaks up, the Secretary of Defense follows President Paul to the oval office. “Sir, one more thing if I may.”

“Sure Don, what can I do for you?”

“Sir, I suggest we blind the Russian military satellites so that the Russian forces spread around the world can’t respond. If we do this, it will tell the world we have the technology we’ve never admitted to having.”

“What are the risks of us not blinding their birds?”

“When the Russian grid goes down their forces may think the motherland has been attacked and strike back.”

“You’re right, blind them.”

“Sir, doing so, which is easy for us now, will tell the world we have a laser and beam systems operational.”

“Sooner or later the world would find out anyway.”

“Yes sir.”

@@@@@

At the same time in Sterling, Virginia, Kathy asks, “Brad, why did Brownie bring up the nuke issue again, didn’t he drag President Brownstone through the mud enough and now with his wife gone why try to hurt him personally?”

“Because they have to win under any circumstances.”

“I think they pissed off President Paul. My gut tells me that the President is going to respond and we know how the President acts when angry; I’m happy we don’t live in the LSA.”

“Me too.”

“Honey, do you think Bloomberg can respond and attack us?”

“They don’t have a military; they are going to have to ask Russia for help. I don’t think the Russians are going to want to play with President Paul. Our military systems are two generations ahead of theirs. I do think they will try to hit us somehow. Let’s make sure our emergency supplies are fresh.”

“I agree.”

“I want to see Ron tomorrow. I can’t believe he and Bev be really going to move to Vegas.”

“Bev told me they sold their house the second day it was on the market.”

“I told Ron his asking price was too low. He didn’t care, must have a cut a sweet deal in Vegas for himself.”

@@@@@

Across the LSA, USA citizens smart phones all buzz at the same time, it’s a sound most never expected to hear. Each looks at their phone; the display on every phone show the same message, “USA NAT-EMERGENCY URGENT RETURN HOME ASAP DETAILS ON ENTRY USA. NAT-EMERGENCY”

Most people’s faces turn white; a couple gets ill. They have no idea why they’ve been told to return home or what kind of national emergency there is. There hadn’t been a terrorist attack in or against an American citizen for years. The only reason for a national emergency was a terrorist attack or a warning of one. People stopped what they were doing and made plans to return home the quickest way possible. Business people who were in the middle of negotiations made excuses and left for home. People visiting relatives said they were sorry and had to leave as soon as possible. People who were on vacation canceled their trips and left for home the quickest way possible. The problem all faced was, there weren’t many flights between the two countries. Most rental cars, being all electric, lacked the range to take the Americans home. Every flight for days was booked, every train and bus was sold out. President Bloomberg called an emergency meeting of his cabinet in the Gray House. “What’s going on? Almost every USA visitor to our country has or is making plans to return home. Why would all of them decide at the same time to go home? We were counting on them leaving a lot of money behind. Something is going on. We all know their phones have a national emergency call capability built into them. The only reasons I can think of why they would call all of their people home are they have advance notice of a terrorist attack on them. Why anyone would dare attack them again knowing how they now respond is beyond me. Another reason could be they figured out we were behind their kids getting ill and are planning on attacking us, in which case they would want their people out of the LSA as soon as possible. We need to see if they’ve recalled all of their citizens or only the ones in the LSA.”

The Director of the DepLIES says, “Yes, Mr. President, we have noticed every USA citizen here is leaving and more than 50% have already left. I’ll quickly check to see if their citizens have been recalled from other countries.” He taps some commands into his phone, a moment later he looks up saying, “Mr. President, our information is they have recalled their citizens from the LSA and Russia. So far only these two countries.”

President Bloomberg looks around the room, “This isn’t good, it means they know it was us and are getting ready to hit both of us very soon. I suggest we hold onto any of their citizens who didn’t leave yet.”

“Sir, I don’t think that’s a good idea. If we harm one of their citizens, President Paul may consider it the same as a terrorist attack which would mean he’ll hit us very hard. We don’t have a military. We have no way to stop what they hit us with.” says the frustrated DepLIES director.

