Two weeks ago today the nation watched in horror as the President of the United States started to deliver his State of the Union address, and their TV screens suddenly went black. In a matter of seconds, the Capitol Building was destroyed and most of those in attendance were killed instantly from the impact of the explosion. In those very same brief moments, government buildings, private homes of rich and powerful individuals, and national headquarter of many of America's largest corporations were also demolished by an assortment of simple bombs detonated from remote locations by using a sophisticated set of pre-programmed cellphones.
A never-before-heard-of organization called O.U.T.R.A.G.E. claimed responsibility for the carnage, and now was conducting a series of daily teleconferences to explain to Americans what they did and why they did it. Televised at thousands of public locations across the continent, members of O.U.T.R.A.G.E. would come forward with a new resolution on which viewers who were 'registered' by keying in their Social Security number on a portable keypad device could decide whether this resolution should be made into law. Around the country, as bodies were still being pulled from mountains of wreckage and families were burying their dead, this voting went on in front of large-screen high-definitions TV sets that had been set up in airports, restaurants, community centers, fire stations, factories, and other designated locations.

Yesterday's resolution on Judicial Reform narrowly passed as 444,562 of the 888,824 particpants voted 'Yea". 444,262 had voted "Nay". Before that resolution could be converted into a legitimate piece of legislation, the 'rough draft' would require considerable rewriting.

Now, as 4:55 P.M. EST approached, people began filing into the public meeting places, prepared to listen to what O.U.T.R.A.G.E. members had to say and perhaps cast their individual vote on the proposed resolution of the day. As usual, there seemd to be little structure, no real leadership, and not much continuity. There was no set program or schedule. Sometimes cameras would hover over a group of individuals discussing specific political ideas; others would candidly talk about why they zealously believed that what their organization did was just, right, and for the benefit of America. Millions of people still didn't even know what happened; they were preoccupied trying to clean up the debris and collect the dead from the terrorist-like bombings that had destroyed particular buildings or structures in their respective communities. Millions of others had, by now, heard about O.U.T.R.A.G.E., but were outraged themselves by the despicable horror this group of so-called 'patiroits' had managed to inflict upon the entire country. Still millions more held a curious interest in what O.U.T.R.A.G.E. had to say, and took it upon themselves to attend the public teleconferences to see what was going to happen next. The national media outlets had been unplugged. Only local radio and TV stations could broadcast within their immediate geographic areas. Newspapers that once were owned by giant publishing conglomerates were now, once again, independent media sources, operating out of their own offices and utilizing their own printing presses, but capable of only delivering mostly local or regional reports of what was happening. There were no more network feeds, wire services, or national headquarters telling these localized outlets what to broadcast or print.

From within a circle of about twenty five people, a gray-bearded man in an aqua golf shirt and tan Dockers trousers stepped in front of the camera. "Hi," he said, casually, "my name is Kent and I'm from Vermont. We're a pretty conservative bunch of people up there in Vermont, and we don't generally spend money we don't have, nor do we believe in borrowing money to pay our bills. We live a pretty simple lifestyle for the most part, and that's why I'm proud to represent the great state of Vermont as I introduce this resolution to the American voting public." With that, he pulled out a pair of spectacles similar to those most people were only saw being worn in every illustration of Ben Franklin. He read from a piece of paper he held firmly in his right hand.

ARTICLE IX. RESOLUTION: ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN A BALANCED FEDERAL BUDGET

"America's days of spend, spend, spend must end, end, end. Citizens have been tempted to borrow without saving, max out their credit cards, and buy everything they own on easy credit terms. Unfortunately, the United States Congress has helped set this wasteful example as it continues to spend money like drunken sailors without regard to the future financial stability of our country. Dick Cheney's folly in Iraq forced America into mammoth debt - debt which we may never ever be able to repay. He ordered George Bush to fight the 'war on terrorism' for only one reason: OIL. Now our grandchildren and great-grandchildren are saddled with trillions of dollars in debt, much of it owed to China who will almost certainly 'foreclose' on our country if we fail to make repayment.

Just like young couples who find themselves head-over-heels in credit card debt, the United States government must begin to exercise fiscal responsibility...a belt-tightening unlike any ever known before in our country's history. This resolution proposes a hard, but necessary, four-step program toward long-term financial solvency for America. If this resolution is not ultimately passed into law once a new Congress is elected, our country will not survive. We will become indentured servants to our creditors; without sufficient means of eradicating this mammoth debt, the United States stands a very good chance of becoming nothing more than an occupied territory of the Chinese government. These four steps include, but may not be limited to:

1. ELIMINATING 90% (that's right, 90%) of the current federal government's annual budget. That means ALL 'pork', all those expenses not directly related to the Constitutional operation and management of the federal government must be completely eliminated. All unnecessary bureaucratic offices, government facilities and the hodge-podge of 'departments' and 'divisions' will be permanently closed. Since practically all of these offices and facilities were unconstitutional in the first place, it should not in any way impair the government's Constitutional mandates of defending our country and providing for the welfare of its citizenry;
2. ESTABLISHING A MUCH LEANER NEW BUDGET which a newly-elected Congress will be required to monitor, ensuring that there will be absolutely no possibility of overspending or overbudgeting;
3. REQUIRING ALL GOVERNMENT CONTRACTORS to provide goods and services at a pre-determined minimal profit margin. If these contractors aren't interested in assisting the government toward fiduciary responsibility, they will no longer be invited to bid on any government contracts. Any contractor caught in any kind of fraudulent, illegal, or inappropriate actiivty, will be prosecuted for high treason against the U.S.A. and - any executives, managers, or owners who are convicted - will face a public firing squad;
4. PUBLISHING AN ANNUAL REPORT to the public, just as public corporations publish for their shareholders. This report will be prepared by the GAO (Government Accounting Office) and will be available to the public through schools, government offices, libraries, and banks;

We believe this to be one of the most imperative components to the new government which "We the People" will create. While it will certainly be difficult in the coming years, it is absolutely necessary if our national community is to remain a country committed to the freedom and rights of its people. I urge you to cast your vote for this resolution now. Thank you."

As viewers took their portable voting devices and begain punching in a "Yea" or a 'Nay", the familiar two line message appeared in white letters against a black backdrop: Tomorrow's meeting scheduled for 4:55 P.M. Then the screen went dark.