Read The Smiths and Joneses Online
Authors: Ira Tabankin
Wolf, says, “We should have said, we’re not going to be taking any questions on the subject of why President Brownstone and President Brownie decided to split the country. First of all because President Brownie wasn’t in office when the decision was made and second because this has been discussed and written about many times already. Thank you for your understanding.” Wolf continues, “Here’s a very good question from Ronald P, aged 41, from Orlando, Florida, Ron wants to know if the two countries share or exchange medical personal.”
President Brownie says, “Yes we do, we also share resources when there’s a major natural disaster. Both countries have shared resources when the Mississippi River flooded. The USA sent thousands of people and tons of equipment when a storm struck north of Boston three years ago.”
Wolf says, “The next question is from Alicia Q, aged 18, living in Oakland, California, she wants to know if both countries will work together on common education standards. And she has a follow up question which is, are degrees from one country accepted in the other?”
President Brownstone says, “In one word, yes. We accept degrees from each other. As to common education standards, we don’t. The USA allows our states to set their own processes as long as their students meet or exceed the national standards. The LSA adopted the program called Common Core. While the two countries don’t have the same education standards, we do accept each others degrees when one from either country wants to fill a position. We have made it very easy for citizens of either country to fill openings in either country. While the LSA has pretty much an open immigration program, the USA has a tighter process, where need has to be shown. The USA wants our citizens to have the first chance to fill all of our openings. I will say it’s very hard, if not impossible, for non-USA citizens to get government jobs in the USA. In addition, government jobs in the USA require a loyalty oath to be signed.”
President Brownie asks, “Mr. President, don’t you think it’s time to put an end to these two policies in your government hiring? Don’t you think the USA should open all government jobs to best qualified?”
“President Brownie, I’m sorry, but after the problems we had, which are still very fresh to me, I, one hundred percent, support these policies in the USA.”
President Brownie continues, “Mr. President, do you support the law you signed that forbids members of the GLBT community from being preschool and elementary school teachers?”
“Yes, I do. Young children need traditional guidance when they’re just starting their education.”
“I and most people in the LSA don’t agree with you.”
“Which is why we’re two different countries.”
“That’s not a good answer. You’re discriminating against an entire group of people.”
“I’m not sorry; it’s how I and a large number of people in the USA believe. I’m also one of those who still clings to my religion and my guns. I still open doors for women, and I don’t think its right to be yelling out four letter words in front of children.”
“Since you left the military, what have you needed a gun for?”
“I don’t need a reason; I live in a country where my rights are built into the founding documents.”
“Don’t you feel bad that your religion could be making others feel bad?”
“I don’t wear my religion on my sleeve; I go to church; I don’t force others to do the same, I don’t care what others believe as long as they leave me alone. I promise not to try to convert anyone; all I ask is that no one try to convert me. Is that too much to ask for?”
“Which is why we’ve have taken a better approach, we’ve outlawed all displays of religion.”
“You treat people like they’re little children and need a mommy to tell them what to do. You treat your people like they have no common sense; you treat them as if you weren’t there they would be running down the streets like spoiled four-year olds. I believe in the good side of people. I believe people can and should be responsible for their own lives. Government has a place in people’s lives, but not as their parents. While on the subject of parents I believe that a child’s parents are the best ones to bring them up. I know you think it takes a village, I believe it takes a loving, caring, parent. Two is best, one if that’s all available. Parents should take an interest and partake in their children’s lives.”
“Mr. President, we can agree not to agree. We think it takes a professionally trained person to raise a child, most parents lack the training. We tried a program to provide special educational classes for parents to be, we got a lot of pushbacks, parents-to-be didn’t want to be forced to take classes in order to have children. We tried to provide them with the knowledge they needed; they pushed back. We had to cancel the requirement to have children; we redesigned our education to provide professional support for our children. We consider children belong to the state because they are society’s future, you, in the USA believe that children belong to their parents. If the parents don’t do a good job raising their children, all of the country will suffer. You’re selfish in your thoughts concerning children. This is something we’ll never agree on.”
“President Brownie, children are created by a man and a woman, hopefully the child’s parents. Two people who we hope love and nourish their children. The state should stay out of the family. We don’t believe the state has any say in how a child is raised.”
“You’ve made that very clear. Even when you were in office, you vetoed every bill that tried to provide additional professional guidance for children. You cling to your old believes just like you hold on to your beliefs that people can own guns and have the right of total free speech.”
“Mr. President, without freedom of speech, the press can’t be a true guardian of the government. A free press protects the freedom of the people.”
“Freedom is a term that is overused and little understood. People don’t really want freedom; they want to have their needs taken care of. They want a full belly and a roof over their heads. They want to be secure. They want a job. Freedom is a word most don’t understand.”
