“Thank you. Adonis, you have something to add?”
“I just want to assure you that we’ll soon be launching a major laughable moment at Atlas Fitness Centers. But I won’t spoil the fun.”
“Thank all of you for sharing and listening and keeping the faith,” Zeus adds. “I know it’s not easy, but I know how deeply you are committed. Now I have a special surprise for you.” The picture of a woman in her early sixties appears on screen six. On the wall behind her are the words “Beauty is truth, truth beauty.”
“Everyone, it gives me great pleasure to welcome Cary Hinton, Ham Cooper’s worst nightmare, and the only person in the country who has dared to challenge him for the presidency. I’m not stealing her thunder when I say that she is the only person who has the guts to say that she is out to do away with the Corporate States of America and restore an honest, decent, ethical government that truly represents ‘the people’ first and foremost. Ms. Hinton, as I explained to you, all of the members of the Prometheus Project pledge to participate anonymously and confidentially. And we expect you to honor that and to reveal nothing about your appearance here today.”
“Thank you, Zeus. I completely understand and will, of course, honor your pledge. I respect all of you for what you may be willing to do to help me get elected. Let me tell you who I am if you don’t know my bio—or remind you if you’ve forgotten. Otherwise, you might think that I’m just another power-hungry political hack. My story is a story of this country as it used to be—and that I am determined it can, and must, be again in the future, the near future. My grandparents fled pogroms in Eastern Europe, in Belarus to be exact. Eventually, they settled in the Northeast. My father’s mother had three brothers. They emigrated first and started a business. She and another brother followed a few years later. Her parents and four sisters came too. My father’s father never spoke of his family. Both sides gave up everything they had to come to America. They had to learn English, find work, and build businesses. No one gave them anything, nor did they want or expect anybody to do so. All they wanted was the opportunity to succeed. My grandfather, a tailor in Europe, opened his own shop. Gradually, he branched out from taking in simple alterations and repairs to making custom, high-end clothes. Eventually, he owned four stores. He and my grandmother scrimped and saved so they could provide a better life for their children. My father became a lawyer.
“My mother, whose family had a similar history, became an accountant. Together, they instilled in me, my two sisters and my brother a desire always to do our best—and always to remember where we came from. Most of all, they always told us to be thankful for what we had—and not to be greedy, to remember that there is enough to go around for everyone. They never wanted a handout from anyone—or took one, even when times were tough. And they never simply gave a handout to anyone. They loaned money to people who were willing to work to pay it back, but they never charged anyone interest. They believed it was a source of pride for someone to pay back a loan. And everyone, except one person, did.
“The last thing in the world I ever thought I’d do was run for president of this country. But I found a copy of a journal my mother’s father kept from the time he left Eastern Europe until the day he died. One entry changed my life. I’d like to read it to you: ‘Today, July 4, 1911, I became an American citizen. Until now, I have lived in America with my family and I’ve been a good citizen. I am writing this in good English. I’ve studied hard at night school so my children wouldn’t be embarrassed from my accent or because I couldn’t read or write. I was the best student in the class. And that’s not my pride talking. I got the best grades. I’ve worked hard at my business. My wife and I have raised a family. We’ve never cheated anyone. Every day, we’ve thanked God for getting us to the greatest country on the face of the earth, where we can live in peace.
‘But until I raised my right hand and swore allegiance to this great country, I didn’t feel I belonged. Today is the proudest day of my life. On my right side was a man from Ireland and on my left side was a woman from Italy. We were all sworn in together. We laughed and cried tears of joy. I pointed to both of them and told them they were Yankees now—and they did the same to me. The room was filled with people from everywhere. But today we all became citizens of the same country. Of course, we are different in most ways. That’s why we have so many good restaurants. But we don’t let our differences stand between us. Now we are the same in the most important way. This is the land of opportunity. This is our land. This is now our America. We are now the people, just like the Constitution says. We are Americans.’
