Molon Labe! (44 page)

The free state initiative was a virtual reality in half of Wyoming. 2014 is the year to finally accomplish phase 3a: electing the executive branch and a majority of the legislature. Recruiting new relocators for this last push has been comparatively easy, for nothing succeeds like success.

Getting the first 9,000 to Wyoming in 2006 had been a monumental task. Only the truly committed packed their bags. The rest stayed home, biding their time. There are few liberties in large cities, and all the sunny states had been taken, so if you could handle a bit of wind and cold and isolation, then Wyoming would work for you. The "Mayflower folks" also had the most work to do, for they had to iron out the relocation wrinkles and assuage the concerns of the locals. Pioneering is exhausting effort, but extremely rewarding. Wyoming was a surprisingly palatable state in which to live.

The second wave in 2010 had the benefit of a proven operation which enjoyed a fourth of the state and one-sixth of the legislature. Though a full statewide victory was not assured, at least the "10ers" were confident that they could not be socially or politically dislodged.

The third wave of 2014 would have the easiest work. Simply show up for a raging party already in progress. They wouldn't have the first choices of areas, but that's the price of arriving late.

West Palm Beach, Florida

February 2013

UN Ambassador Vincent Coleman and Treasury Secretary Jared Spriggs are old Yale grad student buddies. They've enjoyed yachting together for over 20 years, and get down to Florida twice a year. Anything to be free of Manhattan and the Beltway for a few days.

They prefer to bareboat their co-owned 42' ketch rig to the Bahamas for the local cuisine, beaches, and women. The pair were quite well-known amongst the Nassau crowd.

After overdue by 3 hours, the US Coast Guard began a search. Charred flotsam was found 30 miles off the Floridian shore. A propane explosion was suspected, but certain FBI agents of the WFO had their doubts. The deceased Coleman and Spriggs were at the near top of the KK risk list, but since "The Leopard" had never seemed to strike far from D.C., the yachting pair had not been assigned a security detail for their Bahamas trip.

2013 USA political news

I live in the Managerial Age, in a world of "Admin." The greatest evil is not now done in those sordid "dens of crime" that Dickens loved to paint. It is not done even in concentration camps and labor camps. In those we see its final result. But it is conceived and ordered, (moved, seconded, carried, and minuted) in clean, carpeted, warmed, and well-lighted offices, by quiet men with white collars and cut fingernails and smooth-shaven cheeks who do not need to raise their voice. Hence, naturally enough, my symbol for Hell is something like the bureaucracy of a police state or the offices of a thoroughly nasty business concern.

—C.S. Lewis,
The Screwtape Letters
(preface to 1961 edition)

President McBlane dies suddenly in July of an aneurysm. Vice President Melvin Connor is sworn in office. He vows to continue his predecessor's policies, though privately he resents the political obligation.

The income and SS tax revolt is fully ablaze, with the participation of many employers who are horrified at the FICA matching burden. The IRS issues many harsh proclamations, but the people have become more desperate than afraid. In response to ageism crimes, Congress passes the death penalty for
"assaults against the aged."

Washington, D.C.
The White House

July 2013

After becoming acquainted with the FBI's current cases and issues, President Connor asks, "So, Paul, what do you have on this Wyoming thing?"

The two had gone to Georgetown together.

Director Klein says, "Quite a lot, sir. At least all the big pieces. After 2014, they will attempt to repeal legislation they deem 'oppressive' while amending the state constitution to solidify their scheme. By focusing on several hot issues in the West, such as land and water rights, gun rights, parental rights, and the free market, they aim to garner vast public support. Our data indicate that at least 60% of Wyomingites would back a charismatic governor embracing these issues. Also, much of the West would be highly sympathetic to such an administration."

"Any idea of their likely candidate for next year?"

"Possibly a rancher from Casper named James Preston. Annapolis. Marine helo pilot in the first Gulf War. Silver Star. Wyoming businessman. He's been involved in libertarian politics for over a decade. Both he and his defense attorney wife come from money, and both have been very successful."

The President nods. "Go on."

"Operating virtually unopposed, the administration will seek and likely win sweeping changes in Wyoming, with increasing public support. The success of these issues will tempt Montana, Idaho, and possibly other conservative western states into mimicry.

"A league with Montana and Idaho would create a common border with Alberta and British Columbia, the two western Canadian provinces most susceptible to secessionist pressures. Canada already split at her
Québécois
seam and there's little to stave off an eventual western secession. A successful confederation there could then also lure in a portion of the Pacific Northwest, the so-called 'Ecotopia.'

"Beginning with Wyoming, we believe that at some point one or more of the western states will directly challenge the Government for their political autonomy. We do not know if they plan to actually secede
de jure
as did the South in 1861, or
de facto
as did Taiwan in 1949."

The President is furious. "
De jure
or
de facto
, I will not preside over a dismembered United States of America! The Union is inviolate! The Civil War decided that!" Turning to the AG, he demands, "Isn't that so, Janet?"

All eyes swivel on her, and she squirms at this direct question. "Uh, well, yes and no, sir."

"Yes and
no
?" challenges the President. "How is there any
doubt
in the matter? You're telling me that secession is still legal for a state — a century and a half after Appomattox?"

"In the strictest sense of the law, possibly," Vorn says.

"Explain that," snaps Connor.

"In short, secession can be construed as one of the powers reserved to the states and the people by the Tenth Amendment, especially since it is nowhere prohibited in the Constitution. Furthermore, secession is a reciprocal right of
accession
, which the states exercised when they ratified the Constitution. Since the states joined the federal union as sovereign bodies, they have a legal right to quit the union, and this was not successfully disputed by the North in 1861. That's why the Confederate President Jefferson Davis was never tried for treason after the Civil War. By declaring his allegiance to a new country, the Confederate States of America, he had renounced his US citizenship. The same with General Robert E. Lee. When his beloved Virginia seceded, a change of citizenship occurred for Virginians. Hence, Lee did not commit Article III, Section 3
'treason'
against the United States. He had become a foreigner
vis ą vis
the US prior to his levying war."

