“I guess I hadn’t really thought about it much,” Mary interjected.
“I’m not sure I agree with all of that,” Vice President Folly said.
“And that’s why I brought it up. Please, I am not saying we don’t educate the less gifted but we do it in a different way. We meet them where they are academically and provide a good learning experience geared to their needs. We still teach them the basics but let’s face it, how many in this room alone can name the Capital of South Dakota? How you find the cubic volume of a cylinder? The point is why do you even need to know those things unless you are going to work in a field where it is used? Here is a true story that happened to me once when I was giving a test for one of our teachers on maternity leave. The question was: If the sun was at a 20 degree angle to a tree and the shadow was 35 feet, how tall was the tree? The question was worth ten points,” she told them.
“And?” Jason asked.
“One student wrote that if they needed to know bad enough they would get a chainsaw and cut it down and then measure it,” she said.
Some smiled, some chuckled, and a couple didn’t get the point.
“I gave him ten points for the answer. The point being that not only did he not care, he realized that he would never again try to figure out how high a tree was by knowing the length of its shadow. He was saying ‘who cares? I sure don’t’. The truth is neither did I. I’m never going to be a lumberjack. The question had no practical application.”
“So if I understand this correctly, you are saying that starting in elementary school and going on, we need to have classes for those that will never use higher math or science and one for those that will go on to aspire to those programs that need that kind of application.”
“Pretty much,” Susan replied.
“Isn’t that discrimination?” Supreme Court Chief Jackson Miller asked.
“I don’t know. Is it? You are the head of the courts. Before you answer, let me ask you a question. If your son or daughter was very motivated and bright, would you want him or her in a class that bored her to death? One where she lost interest and just mentally dropped out?”
“Well I can’t answer that. The law covers everyone, not just my children.”
“So you wouldn’t mind if at some point she just dropped out?”
“I’m not saying that. I would make sure she continued with her education.”
“Please tell me honestly Jackson, did you have you children enrolled in public or private schools?
"Well I don't think you can use my children as an example for children in general," he said.
"So the answer is private. And was that so that they could achieve at a higher level?"
"I get your point, but I still think it's a tricky area. We can’t have schools that discriminate and make the decisions on who will succeed and who will not be given the chance,” he replied.
“Sir, all I can say is that you should spend time in the classrooms before you make that kind of statement. I have seen literally hundreds of really bright students who lose interest because of the test prep curriculum. In addition, our classrooms have a significant number of undisciplined malcontents who take up space in the class room, distracting, bullying, and threatening the 'preps' or studious children. You tell me how to fix that and I will,” she said.
“All I know is that I am not going to let discrimination creep back in. Not in the school system or any other area.”
“Good luck with that. It already exists no matter what laws you pass. You cannot legislate people's attitudes any more than you can their intellect, or will. That’s partly what got us into the mess in the first place. If we go down that path again, we will end up in exactly the same place. Now is the time to make positive changes in our educational policies for the future generations that follow,” Dr. Churchman replied.
It was quiet in the room for several seconds before the President spoke up.
“Why don’t we all take a little break? This is obviously a passionate subject and I think it would be good to step away for a few minutes,” Jason said.
“Yes, I could use a little break,” Vice President Folly added.
CHAPTER TWENTY
WASHINGTON, DC
Twelve Senators were gathered together with twenty-six Representatives. They were meeting at the Oxen Hill Manor just outside the Capital Beltway. Some of the less trusted members of Congress had not been informed of the meeting.
Senator Cromwell was doing most of the talking as usual. He had just finished briefing them about his last clash with General Ascot. Of course he embellished in a few areas to get the intended indignation response from his audience.
“So there you have it. He indicated that he would reconvene congress at his discretion. He essentially told me that we were nothing more than a bunch of do little crooks always trying to line our pockets.”
“We have to do something and quickly.”
“That’s why I asked you all here. I agree that something has to be done and soon or we will never be in control of the country. Democracy as we know it will be dead,” the Senator stated.
“We could call for a national strike. Go on radio, television, the print media or whatever means we can and let the public know that the United States is a dictatorship and that the people are no longer represented,” the Senator from Maine said.
“Don’t you think they would shut us down? Take over the stations?” one of the New York Senators asked.
“We would have to do it lightning fast. Before they had a chance to react. With a little luck we could get enough information out to the population. We would have to tell them up front that we would most likely be arrested or the stations taken over. That would set the tone,” Senator Billings of New Hampshire said.
“The message would have to be short but dynamic. Full of urgency for the citizens to rise up and protest a military state,” Cromwell added.
