by Eric Gurr
When he had finished speaking Hartwick looked at Jake Stahl and Matt Davis. Both nodded. He stood up and began to speak as the titular head of the new nation.
“Thank you for that Mr. Alexander. You are fired. One of our first pieces of business will be to stop the United States Government from spying on its own people. I’m sure you are a fine man. But what you are doing is wrong and will no longer be necessary.
The FBI will help local law enforcement to find those who wish to continue this war. The CIA will continue to provide intelligence from foreign nations. But they will cease spying on American citizens.”
Alexander started to stand up. “Should I leave now?” He asked nervously.
“No. It will take a few weeks for you to destroy all the intelligence you have gained on American citizens. You will transfer information on foreign nations or non-citizens to the FBI and CIA.” Hartwick answered.
He then continued.
“Mr. Stahl will now speak. Jake was one of the first men I met when this battle for America started in Indiana, more than a year ago. Before that Jake was a…. Hell Jake, I just realized I don’t know what you did before this. I’m sorry.
When I first met Jake he had this big beard. He was still big as a house, he just looked a little rough around the edges. But, he was a born leader and I guess it just kind of naturally happened that when we went into Indianapolis, someone had to be governor. He seemed like the logical choice. What did you do before this Jake?”
“I was an electrical engineer. I designed electronic components and computer programs for high definition camera systems for Hollywood California. I also have a degree in political science and history from Indiana University. My engineering degree is from Purdue.” Stahl answered.
“Well shit.” Matt Davis said. I thought you were one smart redneck. And I guess, I was right. I always thought I didn’t get to be governor because I’m black!”
The men of the NFA laughed hysterically. Both sides could feel a great tension leave the room. Jake Stahl smiled and began to talk.
“When I became governor of Indiana we cut spending by more than seventy percent. That was mostly out of necessity at first. Then we realized things went along much as they had before. If it works there, it will work nationally. This is what we must do.”
Stahl continued to talk. Van-Driessen, Matt Davis, and others talked as well. For the next few hours, the new nation began to take shape.
When it was time for the press conference Hartwick decided that it was best that only President Hoxworth speak. He notified the press that he would speak the next evening.
The president sent Air Force One to Indiana to get John Hartwick’s wife and family. All agreed that John and his family should move into the White House. Hoxworth and his wife would live there as well.
Later that evening Hartwick made his first call as the leader of the new legislature.
He called Colby Ohlbinger.
Chapter 15
New Nations, New Beginnings
John Hartwick stood calmly at the podium in the press room of the White House.
For the first time in an interview, he was not nervous. The press was completely silent. No banter, even among themselves was evident. There was just one camera at the back of the room and another off to his left side.
“Good morning and thank you for coming. For those who don’t know my name is John Hartwick.
Yesterday the surrender was signed by President Hoxworth, the majority and minority leaders of the Senate and The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs on behalf of the military.
Because we want this transition to go as smoothly as possible, President Hoxworth will continue as President and Vice-President Van Driessen will continue in his role.
All other politicians from all parties have been dismissed. I and a small group will act as the legislature for a short time. We hope to have elections soon. In those elections, only men or women who fought with us may run for office at the national level. This will be codified into law for the next twenty years.
Although there are many who sacrificed, we are the ones who risked our lives. We officially recognize the new nation of California. The boundaries are still in dispute, but we hope to resolve that peacefully. Over the coming days and weeks, we will work to build the nation that we fought for.
For those of you watching at home, after this press conference, all television and radio will continue with President Colby Ohlbinger of the new nation of California.
I have spoken briefly with him this morning, and we both want the fighting to end. He has promised me there will be no attempts to expand their borders and to resolve the existing disputes peacefully.
I will caution you that there is no guarantee that will happen. But we have his word that he will try and he has my word and that of President Hoxworth.
After President Ohlbinger speaks, Reverend John Robert Ross of Texas will address the nation.
And now I will take questions.”
Hartwick called on a first reporter in the front row.
“Mr. President, er, sorry, what is your title to be?”
“My name is John Hartwick. You may call me Mr. Hartwick.”
“Mr. Hartwick, what is your mission? What were you fighting for and what changes can we expect. Not just as reporters, but also as citizens?”
“When I first became involved in this fight my mission was to get back to work so I could make my house payment. At the time I felt the nation was on a bad path. But I was never politically active. As time went by I started to think about what I was fighting for.
I wish to live free. That is the first thing. I want to live in a nation where I am free to speak my mind. Where I cannot lose my job because of politically correct speech.
If I disagree with someone, I do not wish to be called a racist, bigot or idiot. With those accusations of racism or bigotry in the past, you could lose your job. That is not free.