“Don’t worry they won’t use a nuke. They’ll be afraid of the fallout drifting over the divide.”

“Mr. President, not if they hit us on the east coast, they’ll know the fallout will drift over the ocean.”

“Director, I want you to form a working group to study how else they may hit us. I need to know as soon as possible.”

“Yes sir.”

Before anyone can respond, a secretary knocks on the conference door, “Mr. President, you have an urgent call from President Grameniko he’s calling from his Dacha outside of Moscow.”

“Please put the call in here.”

President Bloomberg says, “Hello Mr. President, how are you?”

“Mikal, we have a problem; President Paul has issued a US National Emergency alert to his citizens, and I’m guessing he’s going to hit one or both of us very quickly over the incident with his children. We both knew this might happen.”

“We agree, our thought is as soon as their last citizen leaves our countries, we are going to be struck.”

“My friend, we agree. We think a nuke may hit us. The FSB tells me he will never strike you in the LSA with a nuke. President Paul still considers your land America, we have no idea what they will use against you.”

Bloomberg replies, “I question if they will even use a nuke against you. You didn’t kill one of theirs. You only supplied the formula.”

“To them, isn’t it enough?”

Bloomberg looks around the table, “I would have said yes under President Brownstone or President Cruise, under President Paul, who is a medical doctor I’m not so sure he will use a weapon of mass destruction. I’m leaning towards a surprise we’re not expecting.”

“Do you have any ideas?”

“Not yet, we have decided not only allow their citizens to leave, but help them. Any we know of we’re contacting, we’re offering to help transport them home. We’re hoping this shows President Paul our good will.”

“A good idea, we’ll do the same. I think all we can do is put our two nations on alert and be prepared for anything possible. Mikal, we have decided to alert our people who are in the USA that something may happen.”

“I hadn’t thought of doing that; I will have my staff send the alert message. Let’s agree that whoever is hit first calls the other so we can exchange notes.”

“I agree. Do you want me to send you some military support?”

“No, I thank you for your offer. I’m concerned that when Paul sees your equipment moving he’ll assume you're coming to stage an attack against the USA from our bases. He may attack your forces in transit.”

“You make a good point. Take care my friend.”

“You too. I’m sure we’ll be speaking again soon.”

@@@@@

At the Jones’ home Sean’s phone pings with an unusual tone. He pauses mid-word to say, “Excuse me one second; this must be very important. I don’t think I’ve ever heard this ringtone for a message before.” Sean steps aside to look at his phone, his face drains of all color, perspiration forms on his forehead. He looks up and around the room, every member of his Wolf News staff is also looking at their phone. Sean says, “Everyone, I think we need to take a quick commercial break. Will the Wolf news staff please join me outside?”

The staff is all shaking and looking very pale. They join Sean on the front lawn. Wolf yells after them, “Sean, guys, what’s going on? What’s the big secret? We’re in this together.”

Sean looks over his shoulder responding, “Wolf, just give me a moment.”

Once outside Sean huddles his staff together saying, “From the looks on your faces, I’d say you all received the same message I got.”

Joan asks, “What’s a national emergency recall mean?”

“It means if we’re outside of the USA we are to return home as fast as possible, we’re not to cross go or to collect our $200.00. Something is going to happen. Our government wants us, and all of it’s citizens to be on home soil when whatever the ‘it’ is happens.”

Joan continues, “Sean, I know I read about these messages and of course I’ve seen the tests, but I never thought I would really see a valid message. How do we know it’s valid?”

“Joan, mine and I assume yours says, ‘This is not a drill, this is not a test.’ That rings like they’re serious to me.”

“But we are home.”

“They may not have known where we would be when the alert was being planned, so they included us in the message.”

“Should we finish up here?”

“Yes, if you notice Bob and Carol’s phones didn’t ring. That’s because they’re home. This means whatever is going to happen is going to happen soon.”