“I wept the first time I read my grandfather’s words, and could barely compose myself when I finished. And the truth is, I still do. His constant refrain was ‘only in America’ whenever he or we or anyone enjoyed success and good fortune. When my parents moved into the house they built, when I went off to college, when our neighbors bought their sailboat, he would never tire of saying, ‘Only in America could we all live like kings!’ I thought about how lucky our family was to have been able to emigrate and thrive here.
“But at the same time that I celebrated my grandfather’s exuberance for America, I mourned the loss today of everything for which my grandfather had been so grateful. And I thought about all the Americans who have forgotten the struggles of their families and who have no compassion for others trying to make a productive life for themselves. They act like as long as they got in the tent, everyone else can go to hell. And then I got mad, spitting mad. I thought about how today this country is trashing its founding principles. Believe me: I know American history. I know we’ve done bad things as a nation. I know the founding fathers had warts—serious ones at that. But whatever their shortcomings, they found the words to inspire others to follow their better nature. And we’re a far cry from living up to them today.
“I believe in a meritocracy. That’s what the real America is. You know, ‘all men are created equal.’ That’s an example of where our founding fathers didn’t quite get it right, but got it right enough so later generations could fix it. In their time, they didn’t mean all people: They excluded slaves and women. But in the end, others took the spirit of their words at face value. The prejudices of their time and circumstances were left behind, and later generations were left with the best words that have ever been uttered on behalf of the human race. I don’t care what a person’s skin color, ethnicity, sex, lifestyle preference, or anything else may be. All I care about is that people, and I mean all people, have an equal chance to prove themselves—and succeed. That’s the America I want everyone to live in. That’s the America I want to be president of.
“The cynical coup to take over the country in the name of John Galt was hatched in two phases. First, political ‘bloodsuckers’ used social issues to appeal to fringe groups that would vote them into office. They divided and conquered unsuspecting voters. They targeted one group after another. One year it was immigrants, the next year it was gays and lesbians, another time it was women. They demonized everyone. Once they got political power, those same ‘bloodsuckers’ turned public assets over to private interests. Roads, bridges, tunnels, levees, dams, airports and seaports—every public works project that could be sold off to private interests was disposed of at fire sale prices. They got ‘the people,’ the gullible people, to vote against their self-interest.
“And what has the country reaped since the coup has succeeded? Decade after decade, our infrastructure has been neglected. The private sector—much of it now controlled by foreign interests—has put profit above the public interest. Critical structures are now on the verge of collapse—or have already imploded. You take your life in your hands crossing most bridges. Major levees are on the verge of collapse. Boil-water alerts are routinely issued for urban areas. But do the ‘bloodsuckers’ care? Of course, not! Every bridge that’s still state-owned and that collapses is a buying opportunity for them. Every bridge they own that needs repair is a chance for them to increase their profi
ts by raising toll rates and gouging the public to pay for it. The system is totally rigged for them.
“Believers in Free-for-All economics deny science to maintain corporate monopolies. Global warming is a fiction, they insist. So, we should continue to burn fossil fuels, be dependent upon oil companies, and stop efforts to develop alternative fuels. Today, we are no longer a nation of laws but of men. Lady Justice is no longer fair. Her blindfold is off. She winks at those she favors. Her scale is weighted for the benefit of a chosen few. Except for two justices, the Supreme Court is made up of lapdogs for corporate interests.
“To all of you at the Prometheus Project, in short, I want to accomplish one thing: Restore this country to ‘the people.’ The grand experiment that was launched on this continent almost 300 years ago has been perverted. We’ve got to take it back. I can’t tell you for certain why a relative handful of people was able to stage a coup that enslaved millions of people in the name of freedom and liberty. But they did. Their success wouldn’t have surprised our founding fathers. Even they regarded the American Revolution and the Republic to which it led as a fragile, even potentially fleeting, experiment. As every student of American history knows, when Benjamin Franklin left the Constitutional Convention, a woman asked him, ‘What kind of government have you given us?’ And he replied, ‘A Republic if you can keep it.’ Well, we haven’t kept it. We let it slip through our fingers. We have watched our liberties eroded, justice perverted, and the abiding sense of community—what it always meant to be an American—exchanged for a war between the haves and the have-nots.