I also don’t want to live in fear of my government. If I make a mistake on my taxes, I should not fear losing my home.
If I accidently spill oil in my yard I should not fear a team of armed men from the EPA.
You may think I’m exaggerating, but things like this were beginning to happen.
If I am to pay taxes, my work and contribution should be acknowledged. There are hundreds and hundreds of massive government agencies. Many of them have little accountability for the money that they spend and a horrendous record of success.
The states were often duplicating these efforts. The EPA and the Department of Education are not just national organizations. Each state duplicates the effort. That must end.
I also do not wish to be the victim of another person’s misfortune. That kind of thinking just creates more victims and fewer people like myself to bail them out.
If your parents brought you to this country illegally twenty years ago, why does their crime, and their children’s victimhood extend to me? Why must I pay for their mistake?
But it’s more than just the taxes and laws. There is something else that I think is wrong, and I should add, every single member of our committee believes this as well.
When I sit down to watch a movie or a television show with my children, I don’t want to cringe or be angry. I don’t want Hollywood telling me I’m ignorant because I disagree with the social justice cause of the moment.
I’m sick and tired of going to movies that are all the same. The white man is bad, the businessman is evil, and the Republican is evil. In these same movies the single woman, the gay man or the black man is always the hero. Why?
Why does the Hollywood culture come at me and my family instead of helping me? How is this good for the nation?
The schools are the same way. Teaching math, English and history are all just afterthoughts. And even these subjects are sprinkled with politics.
My eight-year-old daughter doesn’t need to be taught that she is responsible for global warming. Or that her father’s corporation is evil and
killing people.
It’s not true, and it’s too much to put on a kid. If you can’t teach them the necessary tools, what the hell are they ever going to be able to do about it anyway?
I think gay people should be able to live together in peace. I don’t believe that every other gendered couple has the right to adopt children. I don’t think it is right to experiment on people for social justice causes.
For that, I am, well not anymore, but before we won, I would have been ostracized.
By who? By a phony cultural push that gave people license to disrespect me or otherwise abuse me because we disagree.
And when I watch the news, I want the truth. A free press is important. But you have to tell the truth.
For years you have reported on rumors. You have accused politicians of crimes with no evidence. And let’s be honest, you reported these things against conservatives much more than you did liberals.
I also don’t want the news and flow of information in this nation controlled by a handful of massive corporations.
I guess to summarize, we fought for a government that stays small and out of our lives. We fought for a government that realizes we are the reason for its very existence.
We do not wish to have our money take for causes we do not agree with. We don’t wish to become second-hand victims by the simple virtue of our success.
We wish to live as one nation. This nation. We want the best for the world. But we cannot hand out free stuff to every person who manages to fight their way in here.
We were rapidly approaching the point where our ability to help was being seriously threatened. We weren’t going to be able to help even ourselves.
Those are the reasons we fought. And those are the things we will fix.”
He stopped and waited for a hand to raise. Then several hands slowly started to rise.
“Mr. Hartwick, what restrictions are you putting on us? The press?”
“Only one. You must report the truth. If you are to call yourselves news, you must report the news. You cannot have opinions on news programs.
On your opinion programs, you are in the public. You cannot accuse people of crimes that they have not been charged with in courts.
You also cannot undermine our government. I realize that is a hazy statement, but be careful. You cannot suggest that we are illegitimate.
We fought, and our friends, family and associates died for this cause.”
The questions continued for an hour. Hartwick would not allow another single question at the end of the allotted time. He closed and walked away.
Fifteen minutes later, in Sacramento Colby Ohlbinger was standing at the podium. The press was all from California. He had made sure what each question was to be. It was all to be scripted.
After watching Hartwick for the first few minutes he began scribbling a speech of his own. He needed to respond.
Every sentence he added, he checked with Scotch Anderson. His respect for the man had grown immensely. When Anderson agreed with him too readily, Colby would push back.
Over the last two years, he had matured. He had begun to realize the awesome responsibility he had been handed. He knew that he had taken it more than had earned it. But that would change.
Many nights he would wake up screaming about what he had done to Steve Oxley. He knew it would always be with him now. In some ways it was comforting. He knew at last that he was not a psychopath.
He checked his notes one last time. He was now late. Only by a minute. But it was one more thing he was trying to change. He needed discipline. Only Anderson would provide any challenge to him at all. He would have to discipline himself.
He walked to the podium to thunderous applause from the press. His face showed no reaction at all. He just stared at them. The press, now thoroughly confused sat quickly.
“I want to first thank General Hartwick for his press conference. I would also like to thank President Hoxworth for allowing us to broadcast this press conference to our family and friends in The United States.