Ted, one of the video managers says, “My message asks me to confirm when I reach the USA border, does anyone else’s ask the same?”

Everyone checks their phones, all nod yes. Sean says, “Ted, good catch. Yes, all of ours say the same thing. Since we’re in the USA, let’s all confirm and see what message we get back.”

Everyone pushes the confirm button on their phones, the next moment their phones buzz again. Their phones display the message, “DO NOT LEAVE THE USA. DO NOT ENTER THE LSA, REPEAT DO NOT ENTER THE LSA. CONTACT YOUR HQ FOR INFORMATION.”

Sean says, well I guess that answers the question if we’re going to Portland tonight. I think our program just got cancelled by the President of the United States.”

Ted asks, “Can he do that?”

Sean laughs responding, “Do you want to ask him?”

“I’ll follow your lead. I’m worried about my lost wages.”

“I promise you, I’ll make sure you all get paid for the balance of the program, even if I have to pay you myself. Now let’s go back inside before Wolf goes nuts.”

Everyone nods yes; they file back into the house where they take up their normal positions, only all of their faces are pale and drained of color. Wolf looks at them asking, “Did something bad happen? Did President Paul just decide to give up and merge with the LSA’s better system?”

Sean looks at Wolf, “Wolf, I think you and I need to have a quick chat.”

“OK, what’s going on?”

“We, the Wolf crew, have all received a national emergency message to return home and not enter the LSA.”

“Oh oh, this doesn’t sound good, does this mean the program is finished?”

“I don’t know. I just told you all we know.” Before Sean can continue Wolf’s phone buzzes, he looks at it seeing a message from the Gray House instructing him to return home after the wrap of the show today. Wolf shows the message to Sean, “I guess I’m being recalled too. I don’t know what’s going on; it doesn’t look good. I had hopes this program would help bring our two countries together.”

“Well, one thing is for sure, tonight may be our last joint broadcast so let’s wrap it up on a high note.”

“I agree.”

Sean enters the living room, “Carol, Bob, we’ve received a message on the national emergency system telling us to return home and not enter the LSA. Wolf received a message instructing him and his crew to return to the LSA after tonight’s program. As such this is most likely our last live program for a while. We want to thank you for your support.”

Carol replies, “We thank you for putting us on the program, I guess we should try to wrap it up tonight. It’s a shame because I was so looking forward to asking my counterpart about her life and kids.”

Sean says, “You’ll learn a lot when you watch the program; I will tell you, things have taken a different approach.”

Everyone takes their positions; the clock counts down to zero, Sean says, “Thank you for putting up with the unusually long commercial break, one of the issues we sometimes encounter on a live show is, as they say, ‘things happen’ we had a few messages from our corporate offices. We’re back and ready to continue.”

Carol says, “Everyone, my family has totally enjoyed being part of this program. I know that the networks would like to continue it for another week. As a parent, I have to be mindful of the impact on our children. While one of our children is handling it well, one has allowed it to go their head. This isn’t something that can be known in advance. It’s only after the fan mail arrives that we learned the program was having a major impact on our family. In order to maintain the level-headed family we currently have, I’m afraid we’re going to have to resign ourselves from continuing the program. We’re not television actors or movie stars. We’re normal people just like you are at home watching us. I’m sure the networks have hours of footage available from the background videos they recorded of all of us going about our normal lives. We have no issue with the networks using the previously recorded information to continue the program. Bob and I feel that if we continue live broadcasts, the potential negative impact to our family outweighs the potential benefits of each side learning about the other. As such, on behalf of my family, my loving husband Bob, our son, Leon, Elizabeth and of course Holly, we thank you for sharing our home with us.”

Before the camera cuts away, Elizabeth runs into view saying, “remember to call me Beth, bye now, come back whenever you want to, Holly and I will be waiting for you.” She picks up Holly waving the dog’s paw up and down into the camera.

