The Second American Revolution - The Building of an Empire Page 14

  Jerrick had much planning and thinking to do.

  The 2008 Financial Crisis became the springboard, launching the National Workers’ Party into the spotlight. More and more people noticed Jerrick Ray Davis because he was right. Factories were a source of wealth, and Jerrick Ray Davis will put everyone back to work.

  Jerrick planned his next speech for Saturday, October 25, 2008.

  As Jerrick suspected, the people were listening. As he stepped onto the stage, he saw 70 people in the audience, occupying all the seats.

  Crowd’s curious eyes fell upon Jerrick as he stood in the center of the stage.

  Then the murmuring of the crowds died down, and Jerrick started his speech:

  Mexico is a mess.

  Kidnappings and mass murders occur daily along the border towns.

  Thousands of Mexicans are jumping the border fence to escape the chaos.

  They come here searching for food and jobs.

  It’s just that Mexico does not have any jobs, and the jobless Mexicans come here, searching for work.

  Don’t get me wrong.

  I am not anti-Mexican.

  I do not blame the Mexicans for coming here.

  Mexicans want the same as Americans.

  They want to own a house, start a family, and own some possessions.

  In fact, they are Americans too.

  They want to live under the flag of freedom and belong to something great.

  They escaped the poverty of Mexico because Mexico is a mess.

  Mexico has 31 states.

  Mexico has resources.

  It has petroleum, minerals, and vast agricultural lands.

  Instead of Mexicans jumping the fence, we should be sending tanks and troops down there, annexing Mexico to the American Empire.

  We bring Mexico up to our standards.

  Institute a good legal system, build highways, roads, bridges, dams, and schools.

  Bring law and order to a country riddled in violence and drug wars.

  Then Mexicans and Americans will live in harmony.

  We are not invading Mexico but developing it.

  Mexicans will not be prisoners of war, but citizens of the American Empire.

  Mexicans will have the same rights and obligations as other citizens of the Empire.

  Imagine all the jobs and wealth we will create.

  Instead of being an Empire of 50 states, we become an Empire of 81 states.

  As Jerrick finished, he scanned his audience.

  Most people hooted and hollered, shaking their angry fists in agreement.

  Then Jerrick saw his second in command, Dan, sitting in the first row, last chair on the left with a blank face and a stern look in his eyes.

  Dan became upset with his speech again. It was not the first time, nor would it be the last. He warned Jerrick about projecting himself as a conqueror.

  Audience was growing. More and more people were dissatisfied with their government. They were angry at President Bush’s and President Obama’s bank bailout.

  In the meantime, the U.S. economy continued shedding jobs. The 2007 Great Recession was the worst recession since the Great Depression. However, the experts claimed the U.S. economy would turn around in 2010 and start creating jobs again.

  Of course, the economy never recovered as stagnation and resignation settled in as the U.S. economy sank lower and lower.

  After the speech, Jerrick and his top captains of the National Workers’ Party walked to the bar across the street.

  Bar was old, rustic and was not painted in 10 years. Bar probably had a name, but the sign hanging above the door faded years ago. Place attracted the rougher crowd.

  As Jerrick and his party walked into the bar, a jukebox played Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Freebird while several stocky patrons with scraggly beards and tattooed covered bodies played pool.

  Jerrick and his captains scooted several tables together.

  Jerrick sat at the head of the table.

  Dan sat in the first seat to Jerrick’s left while Jennifer sat on the other side to the right.

  Then Jerrick bought several pitchers of Budweiser, the beer of choice for Michiganders.

  Jerrick and several party members poured beer into everyone’s steins.

  Jerrick raised his stein for a toast and started, “Here’s to the party’s prosperity. May God look down upon us favorably and allow the National Workers’ Party to grow into a force to be reckoned with; cheers.”

  As Jerrick finished the toast, everyone clanked their steins together, drinking large gulps of beer.

  After Jerrick had sat his stein down, he blurted, “Dan, I noticed you didn’t enjoy my speech this evening?”

