Sweetness in the Dark (40 page)

It was finally added that if a member was selected to move up to the Cabinet or the Supreme Court, then that time would not count against his time on the body from which he was selected. So that once someone’s six years as a judge was finished, the individual could seek their original position in either of the three bodies through the same process.

But the new constitution limited any one’s total time in elected national office to twelve years. The years could be any combination of positions in any of the bodies, but a person was done and gone at twelve.

“Well, so much for the structure of the government. How’s it going to be paid for? That’s the crux of the whole thing,” an Iowa delegate asked. “From your explanation of the departments in the new government, I don’t like that the Ag Department is going away.”

Paul noticed the Midwest states all nodding in agreement. This was the salient point. How much money would transfer to the national government? Past mischiefs were created by the large tax bite that the Feds had taken out of its citizens. And now each state was about to hear news on its favorite fat cows that were about to be slaughtered.

“That’s right. A lot of things are going away. They would have been going away before ‘the Pulse’, but the day of reckoning got thrust upon us. We are no longer the country that after World War II thought we could do anything. As a nation, we can no longer afford such luxuries,” Paul offered.

“Farmers growing crops and staying solvent isn’t a luxury, mister,” the Iowa delegate said.

“No, it isn’t, but farmers have been growing crops for centuries and have done so successfully without subsidies from the government. And I know that many of them will succeed independently again. But the corporate farmer taking a government check for not growing something is finished,” Paul said.

“And I suppose ethanol subsidies are history, too,” Iowa stated.

“Yes. If states want to subsidize such things, they are free to do so. But there will be no national program.”

“What? The environment is taking a back seat now. We’re throwing out years of progress to a sustainable future,” Rebecca said.

“I will point out that the environment just killed off probably two billion people around the world. About one hundred million Americans are dead because we were chasing the wrong illusion. The sun showed us our priorities and we will be decades recovering from that lesson,” Paul answered.

Lars added, “And our country had its greatest growth during the late 19th Century because of the policy of low taxes. We are proposing the same. The 16th Amendment will be eliminated, removing the income tax from existence. In its place, the national government will live on a ten percent import/export tax coupled with a ten percent national sales tax. And no exemptions.”

The delegates looked at the overhead of revenue projections that such a tax structure would create. From the recent past Federal budget, the new projections were miniscule. There would be no extra money for much of anything.

Finally the Georgia delegate spoke. “Our national defense will be crippled. These numbers are totally inadequate to maintain our military forces.”

“I don’t see where the money comes from for the elderly. Social Security payments alone will collapse. Never mind Medicare,” one Wisconsin delegate offered.

“What about the children?” Rebecca screamed. “What about Head Start and the school lunch program? And Section Eight housing? The poor will be out on the street starving. What have we come to?”

“What we’ve come to is a time where everyone is going to be contributing to society. The free lunch is over. We have a country to rebuild and we’re going to leave the money in the hands of our citizens to make their own decisions about how we’re going to do it,” Paul said. “And the military is going to be a lot smaller.”

“At least those bastards get the shaft too,” Rebecca offered.

“Those ‘bastards’, as you so warmly describe them, will continue to receive adequate resources to defend our borders. The difference is that we won’t be the ‘big guy on the block’ that defends everyone else’s borders. Our Allies around the world have grown used to our presence. Those days are over,” Paul answered.

The talk turned to the role the new national government would take. Most agreed that the phrase ‘General Welfare’ should be removed from the constitution. Too much power had been taken by Congress under that term and the Convention was resolved to end that practice.

“Have you accounted for money to go teach the Chinese about the dangers of invading our country,” the Georgia delegate asked.

“That will be up to the new Congress to sort out. What money is allocated in the budget and to whom it will go is the job for the future House of Representatives. All money measures will start there,” Lars answered. The Georgia delegate didn’t appreciate the answer. Many of the delegates appeared to be supporting the Georgian’s position.

Well, the neocons are establishing the first policy fight to come
, Paul thought. The Democratic Party power base was destroyed when the country’s urban population had been decimated. Now the political winds were shifting. Paul knew that the former neocons from the old Republican Party were asserting themselves on one side.

The other side of the issues seemed to be coalescing around what had been historically a classical Liberal position. The term ‘liberal’ had been stolen in the 20th Century by the ‘Progressives’ starting in the 1920s. Once the income tax and the Federal Reserve Bank legislation was passed by the Federal government, the growth of a large socialist government was just a matter of time.

The Libertarian Party had assumed many of the classical Liberal views. The new Libertarian Caucus that emerged was economically conservative, but more socially liberal.

The third voting bloc were the Christian supporters. The Old South was heavy with evangelical Christians who were happy with a smaller government, but concerned about social issues.

Paul saw that this Christian bloc was the swing vote between the Neocon Caucus that wanted a bigger government and the Libertarian Caucus striving for a small government. He knew that he would have to form an alliance with the Christians in order to govern.

After a new constitution was adopted, many issues would be an ongoing struggle. If a compromise could be reached with the Christians over the social issues, Paul could live with those decisions, as long as the government was severely reduced.

When Rebecca again raised the issue of the elderly and Social Security, Paul knew that he had to make sure the entire Convention understood where the new country’s future lay.

“Social Security was a ‘Ponzi scheme’ from the day FDR started it. There has never been a ‘lock box’ where all that money sat waiting for people to retire. Congress spent that money as fast as it came in and issued Treasury Notes in their place. All that is gone now.”

“And those people are going to starve now?” Rebecca asked.

“That is now a state issue. I would imagine that the old ‘poor farm’ system would be the most efficient and effective way to handle the indigent, no matter their age. We might change the name to “Empowerment Resorts’, but the net result would be the same. People would work on a farm to the level of their ability to provide for their sustenance. No one starves, but there would be a huge incentive for able-bodied individuals to move out into regular society,” Paul offered.