“It would be a one shot deal most likely. I mean we could probably get some private stations that are hard to find to continue our message but it wouldn’t be the mainstream media.”
“We could hold town hall meetings.”
“Which they would raid.”
“Yes but even if they do, it proves our point,” Senator Dickerson said.
“It can’t be just a few of us. We need every Senator, Representative, Governor, and State and local politician if we are going to be effective,” Cromwell told them.
“That increases the risk considerably. Everyone that we bring in is another potential avenue for a leak. We have to do it surreptitiously. If the military finds out before we can take action they will sequester us immediately,” Senator Dickerson replied.
“But if we do nothing we are subject to military rule. I can’t go along with that. This is not some third world country. This is still the United States,” Cromwell said.
“How many of you are willing to meet again to determine our course of action and to work on the delivery and areas of responsibility for contacting the others?” Dickerson asked.
All of the hands came up which was even more than Cromwell had expected. Maybe they could get this done after all.
****
Bruce Hubbard had left Washington after two days. He was in no hurry. He knew that no matter how hard they tried they would never be able to trace the gun to him since the war.
He took the van back and threw everything else away. He concluded that there was nothing more for him there so he started the drive back to Knoxville.
He decided that he would take I-85 traversing Virginia until he got to State Road 58. There he turned south heading for the Virginia-Tennessee border.
He was sure that he could find a secluded area where he could cross back into Tennessee. It was late by the time he arrived at the turnoff. He took the exit north and found a fairly new motel where he could spend the night.
The next morning he drove across Main street and ate a good breakfast at a Cracker Barrel. After buying a couple of snac
ks and using the restroom, he picked up SR 58, heading toward the border.
At noon he stopped at the small town of Damascus. There he filled up at the Chevron station, grabbed a quick bite at a local dinner. Looking around, he noticed that a lot of hikers must come through the area. He counted at least six different outfitter stores and three bike rental shops.
He looked at the map one more time. He would stay on SR 58 until the split and then take 91 across the border. His only worry was whether the Sheriff had a car sitting there. If that was the case he would abandon the Jeep and hike through the woods into Tennessee.
Bruce stopped the CJ at the last big bend before the border. He carefully looked around the corner and sure enough a County Sherriff’s car sat blocking the road.
As much as he hated to he would have to abandon the Jeep and hike across the border. It was almost dark when he decided he had gone far enough to be back in Tennessee. He had a heck of a long walk before he would be out of the forest.
****
The man stood in the shadows, watching the street for fifteen minutes. He checked out every car parked along the street. He had even brought a pair of night vision binoculars to make sure no one was lurking in the trees that lined the road.
Once satisfied, he dashed across the street, his raincoat flapping. When he got to the steps he quickly rang the doorbell several times. It seemed like hours before the door opened a crack.
“What the hell are you doing here?”
“I have something important to tell you.”
“Here? At my home? It can’t wait?”
“No. You need to let me in. I can’t afford for anyone to see me,” the man said nervously looking around.
“Shit. Alright, come in but stay here in the foyer. I need to get my robe,” he said and quickly closed the door once he had stepped inside.
A few minutes later he returned and looked at the puddle of water that had dripped off the man’s raincoat.
“Now what is so important?”
“There was a meeting. A large one. There is a plan to cause a general uprising of the people. They intend to shut down as much as they can. They have evidently been working on this for a couple of weeks. I just found out a few hours ago. It is fairly well organized and I think it could be effective,” the man said.
“Damn. Everyone is in such a hurry. No one wants to take it one step at a time. No, that’s not it. They don’t want anything to change. They liked the system the way it was. Now the winds of change are in the air and they are circling the wagons.”
“They haven't announced the exact date but it must be soon. They are now talking to Mayors and Councilmen. They are trying to stir everyone up so the military will be forced to reconvene the Congress.”
“And you honestly think they can pull it off?”
“I would say they have better than a 60-40 chance right now. The longer they prepare the stronger the chances of success become.”
“You did the right thing. We will have to act on this immediately. I’m sorry if I was gruff. I apologize for my abruptness. Thank you for coming.”
“I just thought you should know as soon as possible.”
“And you were absolutely right,” he said and opened the door.
The man looked around quickly and dashed back across the street as surreptitiously as he had come.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
NASHVILLE CAPITAL BUILDING
President Jason was having his fair share of difficulties as well. Senator Dryfus was due to meet with him in ten minutes and he had a splitting headache.
What he really wanted to do was just take the rest of the day off and go fishing or almost anything but meet with the Senator. The afternoon session had been another fairly heated one over education. Dr. Churchman was not about to back down on the fundamentals that she believed were necessary to improve the school system for the future of the children and the country.
