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The Road to the Third World
Conspiring to Destroy America
By Stephen Cafaro
Chapter 1
The elderly couple huddle together in a corner of their bullet riddled home. Their middle class house is boarded up to provide protection from unwelcome intruders. They stare blankly at a small static speaking television set. The listening volume of the set goes from near silence to a blasting crescendo, and the video jumps frames at a time reminiscent of a 1940’s television viewing experience. It is the second decade of the 21st century, and time has not been kind to America.
The old man rises from his position of safety and hobbles over to the sporadic set to adjust the makeshift wire antenna. He moves the improvised metal hanger in various directions, but to no avail. Frustrated, he slaps the side of the set and suddenly the sound and scenes improve. “Humph” he mutters as he slowly moves back to the corner. He is bent over as he prepares to seat himself beside his wife. Suddenly, there is a loud cracking noise just as a large splinter is dislodged from a wood covered window. The elderly lady looks up to view a pencil sized beam of new light that has invaded the darkened room. Momentarily, she smiles as she muses with her husband. “Another near miss, but we have more light and air conditioning.”
The words were no sooner said when she felt the weight descend upon her. Her husband falls into her lap gasping for air and clutching his throat. She moves his hand to reveal the splinter lodged in his throat. She cringes as she prepares to remove the wood. Before she can assist, her husband faintly waves off the effort as he casts a directional glance at his upper body. The woman follows the gaze to reveal a bullet wound in his chest. She grows faint as she observes the flow of blood and hears the horrific sucking sound coming from the wound. She futilely cradles his head in her arms in a comforting motion. Within seconds, she feels his body stiffen just as he expels a final whoosh of air. A lone tear flows from her tired eyes and she gently rocks the dead body. She brushes the few remaining hairs on his balding forehead and gently lays his head on the floor.
She rises and shuffles to the bathroom where she opens a container bearing a hand written label -- Cyanide. She grabs 2 capsules and pours a glass of water. Returning, she lifts her husbands head to her bosom. She again resumes the consoling rocking and gulps a drink of water to swallow the pills. Resigned to her fate, she awaits her final moments. She looks down at her husbands graying face and whispers “I’m coming to join you just as we discussed. It will be good to be away from this world. I’m surprised we lasted this long!” A bit of regret overcomes her as she silently prays for divine guidance. Dear God, why has all this happened? What have we done to bring your anger upon us? It is over for me, but what of my children and grand babies? What will come of them? What will become of my country? Please let the punishment end!
Her weary eyes return to the television screen. A somber reporter summarizes the current state of affairs. He is reporting from an fashionable neighborhood in upstate New York that is in appalling condition. Video pictures of fallen wires, garbage strewn streets and fortress like residences attest to the plight of this once stylish area.
A cameraman is slowly panning the neighborhood as the reporter begins his dialogue. “America is under siege! It is impossible to understand how all this happened. A quick look at this upscale area reveals the depth of our ongoing problem. Boarded and bricked windows and doors hide the elegance of these fine homes. Booby trapped devices have replaced flowers and trees in the once trendy landscapes. Gangs of marauding thieves and gun totting vigilantes have driven out the children and families that once frolicked in the streets. The playful shouts of kids at play are lost to the ever present sounds of gunfire. And yet—all this is but a microcosm of what is happening throughout America today.”
The cameraman now focuses on the reporter as he continues his assessment. “Its mind numbing to think just six months ago, our country was in great shape. The President and government officials were touting our resilient economy. We were told that the United States is the greatest country in the world and that our system is the finest in the history of mankind. No one seems to be able to explain how the dollar suddenly collapsed. Everyone thought such a thing was impossible—that the countries of the world were reliant upon us for their survival and that no country would ever move against us. But move against us they did, and with disastrous consequence for America. Our government quickly reacted by attempting to cover the federal debt with a flood of hastily produced dollars. This process normally worked to settle economic concerns, but this time the end result was hyper inflation. Wall Street joined the catastrophe in short order. Declines in the stock market were trailed by massive lay offs, bank failures and corporate bankruptcies. The economic problems spilled over into the streets as people vied for jobs, money, food and the other staples of survival. Finding no way out, the populace soon turned their rage on the government, the financial institutions and finally, one another! The army and the National Guard have been called out, but they are barely able to protect government buildings and politicians from the growing wrath.”
The broadcaster becomes more passionate and he injects his personal feelings. “The country is in a state of absolute anarchy. Looters, murderers and vigilantes are the new rule of law. The government can not protect you! I repeat---the government can not protect you! Each of you must defend yourselves in any way you can! This is an ominous time for America.”
A quizzical look appears on the reporters face as he questions the origin of the dilemma. “What I don’t understand and what no one can explain is how something like this could have ever happened to our country. We had it all – homes, jobs, incomes, and a standard of living that were the envy of the world. We had the best system, the best technology, the best managers, the best companies and the best people. When America talked, the world listened. When America instructed, the world responded! Clearly, we are the undisputed best! How is it possible we have fallen so far, and so quickly? I don’t understand!”
The voice from the television grows distant as the old woman begins to lose consciousness. Her final unspoken plea is for her children. Spare them Lord so they may right whatever wrongs that have incited your fury. Please show them the way out of this inferno! She draws her final breath oblivious to the origin of the debilitating cancer that has infected America.
She is among the hundreds of millions of Americans who will never comprehend the enormous crime that has been perpetrated on the American people. Complacency, arrogance and feelings of superiority had become the blinders of the bewildered masses. Generations will suffer the pangs of economic denial with their only hope being the fleeting memories of a once great country. Americans have just begun the painful process of daily survival, human degeneration and social injustice that accompanies any failed country. At a point, the fatal outcome was avoidable. Some knew of the specific problem and tried to avert the economic disaster. This is a story of the problem and those who gave their lives seeking to change the inevitable conclusion.
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