“Empowerment Resorts. Are you ‘f’ing serious?” Rebecca yelled.

“I like the idea,” the Montana governor yelled back. “I think Dr. Kendall has hit on a solid idea here.”

Several of the governors showed their agreement. They realized that with the Federal government out of the welfare business, the problem was about to land in their laps. And the old ways were about to be dusted off. America was about to shift back in many ways to the early 1900s; before the ‘Progressive Era’, as it was labeled, had begun.

The Convention broke down into small groups discussing everything that had been presented. The chairman indicated to Paul and Lars to take a seat. He would let the group take time to digest everything.

Paul walked back to where the Idaho delegation was seated. Amanda smiled at him as he sat down.

Red Bluff, California

General Ed Gale waited in his headquarters. It was late afternoon and the sun was just setting over the brown hills to the west. In the distance to the east, the typical afternoon buildup of thunderclouds over the Sierra Nevada Mountains announced their location.

It was late October and the fields that would have normally been harvested had been fallow for over a year now. The turmoil after the CME had prevented normal activity in the area. Consequently, the local population was nonexistent. Everyone had headed out of the area to avoid the hordes of people fleeing the Bay Area.

At least until the Chinese showed up. They arrived with security forces and food. The locals were happy to accept both at the time, but the assistance had turned into an occupation. China had shipped in more troops and then settlers to establish their permanent presence in California.

Intelligence reports showed the Chinese farming vast areas of the San Joaquin Valley. The Chinese Army troops had established a defensive line that ran from Mexico, up through the Sierras, and then west across California just north of Willows.

General Gale had advanced his troops from Seattle down I-5 to their present location, about forty miles north of the Chinese position. A certain gentlemen’s agreement existed in keeping the respective troops separate.

The same was true in the Sierras, where American troops held Reno, Las Vegas, and Arizona east of the Colorado River. Everyone prepared for what they all knew was coming.

Ed waited for his representative to arrive from the new American government. The Chinese had arrived the previous week under a white flag and asked for a meeting. Ed had forwarded the request to Cheyenne and now the Special Envoy of the President was flying to represent the new national government.

The tent flap was thrown back by the guard and the Special Envoy walked in. Ed stopped in his tracks.

“Holy cow, its you!” Ed exclaimed.

“I don’t know if I’ve been elevated that high yet, General Gale, but thanks for the sentiment. But cow definitely fits this position,” Paul answered.

“I’m sorry, sir. I was not expecting you, but I’m glad you’re here.” Ed offered in way of an apology. “But you understand the situation here. We’re about to wade neck deep into you-know-what.”

“I will excuse the phrase, General,” Amanda said as she followed Paul into the tent.

“Ms. Savage, excuse my language. You’re a surprise too,” Ed said. “Glad to see both of you.”

“We need an update on the Chinese situation,” Paul said.

“We have our first meeting with them tomorrow morning with the general in charge and his commissar for political cover. We’ll find out what they have in mind then,” Ed said.

“I don’t imagine that they are going to say ‘Oops’ and pronounce they they are leaving forthwith,” Paul said.

“Hardly, I have a tent set up for you both. Best we can do in the field.”

“We’ll make do,” Paul said, as he and Amanda followed the adjutant out of the tent toward their accommodations.

“Chow is at 0600. That’s 6 AM for you civilians,” the general said.

* * *

They arrived at 0550. The adjutant was ready and waiting for Paul. He escorted Paul and Amanda to the head table. As representatives of the national government, food would be brought to the table for them.

The troops all filed through the chow line and walked into the dining area where Paul and Amanda sat. They stopped as they realized that they had important guests. No one appeared willing to be the first to sit down.

Paul made a motion for the men and women to sit and eat. The adjutant returned with meals for his guests. Ed had made sure they were eating the same as the troops.
Good, we need to establish a new tone in the country. No special food for the higher-ups
, Paul thought.

As Paul dug into his ham and eggs, he glanced up and noticed the seated troops were still not eating.

“Eat. No need to stand on ceremony for anyone here,” Paul told them.

They all began digging in, but he noticed that most of them were still staring at the head table. He noticed they weren’t staring at him. Amanda had caught the troops attention, at least the male troops. He smiled and returned to his breakfast.

The general walked in and sat down next to Paul. The troops snapped to attention and Ed gave them the command to carry on.

“Paul, I’ve been thinking about our first meeting and I believe you need to stay here at headquarters,” Ed said.

“But why?” Paul asked.

“The Chinese are sending a general and a political commissar. By having you there without a similar ranked official from their country would be demeaning to our country. I can offset the general and Amanda can act as our political officer. Meet on equal terms for now.”

“I understand. Sounds right. I’m new to this, so keep the suggestions coming,” Paul said.

“Roger that, sir. This is new to me also. Who was the last general to negotiate foreign invaders off of our shores?” Ed asked.

The three all looked at each other. Ed’s face froze. “Oh, him. I see what you mean. It is a little intimidating, isn’t it?”

* * *

Amanda waved to Paul as the two negotiators headed down the freeway with a Stryker Company for transport. Amanda sat beside the general in the second Stryker armored car as the six vehicles headed south. They were to meet the Chinese at a local Grange Hall, half way between their respective forces.

Arriving at the appointed time, Amanda saw a convoy of Chinese vehicles come into view through the gun slots in the Stryker. She climbed down behind the general and took her place beside him.

The lead Stryker had a large white flag flapping from its roof. The old ‘Stars and Stripes’ flew next to it. The new National Government had yet to designate a new National Standard.