“From now until November, I aim to bring my message to everyone in this country—even those who may appear to have fallen for Free-for-All economics. With your help, I believe I can reach enough people to win the presidency. I read my grandfather’s journal entry every day to keep my spirits up. I have to honor his memory and the memories of all of our ancestors who endured hardship to come to this great country and who overcame obstacles to provide for their families.
“Please think on my simple message, ‘Beauty is truth, truth beauty,’ and ask others to do so. It’s more powerful than all the messages of Free-for-All economics combined. Thank you.”
“Thank you, Ms. Hinton, for taking the time to come to the Prometheus Project. I know I speak for everyone when I say that we support you. And I’m guessing that Pandora can’t wait to put your message out to her vast network. This concludes today’s meeting. The Prometheus Project is adjourned.”
FIVE
Plug, Drug, Bug
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15, 10 A.M.: MIDTOWN MANHATTAN. The gleaming, white façade of the International Headquarters of Atlas Fitness Centers commands the east side of Fifth Avenue between 64th and 63rd Streets like a parvenu who thinks others don’t know he’s “just arrived.” On a window above the two doors of the main entrance, the Center’s name in Garamond font is etched in gold. On the glass of each of six display windows, three on each side of the two doors of the main entrance, there is a gold replica of the Atlas figure at New Atlantis, under which are the words “Drug yourself on self-interest.” In each window, bottles of Atlas Energy Drink are arranged in pyramids next to a Titan WholeBody Harmony Machine. High-definition screens play video of ebullient Atlas clients. Starting at the northernmost window, their testimonials about the miracles produced by Atlas Energy and the Titan Machine are broadcast in the street in sequence. Each one begins with an exuberant, “My Atlas program transformed my life.” Then comes a startling specific—like “lowering my cholesterol” or “stabilizing my Parkinson’s.”
In spite of the stagnant, early-morning, spring-summer heat, about 150 customers have been lining up outside the main entrance for about an hour. The line extends east around the corner of 63rd Street. Preferred clients, Atlas members, have access to the Center 24/7 and use a private entrance. These people are (what the Center calls) “newbies”—less affectionately, “live bait”—and are responding to a full-page ad in yesterday’s Times. The coupon most are holding entitles them to buy one Atlas Energy Drink and get one free.
The Center’s response the day after every major ad runs is perfectly scripted. Nothing is left to chance. As soon as “newbies” enter, they sign in at welcome tables. They fill out a registration card, write the name they like to be called, and receive a name tag that reads “I’m [their name] and I want to be drugged on Atlas.” Greeters then escort them to a seat. Today, they’ve preset for 100. So, extra chairs have had to be quickly added. When everyone is seated, either Enrique Reyes, Zora Tremmon, or Albert Swift leads a fifteen-minute presentation on the certified value of the Atlas program.
Today, it’s Enrique. On a white board behind him he writes: Drug Yourself on Atlas and Your Only Interest Is Your Self-Interest.
“Welcome all of you. I am thrilled that you are here. And I’m thrilled to be the one speaking with you today. You got that I’m thrilled, right?” he says smiling, with a calculated wink. “These two power-phrases will change your lives, just as they have for tens of thousands of people already. Our goal at Atlas Fitness is to create the next generation of leaders—SuperAtlases who develop their maximum potential so they can seize opportunity and prosper. By coming here today, you’ve revealed that you are already open to becoming the center of your own universe. By being willing to allow a proven miracle into your life, you can begin the process today. That’s right! The miracle is real and available—now. And this is it. This is where it all starts,” he says, holding up an 8 oz. bottle of Atlas Energy Drink.