After listening to that speech at the beginning of his press conference I am happy to hear that they want many of the same things we want. Maybe that has always been true.
But we differ greatly in how we want to accomplish these things.
We believe if an illness befalls a family, it should not bankrupt them. We also believe that if a person works, if a person does a job, that person should be paid enough to enjoy a basic standard of living.
We don’t believe that if you flip hamburgers you should be able to avoid a big house and support a family. But you should at least be able to support yourself, shouldn’t you?
Too often in the past we would hear from our friends on the right that these jobs were starter jobs. Jobs for teenagers never meant to support a person. Well, what if that’s the only job you can get?
We also believe that education is the path to success. Not just for you as individuals, but for our nation. We will strive to introduce free college for everyone in the next couple of years. That will take some adjustment on everyone’s part, but we know we can do this.
We also believe that this planet is precious, and that we have to protect it. And we will do that. We wish to trade with our American cousins. We know that they wish to trade with us as well. But this is going to be a different country than what many of you are used too.
Here you will find not just freedom, but security. Secure in the fact that your children will not be burdened by debt from their education. Secure in the fact that your children and grandchildren will grow up in a healthy environment. That global warming will not cause them the incredible economic hardship that is predicted. I will reach out to our friends in Europe, Asia and all over the world to join us in a working treaty to save the planet.
Last, and perhaps most important, I beg of General Hartwick and President Hoxworth, let the people go. We welcome our friends from the United States who would like to join us. Come! Bring your talents and your energy for a wonderful society with you. We need you and we want you. We welcome you with open arms.
When the speech was ended Colby took just a few questions. It was clear to Hartwick and Hoxworth that they were scripted. They watched until it ended and then John Robert Ross, a preacher from Texas began to speak.
Hartwick was nervous, but he remembered his good friend, Troy Evans. Evans had liked JR Ross before they had even met. Once he had met him he not only liked him more, he trusted him more. Hartwick had also been largely persuaded. But they had given this man great power. His only hope was that the preacher from Texas would help to unite the nation.
Ross had decided to give his speech from the pulpit of his church in Dallas. The church could easily seat twenty-thousand people. It was full every Sunday. But tonight there were thousands more. They were standing in the aisles and around the floor in front of the pulpit.
“Good Evening my fellow Americans. Good evening all of my brothers and sisters who may be watching from the new nation of California. The war is over.”
Thunderous applause rose from the congregation. Ross tried to speak but the applause took several minutes to die down.
“The war is over, but the battle between good and evil will continue as it always has and always will until the good Lord decides it is time to end.
We have a great opportunity ahead of us. Though many millions are struggling, the future is bright. If, however, we begin to blame each other, then that bright future will quickly fade.
This new nation, this new version of The United States cannot be divided. It will not stand if we are divided. There can be no more black men, white men, and Hispanic or Asian women. This must be a nation of individuals. A nation of free men and women.
I am an evangelical Christian Pastor. I would like for all men and women in this nation to be Christians. But it cannot come through the government. It cannot be forced. Every man must come to God and peace on his own.
Every man must be free to pursue the desires of his he
art and mind. There can be no dignity without freedom. There can be no salvation and no peace of soul without the freedom to gain these things on your own free will and by your own efforts.
The new nation of California is becoming prosperous. Our new nation will also be prosperous. I hope and pray that both nations are blessed by God.
But even though California is now prospering, it is not yet back to where it was before this war started. The petty differences that existed between us were allowed to fester. They were allowed to become so divisive that there seemed no path to peace between us.
Those petty differences led us to attempt to destroy the greatest nation the world has ever known.
If we allow these divisions and past hurts to consume us, we will not prosper either.
I know that some of these differences were driven by passionate beliefs. But that passion was too often exploited. Exploited by business owners, politicians, and others with an agenda.
And so we have fought. Hundreds of thousands lost their lives. Millions more have lost their homes, jobs and the peace of the normal way of life.
Let us all be humble in our victory and compassionate to our former enemies. For if we do not do this, what have we really gained?”
Three months later
“What do you think John?” Victor Van-Driessen was on a first-name and friendly basis with John Hartwick. The two had worked tirelessly over the last few months.
“About how we are doing?” Hartwick asked.
“No, about the war. Your life has been turned upside down. Now here you sit. There are a lot of people that want you to run for president in a few years. I asked because I’m not that much different.
I got into politics just a few years ago. Never thought I’d be Vice-President of the United States. I also never imagined until a couple of years ago that there would be a civil war. Was it worth it?”
“I think so. But then I look at California and how well they are doing. They have almost everything they wanted. It looks like we’re finally on the right track.