The room is sepulchral in its silence.

"Not that secession could ever likely transpire," Vorn hurriedly qualifies.

"Nevertheless, a state so inclined
could
make a legal case, right?" asks the President.

"Yes, sir, it could, although making a case is not the same as proving one. Whatever legal merits a secessionist state may advance, their position would be overshadowed by its political impossibility. I've no doubt that the Supreme Court would have ample grounds to rule against such a challenge."

"Well,
that's
reassuring," Connor says sarcastically. "But that's a future matter to worry about. We've got more pressing issues such as this nationwide rash of VIP murders. For God's sake, not even our UN Ambassador or SecTres were safe! Blown up in the Atlantic! Paul, has the FBI yet connected these Krassnyite sickos to this Wyoming thing? And since Krassny was from Casper, is there any link to Preston?"

"Negative on both accounts so far, sir. Except for general philosophical alignment, the Bureau has yet to find any connection. We're still investigating, however."

"Well, find
something!
I can't believe that seven dozen federal officials and business elite have all been murdered by unconnected individuals.
Somebody
is orchestrating this, this rampage, and I'll bet he's in Wyoming."

Klein says, "Mr. President, we are closely watching all known activists in Wyoming, including James Preston. Through MDES
¹
we are monitoring their Internet activity, email, phone calls, credit card usage, and travel. Short of surveilling these people man-on-man, the Bureau is doing all it can."

The President seems unpersuaded. "I hear you Paul, but did MDES and the CIA's computers foresee 9/11?"

The FBI director blandly replies, "Sir, no system is perfect and sometimes suspects simply 'fall through the cracks' and you don't find out until it's too late."

"'Cracks?' What '
cracks
?' The bombers, nearly
half
of them on the terrorist watch list, bought airline tickets through
credit cards
under their
own names
! What else could they have done to get noticed, run newspaper ads? But did your expensive computers pick up on them? No. Were there any agents at the boarding gates to intercept those bastards? No. So, you'll understand why I am less than impressed with your MDES."

Klein is visibly affected by this, coming not only from the President but from a friend. "Sir, I can't answer for the failure of my predecessor, nor am I a computer expert. But I
have
been assured that our system today
will
alert us to a similar attempt. The linkage of national databases has been greatly improved since 2001. I completely understand your skepticism, sir, but it truly
is
a different ball game today."

"Yeah, well we'll see." Connor is barely mollified. "There just
has
to be a connection between these Krassnyite murders and the Wyoming people. You haven't found it because it's not there — you haven't found it because these people have been anticipating our technology and techniques. Do you think they've been emailing each other in the clear from their homes? No, I'd bet they're using encryption from public terminals. The email privacy loophole."

Klein says, "We realize that that's a probability, and we're monitoring dozens of library and cyberchat terminals. Sir, I assure you, we're on top of it. As soon as we discover anything, we'll put some agents on the ground."

The President nods reluctantly. "When you do, just make sure you actually have some probable cause. If the Bureau steps in shit again like the Swan and Bradford raids — or that ex-cop Foster in North Carolina —Congress will roll you over into Homeland Security. I want
results,
Paul. Solid, clean, useful
results
. I want this Krassnyite thing stopped dead in its tracks. It's affecting the operation of Government. Good people are resigning in droves. If it's found out later that Preston was Krassny's nephew or something, I'm going to have somebody's Bureau ass. Do you read me?"

Stung and bitter, FBI Director Klein simply says, "Yes, sir."

2013 USA economic news

Tax revenues have plummeted from both the retiring Baby Boomers and the tax revolt. Annual inflation is now 25%, and rising. Unemployment is over 15%. At 40+%, this recalls the "Misery Index" of the Carter years.

How can we account for our present situation unless we believe that men high in this government are concerting to deliver us to disaster? This must be the product of a great conspiracy, a conspiracy on a scale so immense as to dwarf any previous such venture in the history of man. A conspiracy of infamy so black that, when it is finally exposed, its principals shall be forever deserving of the maledictions of all honest men.

— Congressional Record, 82nd Congress, page 6,602

Under a government which imprisons unjustly, the true place for a just man is also a prison.

— Thoreau,
On the Duty of Civil Disobedience
(1849)

Evanston, Wyoming

To Whom It May Concern:

My anti-IRS letter to the
Evanston Herald
editor last December did not go without Government notice. I'd heard that federal agents scoured the newspapers for dissident letters.

Well, it's true. They do. (Consider using an alias, folks.)

The Government wasted no time in charging me with "failure to file" and "income tax evasion." Evidently, the future of the nation required it. I could find no lawyer to defend me on the real merits (
i.e.,
lack of jurisdiction and cause). My trial was convened in record time, and the US Attorney's office steamrollered over my
pro se
defense.

All with the help of twelve very carefully picked juror puppets who "did their duty" in putting away for 10 years an evil "tax cheat."

I wanted only to live apart from "society." Ironically, the feeling was mutual, but how dare I live apart on my
own
terms! How
dare
my wife and I retire to a secluded farm with our loving family, generating our own electricity, growing our own food, teaching our own children! How dare we make society irrelevant! Yes, you wanted me gone, but on
your
terms. I could not be permitted to leave society — your wounded pride demanded my
expulsion
from it, on criminal grounds.
"You can't
quit
— you're
fired
!"