“I can absolutely say it’s a miracle because I developed its secret formula. It’s my inspiration. I had the privilege of being at New Atlantis, enjoying the freedom to be creative and entrepreneurial when I hit upon the idea. What do people want, people just like you? I asked myself. A quick, painless, easy, proven way to take control of their lives. And what was the best way to achieve that, I wondered? A power drink, of course. But not just another power drink, one that could be scientifically proven to achieve results. And I was able to develop Atlas Energy because I live in this great country. Free-for-All economics finally did away with all the obstacles that used to make it difficult to bring a product to market because ‘the government’ was looking over everyone’s shoulder—supposedly protecting the public interest. I’d still be waiting for approval, and you would not be able to enjoy the benefits of Atlas Energy, if some government bureaucrat had to approve it. Fortunately, now that we’re free of such socialist propaganda, you’re able to get a full-strength, unadulterated product that’s been scientifically tested and proven by the best researchers we’ve been able to hire.
“Of course, I drink Atlas Energy every day. I know firsthand that it can alter the chemistry of your entire body. It will add years to your life. And not just years, but quality—the concentrated energy and focus that will permit you to be the best that you can be. But you don’t have to believe me. In the back of the room, there are copies of scientific analyses that certify the results users are having—and we also have people right here to speak for themselves.”
Three preferred clients always give the in-person testimonials— sales research has determined that two is too few, four or more too many—all of whom attest to the fact that signing up for an ongoing program, including regular use of the Titan WholeBody Harmony Machine, increases results far beyond simply drinking the drink or doing an occasional workout. Forty-year-old Tom tells the “newbies” that drinking Atlas Energy cured his diabetes. Sixty-ish Emily swears that it lowered her cholesterol. And twenty-five-year-old Tony flexes his pecs, winks, smiles, and says his sex life has never been better. Tom attests to the immense value of enrolling in free, weekly “Self-Interest Workshops,” which are only available to clients who sign up for a year’s fitness program. And Emily adds, “Absolutely, you’ve got to be committed to your self-interest 110 percent, and the thirty-day program is the best way to do that. Drug yourself on Atlas. Free yourself to pursue your self-interest like so many ot
hers. Miraculously, results begin as soon as you sign up.”
After every presentation, depending upon the size of the crowd, staff members call out the names of anywhere from ten to fifteen “newbies” and “huddle” with them as a group. They know from experience that there is at least one new center member firm or saleable in every group. As soon as that person signs up, everyone in the group applauds—an affirmation that typically encourages at least two more to enroll. Today, forty-five-year-old Fernando is the first to sign up. He becomes emotional when everyone cheers his decision. “I have a bad heart, but I want to live. From now on, I only want to pursue my self-interest. And I know Atlas Energy Drink will make that possible.”
By the end of a half-hour, small-group session, at least five “newbies” in each huddle have typically signed their enrollment contract and paid for their year’s program. Anyone who hasn’t signed up—“tough cases” in Atlas jargon—is escorted to a private office for a one-on-one consultation (“the massage”) with specially trained sales reps. Group leaders depart with enrollees for the MindBody Harmony Room, where they make an appointment to receive their free total body fitness assessment in preparation for using the Titan Machine. As they leave the Center, they enroll in their first free “Self-Interest Workshop,” and receive two bottles of Atlas Energy Drink, both free because they are now preferred clients.
“Welcome Atlas Fitness Center franchisees,” Enrique Reyes says when he goes to the podium before the 100 men and women seated in the Training Room of the Center at 11 a.m. Behind him is a sign that reads Our clients’ needs are our dollars. “Give yourselves a round of applause,” he adds clapping his hands. “I see John Yates from Philadelphia, Sonya Martin from El Paso, Ingrid Potoff from San Francisco. I could go on, but in the interest of time I’ll stop there. Just know that we know you personally, we’re joined at the hip, even if we haven’t met you in person until now.
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