  “It’s not that I didn’t enjoy it. It’s just the speech has the wrong timing. We have troops dying in Iraq and Afghanistan, returning in pine boxes. When you talk about invading Mexico and building an Empire, the people will think you’ll start another messy war. Then American families will lose more sons and daughters to the casualties of war.”

  “I see your point. You made a good point, but I have two reasons to invade Mexico. First, Mexico is easy pickings. Mexico’s military is weak, and Mexicans are tired of their political leaders, the gang violence, and a corrupt government. If we made Mexicans full citizens and restored law and order, then they wouldn’t mind being invaded. Second, and most important for us to be successful, we must create jobs. Adding 31 states and investing in their infrastructure would create a massive, economic tide that would raise the economic boats for all Americans.”

  Chad, Jerrick’s third in command, sat next to Jennifer. He raised his stein, proposing a new toast, “Amen brothers.”

  Beer steins clanked again, and people gulped their beers.

  Jerrick grimaced as the second gulp of beer went down the hatch. He didn’t drink much.

  One of the party members at the far end of the table, piped up, “But doesn’t the invasion create a temporary expansion? Look at the crash of the housing bubble.”

  Jerrick continued with his discussion, a professor teaching his pupils, “That’s true; all economic expansions are temporary. We had the housing bubble for the last seven years. Then we saw the rise of the internet and communications industry in the 1990s, and finally, the adaptation of the computers in the 1980s. Technology kept the U.S. economy afloat, even with a large, stupid government intent on regulating, taxing, and destroying it.”

  Jerrick raised his stein for a toast, “However, we don’t have the luxury of new technology or voodoo financing to grow the U.S. economy. Only method we have is to build the American Empire! Cheers!”

  Everyone at the table hollered, “To the American Empire! To the American Workers!”

  Steins clanked so hard together; it was a miracle that one didn’t shatter.

  Other bar patrons turned, searching for the source of the raucous.

  Bartender, who doubled as the bouncer, looked over. Bartender weighed 300 pounds and kept an observant eye on his patrons. A ragged scar twisted from his left eye down the center of his cheek, a souvenir from a drunk. Drunk broke his beer bottle on the table and jabbed the ragged bottle toward his eye. Luckily, the bottle missed and sliced open his cheek.

  Bartender stared at Jerrick and his crowd, and then he began washing beer steins in the sink. The 2007 Recession both blessed and cursed the bar. More people were drinking and getting drunk at his bar, but they were mean drunks. Bartender broke up more fights, tossing the rowdy drunks onto the streets.

  “What is voodoo finance?” Chad asked perplexed.

  “Investment banks created a variety of exotic securities that nobody understood or comprehended. Then the banks dumped money into the housing mortgage market, accelerating housing prices to new heights. Unfortunately, this whole system depended on homeowners paying their mortgages. When the economy soured in 2007, many people defaulted on their mortgages, causing this entire system to collapse. Of course, one could
argue that banks shouldn’t have loaned to some homeowners, but the banks loaned money to anyone with a heartbeat and paycheck stub in his pocket. Consequently, the banks artificially created the housing bubble. This whole process I call voodoo finance. Its power is both mysterious and powerful, but, in the end, quite deadly to everyone involved,” Jerrick stated eloquently.

  Dan wanted to add asset-backed securities and Collateral Debt Obligations to the conversation, but Jerrick’s definition would suffice. Dan didn’t want to trigger a heated debate about complicated financial securities with a bunch of drunks.

  Dan lifted his stein and gulped of beer.

  ***

  The 2008 Financial Crisis was wreaking havoc on the U.S. economy as the unemployment rate soared to the stratosphere, climbing from 10% in 2009, to 15% by 2013.

  Recession hit Michigan the hardest because its economy was stuck in a perpetual recession since 2001.

  However, the other states quickly joined the ranks with Michigan after 2009. All state economies were collapsing, imploding under the weight of their bureaucratic governments and a shortage of good-paying jobs.