Leon slides into the camera view saying, “Hey everyone, I’m going to miss you all, but stay in touch on my FB page I’ll post videos so everyone can stay in touch and see what’s going on here in Burlington, North Carolina. I’ll post new videos at least once a week. Remember I get my permit in six weeks, I’ll be able to drive by and say hi!”

The camera shifts to Bob sitting on the love seat next to Carol. “I don’t know how to follow that up. All I can say is thank you for joining us, and its true Leon does get his permit in a few weeks so I’d advise everyone to stay off the roads. He’s written to President Brownstone offering to break in his new corvette; God help us if President Brownstone replies. We very much enjoyed welcoming you into our lives; we hope you learned something about living here in the USA. Feel free to forward questions and comments through the two broadcasters. My family wishes your family all the best. Good night.”

The picture fades out to a pinpoint of light before opening to the broadcast presidents in their studios who each read from the same script. “Hello everyone. We hope you’ve enjoyed becoming part of our two families’ lives. We are going to use the previously recorded video to continue the program for another two evenings. We’ve launched a Smith family and Jones family FB page where you can make posts and add videos that you’d like to share with the two families. We’ll be back tomorrow with a wrap up of our series.”

The crew in Jones’ home is packing up, Wolf walks over to Sean, “Can you tell me what’s going on?”

“I don’t know. I told you we got a recall notice. When we confirmed it, we all got a message telling us not to enter the LSA.”

“I got a message ordering me to bring my staff home.”

“I wonder what’s going on. Whatever it is, it doesn’t look good.”

“I agree. Something’s about to pop. I hope it doesn’t put us at odds with each other. I thought we were making good progress with this program.”

“I hope those in power watched the program and don’t go running off the end of a short pier.”

“I agree, it’s been a pleasure working with you, even if you are a real PITA.”

Both men hug and slap each other on the back as the crew split up. Sean takes his crew to dinner at Ruth’s Steakhouse as a reward. While at dinner Sean and everyone gets a text message from Wolf News informing them they will be paid as if the program ran for another week. The group cheers, celebrating by ordering another round of drinks.

Epilog

The mood at the Wolf News table is good, they are enjoying a great diner, they are getting paid, and they became friends on the almost daily flights across the country. Joan turns to the group asking Sean, “There were a couple of topics that you refused to touch, can I ask now why you left them on the table?”

“Joan, sure, can you name one?”

“How about the fact you never mentioned the fact that childhood diseases are increasing in the LSA because many people are against childhood inoculations?”

“I didn’t want to scare the people. If the people watching back home learned that measles and whooping cough among others, were returning, they would be very scared. People know these types of diseases don’t recognize borders. This information might have caused a panic back home.”

“Granted, but don’t you think the people have a right to know they may be at risk?”

“I do, however the powers that be decided not to include that piece of information.  They feared it would set off a mass panic, so they texted me not to bring it up.”

“Wow, I never realized we were being censored.”

“Joan, we’re always being censored by someone.”

Ted asks, “Sean, what about the protestors that were at the Smith home, we know they were there, however we never saw them or got to meet any of them, do you have any idea what there were protesting?”

“I learned they were protesting President Bloomberg and the invasion of privacy in the LSA.”

“I see. Why didn’t they just move?”

“Ted, not everyone can just up and move.”

“Sean, I understand that. Do you know what happened to the protestors?”

“I do, but it needs to be a secret.”

Joan looks around the table asking, “Sean after everything we’ve been through, can’t you tell us what happened to them?”

“I’ll tell you they are no longer in the LSA.”

“You got them out?”

“Not I, is all I’ll say. If you want, I can arrange for us to meet with them. They’re currently getting settled into their new homes in Des Moines, Iowa.”

Ted says, “Iowa? Why Iowa?”

Laughing, Sean says, “Who would look for them in Iowa?”

“You made your point. Were any hurt?”

“That I don’t know. If you want to see them, I’ll arrange the flight crew to take us there on the way to the office.”

Joan says, “It’s not really on the way home.”

