The Emergency Committee meeting for the first
week of August had a special guest speaker.
Wayne Goodly, a low echelon administrator for
FEMA. He began briefing the committee on the
'big' picture.
"As best as we can determine, about 20 to 30
million Americans have died as a result of
violence, starvation, or disease. Most of the
cities are in ruins. There's a lot of people
missing or hiding, we can't say for sure.
The Federal, state, and local governments are
mobilizing for a major effort to put the nation
back together."
"For most of the past year, we have been doing
what we can. Our first concern, once we knew
we had lost control, was to safeguard the nation
from foriegn invasion. Installations like NORAD
have been functioning all along. We maintained
some ballistic missile submarines and our spy
satellites, for example, to achieve this end."
"The National Command Authority was shaken up,
but we have been active the past several months
in aiding local efforts to restore order. You
will soon be recieving a convoy of fuel trucks
and other strategic supplies. It's taken quite
awhile to clear the main highways and to inspect
the rail and pipeline networks. I'm happy to
report that they are functional again."
"In the Northeast, we were swamped by refugees.
Quite frankly, we maintained our focus on the
larger population centers because we knew that
you folks in rural America would be better able
to fend for your selves. Thankfully, the winter
was reasonably mild and we were able to keep
the disaster from getting worse. The NCA is very
proud of the work you people have done here. We
can understand if you have resentment against us
for not helping sooner or even for causing the
problem in the first place."
"To this end, as soon as possible, National elections
will be held so that we can begin making the final
push towards restoration. We are hoping to have
most communications and essential infrastructure
ready for this by September. It will up to you when
you hold your local elections, but by next Spring,
we want to have a new civilian government in place."
By that time we anticipate several key industries
to be functional again, like petroleum. As far
as the election of the new president, our plan is
for the balloting to occur on the first weekend
of November. "
"Production will take awhile to restore, and we
are uncertain when we can get the whole economy
up and running. Estimates call for another two
to three years at least. Perhaps another five
years or more before we can expect a lifestyle
similar to pre-disaster conditions."
"Now comes the bad news. Taxes." This was met
by a loud, long groan. "Now, now. Needless to
say, collection is going to be difficult. Taxes
are a neccessary evil. We have decided that the
best way to work this for now is at the local
level. Counties will set whatever rates they
deem possible for their citizens to pay. We have
worked out a deal with all state governments,
such that you will then provide a percentage
to the state and to the Federal government."
"We only ask that you turn over ten percent of
what you take in. Our primary function will be
to protect the country from outside agression.
I think you will agree that this is a worth while
role for the National government. We will also
do what we can for maintaining interstate lines
of communication and commerce."
"Most of the rest of will be in your hands and
those of your state government. Once a new
civilian government is up and running, then a
more permament system will be developed. But
for the time being, we feel this method is the
most workable and the least burdensome. Most
of the money will remain with you to use."
"We should have a new national currency ready for
distribution by November. By agreement with the
state governments, we will comply with their
insistance that the new currency be backed by
a basket of commodities, such as gold, silver,
oil, etc..., and be redeemable for those items.
Fortunately, our stockpiles and reserves of these
and other commodities are still secure."
"In conclusion, I have been authorized by the NCA
to apologize for what happened. We screwed up,
short and simple. Those who were responsible
are no longer in charge. We realize that there
will probably be an investigation by the new
government and some form of charges and trials
conducted to punish those who caused the nation
to unravel."
When asked just who is running the NCA, it turned
out to be none other than former General Gordon.
America had a coup and nobody knew it, at least
in Huron County. But, like another general more
than two centuries ago, he was prepared to step
aside, once his country was out of danger.
It simply came down to the fact that he was
respected and trusted by the military, and they
were armed and better organized than any other
branch of government. The elected government
fumbled the football and he grabbed it and worked
to keep it safe for the future. Many of the old
government had been detained. Gordon promised
not to engage in any tribunals and just wait till
a new government could be elected.
When the elections were held, none other than
Hank DeWitt was named the new member of the
House of Representatives. He was well known
throughout the area, having helped other counties
in organizing and coordinating militias. Some
people asked Larry to run, but he chose not to.
He did agree to run for a seat as a county
commisioner, for sanitation. Larry was, afterall,
the best Junk-Man around.
The material you have just read is a chapter in the on-line fictional story, "When Autumn Leaves Fall" by Andrew Zarowny, copyrighted 1997. All characters and circumstances are fictional and are not intended to bare any resemblence to actual people alive or dead. You have the author's permission to copy or reproduce this material so long as you charge no money for it's reproduction or distribution.