  Many people didn’t know the federal government was worried about the financial crisis. The U.S. government secretly built large internment camps, hidden in the countryside, located near the largest cities in America.

  Federal government detained millions of people, when protests, riots, and chaos erupted in the cities.

  Unfortunately, the corrupt politicians refused to change the system or relinquish their power. Only one outcome was imminent; a revolution loomed over the horizon.

  ***

  As Jerrick predicted, the financial crisis promoted the National Workers’ Party as membership soared, and the donations poured in.

  Dan burst into Jerrick’s Office at the Moose Club.

  Jerrick hunched over his desk, writing a new speech. He placed a cup of Jasmine tea with a dollop of honey on the corner of the desk. Scent of Jasmine flowers filled the office air.

  “Jerrick, I have some good news and bad news,” Dan began excitedly, panting from the brisk jog from the other room.

  “What’s the good news, Dan?”

  “Eighty more people signed up for the National Workers’ Party. I could have signed more, but they don’t want their name listed as a member. They’re afraid the government will find out and go after them.”

  “I see. We can solve this problem.”

  Jerrick opened the bottom drawer of his desk and grabbed a stack of thick, heavy paper.

  Dan saw the top sheet with 10 business cards, laid out in five rows and two columns. Each card had a Roman column on the left-hand side, and Jerrick wrote Augustus across the center in large block letters. Below Augustus, he numbered every card, starting from one and ending at 10,000.

  “I have exactly 10,000 business cards printed on a thick, cotton paper with a distinctive watermark.”

  Jerrick removed the top paper and held it in front of the window.

  Watermark showed clearly through the business cards. Appearing as a small, lit torch, the contours of the image softened and became indistinguishable over several decades. It could be anything.

  “Augustus; I should’ve known,” Dan said with laughter in his voice. Then he asked, “Where did you get the paper?”

  “A long time ago, I bought textbooks at garage sales. This old lady had this old paper and said they don’t make it anymore. I liked the style and the distinctive watermark, so I bought it.”

  “You know that’s not a bad idea, Jerrick. We can raise our membership dues to $25 per year and hand them a membership card. That way, we’re not listing their name, and we have proof, they joined our organization. By the way, why did you numbered them?”

  “I figure once we get the power, we’ll reward our party members. We choose the most talented first, and then go by seniority. These numbers list the seniority.”

  “That’s great,” Dan said.

  Dan’s excitement strengthened, “Jerrick, you should sign each business card on the back, making it difficult to duplicate.”

  “Okay; I can do that. Could you take these cards to the copy center and cut them neatly?”

  Dan grabbed the large stack of business cards and retorted, “Okay buddy, get that signature hand ready. You have much signing to do.”

  Dan and Jerrick exchanged laughter.

  ***

  The State of Michigan noticed the National Worker’s Party on December 2011.

  Jerrick, Dan, and Chad were hanging at the Moose Club on a Saturday night. Three were drinking wine coolers, talking about politics, playing a friendly game of billiards.

  They were having a great time, although they used crooked pool sticks to shoot the cue ball over the felt surface with many tears and stains.

  BOOOMMM! Front door banged open and slammed against the wall.

  Before they blinked their eyes, four Michigan State Troopers rushed in with their revolvers drawn.

  “Freeze,” the first officer yelled, pointing a gun at Jerrick.

  Jerrick put his drink down slowly on the pool table and put his hands halfway up, level with his shoulders, showing the officers his empty hands.

  Dan and Chad followed suit.

  Officers slowly approached the three.

  First officer watched the three while the other officers scanned the club for more perpetrators.

  “Sir, do you have a license to serve the public?”

  Jerrick answered, “This is our organization, the National Workers’ Party. I didn’t know we needed a license to operate.”

  “Are you serving alcohol?”

  “No,” Dan stated strongly and added, “Sir; we’re just playing pool. We’re not open to the public.”

  “This address is zoned business, and you need a permit to operate,” the officer said and demanded, “Please put your hands up. You can talk to the judge tomorrow.”