“HQ doesn’t care, let me know if you want to go.”

Everyone nods yes, “See that was easy, I’ll make the arrangements.”

One of the crew asks, “Sean, you didn’t mention the gang rapes of young girls we learned about.”

“I thought about that one for a long time. For those of you who don’t know what Frank is talking about, there are a couple of small towns in the LSA where the LSA has resettled mostly Islamic families. It seems the teenage sons of these families have formed gangs; they are grabbing young white girls and gang raping them if they’re wearing modern clothing. The local police and press are not reporting the crimes. It seems that in the move to diversity they are ignoring the crimes. If it had been a black girl raped by white men, the story would be all over the world’s news.”

Joan says, “Let me see if I understand this, young men are gang raping young women and the police are letting it happen? Why aren’t the girls’ parents doing anything?”

“Joan, what should they do? Remember no one is armed in the LSA. Without being armed how is a father going against a gang?”

“Maybe the fathers should get together and go after the gangs.”

“That may happen sooner or later. I can tell you if it was my daughter; I would tear the young men apart.”

Joan asks, “So these young men want to bring Islamic culture to the LSA? I thought it was forbidden to have express displays of religion in the LSA.”

“It is, however the newly resettled families don’t care. They want to start converting the LSA to Islam.”

Ted asks, “What’s President Bloomberg doing about it?”

“Trying to sweep it under the rug. I’ve heard rumors that in another small town in what used to be British Columbia, gangs recently resettled from the Middle East are grabbing young women and cutting their faces if they don’t wear modest clothing.”

Joan is shocked saying, “Doesn’t the LSA central government realize the potential risk they’re running?”

Sean responds, “I think Bloomberg is trying to handle both situations as quietly as possible. He doesn’t want to break his agreement to accept 50,000 displaced families from the new Islamic state which he agreed to take in exchange for oil. On the other hand, he doesn’t want to change the culture in the LSA. He has a very difficult balancing act to follow. I don’t think he’s going to be successful sweeping it under the rug. Stories like this become too juicy for the press to ignore forever, even the state-controlled and owned press is going to be hard to hold back, one of them will break the news sooner versus than later.”

Joan leans back in her chair asking, “Sean overall what are your thoughts on the differences twelve years have made?”

“Joan, when I asked to be one of the hosts I had no idea what we’d find on the other side of the wall. Wolf has travelled back and forth between the two countries; he knew what he would find on our side. Very few of us have ever ventured into their side. As such, I was surprised how far the LSA was able to control their people. The LSA central government succeeded better than the old Soviet government ever did. I think Stalin would be very proud of Bloomberg. I don’t know what they’re going to look like in another twelve or twenty years.”

Ted asks, “Sean why were we recalled?”

“My guess, and it’s only my guess, is the mysterious illness many of our children experienced was traced to the LSA.”

Joan asked, “Why would they do that to us. I’m sure Bloomberg knows how we respond to such attacks.”

“Joan, it’s just my own guess, but I don’t think President Paul will respond with a nuke. We still consider the LSA as being part of America. I don’t know how he’ll respond, but I’m sure it’ll be something to remember.”

The crew is enjoying coffee and shared desserts when they notice the TV located in the bar flashes “NEWS BULLETIN” every member of the crew stands to get a better view of the television in the bar. A large red banner flows under the talking heads saying, “This just in, there’s a major blackout in both the LSA and Russia. Stand by for more updates.”

Sean says, “See I told you, something unforgettable.”

End of book 4

Book 5, “The War Breaks out” is coming soon

Other books by the author.

37 Miles

37 Miles, Book 2, Patty’s Journey

My Story

A History Lesson

2015 Second American Civil War, Book 1

2015 Second American Civil War, Book 2

2015 Second American Civil War, Book 3

By the Light of the Moon, Book 1

By the Light of the Moon Book 2

Feel free to contact me at itabankin@aol.com

Table of Contents

Dedication

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Epilog

Other books