Most of the exchanges still centered on equal rights and discrimination. It was a very touchy subject that some of the others shied away from. Finally it was decided to end the session and revisit it at a later time. Neither Dr. Churchman nor Supreme Court Chief Jackson Miller was very happy.
A discrete tap on the door let him know that the Senator was here.
“Come on in,” he said, rubbing his eyes.
“Mr. President,” the Senator said, offering his hand.
The two men shook hands and then sat across from each other. Jason didn’t want to give the appearance that he was aloof by sitting behind his desk.
“Senator, what can I do for you this afternoon? Let me warn you, I have a splitting headache so if it looks like I am not paying attention or giving you strange looks, please put it down to that.”
“Maybe I should just reschedule,” the Senator suggested.
“No. No. You’re here and it is just a headache after all,” Jason assured him.
“Well, I’m afraid it is about the same subject as before. We have talked amongst ourselves and are all anxious to help the country and the administration. I have been asked to speak with you about something that we could contribute to the good of the country. None of us wants to be the fifth wheel on the cart of progress.”
“Fifth wheel on the cart of progress. I like that. Hell, I may even steal that. Who came up with that,” Jason asked.
“It just sort of rolled out of my mouth,” Dryfus replied.
“Darn good line. Well, I understand your dilemma. I think you have been more than fair about giving us time to get our feet on the ground. Let me tell you a little bit about where we are and then let’s see if we can figure something out.”
“That would be very much appreciated by all of us,” Dryfus said leaning back in his chair.
Jason could see some of the apprehension disappearing. He honestly knew how he would feel. Actually how he did feel after Quasim had basically banned him from any meetings. It hurt and he felt demeaned.
“Let me tell you our thinking about how the President of the American Republic should conduct business. First we intend to limit some of the power the President. I am all in favor of that. I have seen what too much power can do. Second, we intend to change the terms of the President,” he went on to say.
For the next twenty minutes the conversation centered on how the President and Vice President would be held accountable. Dryfus was enthralled by what he was hearing. The people actually holding the President accountable for his actions?
Jason talked about the revamping of the education system and while they had not reached a firm decision they had made good progress. He went on to explain that the legal branch would undergo changes as well.
“The current system,” Jason said, “is so broken that there is no way to patch it up. We need to step back and take another look at the entire system.”
“Lord, that is a huge undertaking.”
“It is, but we simply can’t continue under the same system. We have had some preliminary talks but we have only brushed the surface at this point,” Jason told him.
“You haven’t mentioned the part that Congress will play. Do you intend to change that as well?”
Jason knew this was the moment of truth. Dance or just tell it like it is?
“Nothing is firm yet but this is what we are leaning toward. Restricted terms. How many is yet to be determined. Full disclosure, just like the VP and the President, on all income and taxes every year. An audit by an independent agency. The retirement plans and special medical plans will be eliminated and Congress will have to do the same things as the people they represent. No junkets of any kind. The laws of the land will apply to them just as they do to every other citizen. Two Senators will represent the state and work in Washington. Each state will have three delegates to the House of Representatives. They will work out of the state and only go to Washington when special sessions are called or a major decision has to be made. States can determine how they want to handle the state level politics as long as it falls
within the guidelines of the Republic laws,” Jason said.
Dryfus just sat there with his mouth slightly open.
“There is more but that is the gist of the thought process at this moment.”
“You are changing the entire system. How can every state have only three delegates to the House of Representatives? How can Senators be expected to be in Washington practically full time? This will not be accepted by the members of Congress.”
“Some of it may change but the nucleus will remain the same I assure you. As for Congress accepting it? Well let’s just say that the next election will only offer the choices that I just spelled out. What you need to come to grips with is that this is a new era and a new country. The American Republic is going to undergo sweeping changes in the way the government represents its citizens. Congress will be held accountable for spending, their ethics, and doing the job they were elected to do.”
“With all due respect, Mr. President, if you think that Congress with just roll over and play dead you are sadly mistaken,” Dryfus said, standing up quickly.
“Sit Senator Dryfus. I have not finished yet.”
Dryfus looked at him in shock. He was not used to being treated this way.
“Senator. You have to understand, we have started with the role of the President and Vice President. We are requiring the same thing out of them that we are requiring for Congress. You may think you are better than the people you serve and deserve special compensation, but sir, I can guarantee that will no longer be the case. The government of the American Republic will answer to the citizens for our actions and that includes members of Congress as well. Those who don't like it will find they no longer have jobs. New Congressional members will take their place,” Jason told him.
A NATION HEALING - BOOK III The Second Civil War (The Second Civil War - BOOK III 1) Page 8