A Condensed History of the Near Future

e-mail | 4/21/09 | anonymous

[NewJerseyJoe]

Those tea-baggers are un-American, unproductive, and racist. I hope they are dealt with soon!

When the government finally came for the military vets, gun owners, pro-lifers, so-called constitutionalists, talk-radio hosts, homophobes, Christian fanatics, and those who are against “illegal aliens,” “big government,” and “generational theft deficit spending,” I didn’t say anything. And why should I? — I’m not a right-wing extremist.

Finally, we can rebuild America the way it is supposed to be! Yes we can!!

When they were coming for the elderly and disabled, I sadly said goodbye to Grandma, reassuring her that something better would come from this, all in the name of Him for whom we both voted. (She kept trying to tell me something as they took her away, but I couldn’t understand what she was saying.) I patted on the head little Johnny from down the block, certain that he would not understand what was happening to him and thus would not suffer. In his way, Johnny, too, would contribute to this Great American Reawakening.

We did not expect for taxes to be raised so greatly; in fact, we were told the opposite would happen! But it must be for the good of all, because He for whom we voted promised us that we must all sacrifice to bring about the hope and change that would make us great again.

I still cannot understand why so many of my friends and remaining family are losing their jobs ... but it is reassuring to know that the Government of Change that we chose is taking care of us. The weekly checks are getting bigger! but it’s weird how the money doesn’t buy as much at the store any more.

The weekly visits from the neighborhood Commission on Hopeful Change have started to feel a little creepy ... so many personal questions nowadays! It was a little strange getting used to the home searches, but it must be for the best. One of my neighbors supposedly complained that the “Constitution” does not allow such searches ... he must have run away or something, because no one has seen him for weeks.

My nephew came home for the weekend, from his Civilian Service Corps training. Something weird has happened to Fred ... he used to be nice, polite, respectful. He’s still polite, but it’s so ... stiff. He doesn’t seem to look up to me or his mother any more; I even thought I overheard him giving my sister an order! Must have been my imagination.

So many people have gone from the neighborhoods ... people are starting to talk, quietly and secretly. Saying that something is going wrong in the government, that our neighbors are not running away but are being taken away. I can’t believe that people would dare say such things about our Dear Leader. Should I mention this to the neighborhood officer? I have to think about it.

Today was Change Day (formerly called Election Day), and I couldn’t believe what happened! A large number of people — including many who I thought were my friends — gathered in the city square today and held what they called a “Tea Party!” The police, the civilian service corps tactical team, and the local U.N. peacekeepers had to kill most of these people, as they were threatening to march on the state capital — some even talked about starting their own TV or radio station. If we are ever to have hope and change, this cannot be tolerated — can it? I don’t know ...

Something strange is happening. After the Election Day -- oops, Change Day peace efforts, the government announced that, “for the good of the American people and to ensure their continue safety and security,” it would immediately implement content oversight of all TV, radio, newspaper, and Internet communications. Homeland Security’s sub-Department of Peaceful Discourse closed down most newspapers and other media outlets, and the neighborhood Change Commission installed Internet monitoring filters in all the houses that are still occupied. The remaining newspapers consist of some good economic news, but most of the pages are about Hollywood stars, fashions, the new “safe” porn, lotteries, astrology, and gossip. Movies are streamed free over the three remaining TV channels, but they’re mostly political; they’re not terribly entertaining. I think ... I’m starting to think, maybe something has gone wrong.

The big shock this week: it was announced that we would all have to move to central housing units. Because so many houses are vacated these days, the land is sitting worthless. The government has announced that, by selling all this unproductive land (plus the former wildlife preserves and national parks, which are now called “strategic historic land set-aside assets”) to foreign investors, America would obtain the flow of capital needed to jumpstart the stagnant economy, which is still suffering from 20 years of Reagan-Bush-Quayle-Bush-Cheney. Strange ... why are they still being blamed? — that was so long ago. It was explained to me once, but I didn’t understand it.

I am in trouble. The Commission’s security worm software discovered this secret diary of mine, and my arrest has been announced for the next public weekly roundup. What can I do? Since there are no longer any guns, I cannot protect or defend myself. There are no military vets to provide inspiration and leadership. Religious worship is forbidden, so I can’t pray for deliverance. And there is no longer a media to speak up for my interests. All the “boxes” are gone: soapbox, ballot box, jury box, bullet box.