“President Brownie, I have to totally disagree with you. Without the freedom, society falls apart. Without
the
freedom being guaranteed, there is tyranny. Look at the progress each of our countries has made. We’ve moved computing into a new age; our AI systems rival those of the human mind, soon they will exceed the ability of our own minds. Our medical science has added 5 years to our people’s average life span. We’ve cured many types of cancer. We’ve done this because our people are free to think, they are free to start new companies, they are free to think outside of the box. In the LSA no one can think outside of the box, you nail them inside your box. While we’re moving forward, you’ve become stagnant, or in some cases, moved backwards. Soon we’ll be decades ahead of you. While you’re busy spying on everything your people do and say, we’ll be moving into outer space. We’re building a new space station; we’re planning a permanent base on the moon and from there we’re going to Mars and beyond. It’s the freedom to be able to think outside the box that allows us to do these things. Our people’s average net worth has increased, while yours has fallen, our people’s average life span has increased while yours have remained stagnant. We’ve built our military into the strongest in the world. Our people are safe wherever they travel; everyone knows that to harm an American is to lose a city. You might say we’re free because the world fears us. I’d rather they fear us than like us. I’d rather they fear us than screw with us. Your people are easy pickings. No one fears the LSA; you’ve made that very clear by paying the ransom on hundreds of your kidnapped citizens, I understand the cartels have made a new business by kidnapping LSA citizens.”
“At least I don’t have the title of mass murderer attached to my name. At least I can leave my country without risk of being arrested for crimes against humanity. Are you proud of being only the second person in history to use a nuclear weapon against a city? Why don’t you admit the real reason you didn’t run for reelection is because you used a nuclear weapon against a terrorist camp. That was like hitting an ant with a 500 pound bomb. How many did you kill?”
“I did what I had to do. I had to prove a point. I promised America that our citizens would be safe. I warned the world that any who kidnapped an American citizen with the intent of killing them would end very badly for those who harmed an American citizen. The first time I used 100 bombers to wipe their city off the map, this time I used a small missile to accomplish the task. I saved the American taxpayers millions of dollars and made my point. We’ve never had another citizen kidnapped and murdered by a terrorist organization. I’m not proud of those I killed; I am proud I saved countless numbers of Americans. “
“President Brownstone, a nice excuse, however is one American life worth the thousands of innocents you killed? Is one of your citizens worth the damage to the planet your use of the weapon caused?”
“Mr. President, yes, one American life is exceptional. America is exceptional. I won’t apologize for what I did. I saved my people suffering, in the long run I saved the world suffering. My actions convinced the world to stop allowing terrorists from using their countries for bases. The countries of the world were afraid we would take our revenge against them. The world finally got together and took action against all of the terrorist organizations. I used one small weapon and saved millions. I lead the world into a more peaceful time.”
“But sir, you did it by using the world’s worst weapon.”
“I disagree with you there; nuclear weapons aren’t the world’s worst weapon; biologicals are the worst weapons every designed.”
“President Brownstone, your claimed advances are nothing compared to the calm and peace our people have built. Our people are happy; we have no homeless; we have no hungry; we have none who don’t go to college. We provide the needs of our people. Most important, our people are equal. You can’t say the same.”
“I can say the people of the USA all have an equal start; anyone can become a millionaire, anyone can accomplish anything they want. Our major difference remains; your people are equal at the finish line; ours are equal at the starting line.”
Sean stands saying, “Mr. Presidents we thank both of you for you time. Time flies when we’re having fun. Our time this evening has run out. We thank you for tuning in and spending two hours of your evening with us tonight. Remember the discussion continues online. Goodnight and thank you.”
The two countries sit in front of their computers and televisions in a state of shock. Most couldn’t believe two previous presidents shared a stage debating their two systems on live television.
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“Well, that’s telling him Brownstone! Hit him again.”
“Brad, will you please cool down? They can’t hear you. This isn’t a two way television.”
“Well, it should be. We need to re-elect President Brownstone. He knows how to stand up for us. He knows how to be presidential. He put in place the policy that to kidnap or harm an American will cost you a city. The first time he did it, most wanted to impeach him. Do you remember?”
“Of course I do, who could forget, it’s like asking someone if they remember where they were when the towers were hit. The terrorists kidnapped an American journalist; they killed him on the air. It upset President Brownstone so much; the next day 100 US Air Force bombers leveled the city their base camp was located in - 100 bombers each carrying 48 bombs and twenty-four long range missiles. By the time the last bomber was over the target there was nothing left, the last bombs made the debris bounce because there was nothing left to destroy. The terrorists tried it only one additional time. The next time they kidnapped an American and killed him on the air, the President sent a small tactile nuke, I think it was only 5KT which was smaller than the ones used in World War 2. Every country in the world screamed and called Brownstone a mass murderer, he told the world not to harm Americans, it was the last time any terror organization every tried to kidnap an American again.”
“He did get the world to come together and clean out the assholes, they were all worried that if they didn’t clean them out Brownstone would attack them. He finally made them see the light of day. I really wish he would have run again. President Cruise was a good president; President Paul is turning out to be a good one too, it’s just that neither spoke the common way President Brownstone did.”
Chapter 27
Beth asks Carol, “Mommy are Mr. Sean and Wolf coming back to play with us soon?”
“Yes honey, I think they will be here tomorrow.”
“Yea, I don’t have to go to school. I get to sleep in.”
“No, you don’t. I called your teacher, you’re going to do your school work until they arrive, Daddy, and I have to work too. Daddy is going to his office; I’m going to be working from here. I want you to keep Holly under control this time. I’m tired of finding her chewing on one of our shoes. I bought her some chew toys; honey make sure she chews on her toys and not our stuff.”