  First officer circled behind the suspects, pulling their hands behind their back and snapping on the handcuffs.

  Other three officers kept their guns pointed at Jerrick, Chad, and Dan.

  Then they led the suspects to the police car in single file.

  Police escorted Jerrick last. Passing the front door, Jerrick turned his head and asked politely, “Sir; could you please lock up for us. Door keys are on the bar.”

  One of the troopers retrieved the keys, turned off the lights, and locked the front door.

  Police parked two large Ford Crown Victorias near the door with their red and blue lights, flashing. Michigan’s finest was keeping the violent Detroit neighborhoods safe.

  Before Jerrick climbed into the squad car, he looked at the officer and said, “Thank you.”

  Jerrick, Chad, and Dan were sitting comfortably in the back of one of the squad cars.

  Two officers climbed in the front while the other two got into the other car.

  A black steel mesh separated the prisoners from the officers while Steppen Wolf’s Born to be Wild filled the car as the troopers drove the guys to the Detroit city jail.

  Other squad car drove in the opposite direction, protecting the citizens of Michigan; they had more crimes to solve and more people to arrest.

  After the police had checked the three in, an officer led them to a small drunk tank. Police separated Jerrick, Chad, and Dan from the dangerous Detroit criminals.

  As the officer grabbed the handle of the door, the metal door hummed, filling the corridor with a buzzing sound.

  Then Jerrick, Chad, and Dan stepped in while the large metal door slammed shut.

  They stood in an 8 feet long and 6 feet wide cell with concrete benches following along the long walls. Although the walls were freshly painted, the place reeked of urine and dirty sweat. A filthy metallic toilet and sink were in the corner, adjacent to the door.

  Jerrick, Chad, and Dan sat on one side while another occupant lay face down on the other.

  Jerrick scrutinized the oc
cupant. He looked mean, raised and bred on the tough streets of Detroit, definitely not a stranger to the Michigan Penal System.

  “What are you in here for?” Chad blurted to the stranger in a friendly manner.

  Stranger turned on his side and glared at Chad with his mean eyes focusing its hatred, frustration, and anger on him.

  “Murder! I tried to kill a cop.”

  Chad’s eyes widened while his mouth hung open in awe.

  Jerrick and Dan turned to face the stranger.

  Then the stranger erupted in laughter and said, “I’m kiddin. I tried to steal a six-pack of beer. What are you guys in for?”

  “Operating a business without a business permit,” Dan stated in dry emotionless tone.

  “Say what?”

  “Operating without a business permit,” Dan stated again, in jest with a wide grin spreading across his face.

  “What kind of business do you have?”

  “We don’t have a business. We live in a former business.”

  “That’s fucked up,” the stranger replied and laughed again. Then he added, “That’s Michigan for you. State follows its citizens around, looking for violations.”

  Then the stranger put his head down on the concrete slab, falling asleep.

  Dan turned to Jerrick and uttered, “Thanks buddy for the trouble. I hope it doesn’t prevent me from taking the bar exam and becoming a lawyer.”

  “Don’t worry Dan. I’ll tell the judge tomorrow that it’s my business. I’m responsible for my actions. You guys are innocent.”

  Next morning, Chad, Dan, and Jerrick awakened.

  Sometime during the night, the police released the other occupant.

  Jerrick stood up, stretching his back.

  “Damn guys, my back is killing me.”

  “Chhhddd,” Chad mumbled with a blank stare on his face. He lay on that concrete mattress, an animal caught in a trap, waiting for a hunter to put him out of his misery.

  Dan sat up with a large frown on his face as he moaned and rubbed his lower back with his hand.

  Jerrick tried to be cheerful, and a deputy brought breakfast: Soggy toast, dried leather strips of bacon, reconstituted eggs, and day old cold coffee from the Sheriff’s Office; the state serves nothing but the best for Michigan’s criminals.

  Dan in his usual cocky manner added, “This jail food should be ruled cruel and unusual punishment.”