All those years, my friends and I threw around the words “fascist” and “nazi,” but we never really knew what they meant. And the people we accused of such names? They didn’t fit the definition. Now I know — all too well — what those words really mean.

I must escape, but how? where? A few people still have gas-powered cars stashed away in caves and secret garages ... but there’s been no gasoline for years. No one can afford the few electric cars. The trains are all inspected, and the passengers are checked. Every road has wireless sensors and cameras, and our RFID chips are tracked 24/7. What am I gonna do?

I remember the rumors I heard of places that people set up, in order to live freely, out in Montana and Texas and places like that — where people worship God, have public discourses, engage in their industries, provide for their families (and are allowed to have families) ... places that still receive free news broadcasts from the EIB satellites ... where people do not live in fear of the government.

I still remember chanting “Yes, we can” all those years ago, and now I must ask ... am I responsible for what’s happened? Yes, I am.

[NewJerseyJoe]

ping

[GeronL]

bump

[Neoliberalnot]

Good one Joe. Are you really originally from New Jersey?

[gigster]

!

[Malsua]

Stupid protagonist. I guess he is a lib :)

[Kartographer]

Choose this day how you will serve; Will you serve unwillingly and at the biding of others wearing the yoke of socialism or will hold true to the course of our forefathers’ standing tall and serving freely? As for me I choose to SERVE THE REPUBLIC!!

[Texas resident]

And the dims and their media are shocked, shocked I say that American citizens are stocking up on handguns, ammo, cash and food. A lot of them are paying down on debt instead of making their normal purchases. Not buying anything that required long term payments such as houses and vehicles. Fix what you have and make it work. We are not near as stupid as they think, obambi voters aside.

[neverdem]

BTTT

[NewJerseyJoe]

ping

[MHGinTN]

You deserve a big BBQ sandwich for that one. Yes you do.

[girlangler]

I agree, that’s worth an entire barbeque dinner, complete with sweet tea.

Thanks Joe.

[MHGinTN]

With your figure, Wayne probably doesn’t let you drink sweet tea! ... Or is it all that fishing?

[21twelve]

“A few people still have gas-powered cars stashed away in caves and secret garages ... but there’s been no gasoline for years.”

*******

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFT25c-5t98

Red Barchetta, by Rush

My uncle has a country place
That no one knows about.
He says it used to be a farm,
Before the Motor Law.
And on Sundays I elude the Eyes,
And hop the Turbine Freight
To far outside the Wire,
Where my white-haired uncle waits.

Jump to the ground
As the Turbo slows to cross the Borderline.
Run like the wind,
As excitement shivers up and down my spine.
Down in his barn,
My uncle preserved for me an old machine,
For fifty-odd years.
To keep it as new has been his dearest dream.

I strip away the old debris
That hides a shining car.
A brilliant red Barchetta
From a better, vanished time.
I fire up the willing engine,
Responding with a roar.
Tires spitting gravel,
I commit my weekly crime...

Wind-
In my hair-
Shifting and drifting-
Mechanical music-
Adrenalin surge...

Well-weathered leather,
Hot metal and oil,
The scented country air.
Sunlight on chrome,
The blur of the landscape,
Every nerve aware.

Suddenly ahead of me,
Across the mountainside,
A gleaming alloy air-car
Shoots towards me, two lanes wide.
I spin around with shrieking tires,
To run the deadly race,
Go screaming through the valley
As another joins the chase.

Drive like the wind,
Straining the limits of machine and man.
Laughing out loud
With fear and hope, I’ve got a desperate plan.
At the one-lane bridge
I leave the giants stranded at the riverside.
Race back to the farm, to dream with my uncle at the fireside.

[Tired of Taxes]

OK, that explains your screenname. (I was a Rush fan, too.)

[Tired of Taxes]

I hope it never reaches that point. Time will tell.

[21twelve]

WAS a fan? I didn’t think there was such a thing!? ;)

The following is an okay live version from last years Snakes and Arrows tour. They have grown older, as has their music. (I think it is one of their better albums, after you get used to it!)

Here’s a song that would make a great Obama theme song:

Malignant Narcissim.

Sounds great, but the words have no meaning. (It’s an instrumental!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DF0RtMbhvSo

[Tired of Taxes]

Always a fan. :-) I just haven’t been following them lately.

Enjoyed the video - thanks for the link.

Once in awhile, I search for Rush videos on youtube. Once or twice, I posted the lyrics to Trees here on FR. I saw them in concert in the ‘80’s. Their lyrics seem to especially apply to what’s happening today.