Chapter 3
"Senator Johnson, you may speak."
The voice of the Speaker of the House is loud and commanding enough to cut off the jeering and booing of the other senators and Senate members. The apparent head and overseer of the meeting, the President himself looks distressed. Fortunately, this is a closed meeting and every interfering and inquisitive cameraman or reporter is barred from entrance by the tough guards that stand outside. And every insult and joke is thrown at one person and one person alone: Senator Kennedy Johnson.
Born during the time when America was at war with Vietnam, drugs and peace signs, Johnson was named after two of his father's favourite Presidents, Lyndon Johnson and John F. Kennedy. He was brought up to be a good American boy who would stay away from weed or irritating 'religious' fanatics who went around with pamphlets and peace hand signs, and to go to church and read the Bible. But his beloved dad was drafted for mandatory military service and that the last thing Johnson heard of his father was that a mortar round hit his father's tent, killing everyone. Since that day, he decided to be a politician to help people and to make sure that his country needn't go to war or suffer from disease, poverty or dissatisfaction. But not everyone would think this way!
At the start of the meeting, more politicians were encouraging the use of lethal force to combat the trouble brewing in the Middle East. The market was not at its best as the Arabs had increased the price of oil and had just recently found more deposits, pointing clearly that shortage was no cause for price rises. The same trouble could be found with China as they had a growing population and a good base for manpower. Soon the US would be left out in the race for technological advancement and fame, if it were not for American military might and cultural influence as in the English language and warships. But Johnson had other ideas.
"We should not raise our arms to fight for what is not ours. The Arabs found the oil and not us. Even if we have bought a majority of oil shares, they dug it with their own machinery. We should be thankful that they are selling it to us. If you want a better reasonable price, we should reason with them." Johnson says. "You greenhorn!" laughs a older senator. "Business is business. Do you think we can be gentle like ballerinas to let them get away with it. The reality is this, no oil, no fuel. No fuel, no development and then no money coming in, people have riots and all hell as we know it breaks out. And we won't let those stinking Arabs steal all that oil!" he bangs his fist on the table to the nods of many.
"That oil is ours. We are Americans and we will get what we want. Of course we won't pull guns on them, but if necessary..." he trails off. "How about switching to alternative fuel resources like solar and wind power?" Johnson asks. Another member obviously involved in energy works jumps to his feet and says, "Senator, that technology is not available at high capacity now. Maybe in a decade it will be possible." "No, it can't!" Johnson exclaims. "Mr. Speaker, sirs, we can't keep saying that it will be done in a decade. Look at NASA. We are not making much progress, are we? If we just stick to doing tests and making big telescopes that keeps us on earth, wasting money and time by not being brave to venture out into the unknown, other countries will develop their own rockets to got to the moon. Look at China and India. They will be sending men to the moon next year. How much more for fuel production? How can we boast of NASA's great achievements in space exploration when we can't deal with things back down here on earth?"
The NASA director grimaces with embarrassment and anger. "Come on, at least we have good Social Services, Medicare and all the other things that makes the American life comfortable." a tired woman drawls. "Good, you say?" Senator Johnson asks jokingly. "Why do we hear on the papers every day of workers going on strike when downsizing occurs. Downsizing was never meant to exist at all. We should be expanding our horizons across the world before we do it in space. Instead of taxing the people non-stop and burdening the middle class, we should help them out not by merely giving subsidies. We should educate the people to do business the right way and save money instead of exploiting the economic system to fill our coffers and get guns. 'Teach a man to fish' as they say."
"Mr. Johnson, I'm afraid you've got out of topic." the Speaker of the House exclaims. "We are discussing and debating only international issues and here we are, quarreling about petty matters at home! Which country in this big world does not have its share of problems? Even the Singaporeans with their low debt rate and high living standards have protests to content with! People will never get really satisfied because they are human!" As he waves his hands in indignance and the others nod or grumble, Johnson says something which turns the tide:
"How can we deal with matters outside our nation if we can't handle the so-called petty things at home? If we cannot make our people satisfied at most, how can we guarantee stable connections with other nations? Take for example Iraq. How can we assure the locals there that the US can manage things as well as things back home? If we cannot give the people what they need to prosper, to grow and be fruitful, we will not only have failed the American people, but we will be left behind in the competition for development and excellence globally. We need to take a step back, study ourselves well and make the proper adjustments."
Everyone starts booing and folding paperwork into paper airplanes or scrunching them into missiles to throw at Senator Johnson.
"Don't be a pessimist!"
"You little s**t of a greenhorn! Politics ain't for you!"
"Get the f*** out of here! Who are you to judge what's right?"
"Enough!" The President himself, George Santos, an elderly man with a bald head and steady eyes rises from his seat. "Who are we to mock this senator who cares enough for his country than the rest of you!" His voice is stern and firm. "Senator Johnson, I understand that your views do have a point. Therefore, I hereby order that all the government organizations and all politicians' performances be reviewed beginning next week. This will be done strictly and every sore limb will be cut off! We will look at our failures, patch them up and we will be the America that people look up to once again." Everyone starts murmuring but President George says, "Hold it! Senator Johnson, I as the President of the United States hereby give you the task of leading the process of reviewing and reorganizing the various government departments and so on as you have shown potential as a leader that this country needs. Will you take up this challenge?"
"It's my pleasure, Mr. President. Thank you." With that, applause fills the room. The once who had been hoping for hope for the nation are glad and eager to help this new leader. But there are those who only look to their own profits and gain, who scorn this leader and vow to fight against him from the shadows. As people clap and cheer, they nod at each other grimly and decide that they have to counter this threat through treachery and betrayal before their activities of exploitation are discovered...