Saturday afternoon's teleconference began promptly at 4:55 P.M. EST. The television cameras panned the huge room, as O.U.T.R.A.G.E. members mingled among themselves. At the thousands of locations across the country where citizens were able to view these videoconferences on big-screen TVs, attendance was increasing everday.

Because of the lack of any central government anymore, and the magnitude of the devastation that took place on January 17, many of America's most prominent and powerful people had not been given the usual pomp of lavish funeral processions and formal memorials. Even the President of the United States was quietly buried on his Texas ranch in a private ceremony restricted to family members and a few close friends. Members of O.U.T.R.A.G.E. had intentionally neglected any notice of the burials, other than declaring a resolution to establish a Commemorative Week in which the country would observe the memory of this "Rebellion of '08" and honor all those who died. Although similar to what most Americans knew as a political convention, the O.U.T.R.A.G.E. "convention" had gone on for days without fanfare or frivolity. People seemed stoic, repressed and almost dulled to the realization of what they had accomplished. Still, viewers sensed a fierce intensity of purpose and commitment; there were hundreds of thousands of people who had been behind this disaster, had helped plan it, and had helped execute it to unimaginable achievement. In one fell swoop, they had murdered the President of the United States, most members of the cabinet, most members of Congress, and thousands of other politically powerful, wealthy individuals, high-ranking military 'brass', sports athletes and entertainment celebrities, corporate CEOs and top executives, and - of course - hundreds of thousands of 'common' citizens whose only misfortune was to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Was such a catastrophic event necessary? Most O.U.T.R.A.G.E. members believed, unequivocally, it was the only way to take back the country and return it to its rightful owners - the citizenry of the United States of America. Now a more direct democracy would be instrumented, inspired by the vision of America's founding fathers who had led the colonies into a Revolutionary War against a tyrannical, oppressive government. This hi-tech version of a second rebellion was intended to destroy the elitist class that had matured in this country, and had decided that members of that class were privvy to power and influence and money without the bother of having to represent the masses. Years ago a hotel proprietor named Leona Helmsley had publicly demeaned "the little people" before being convicted of tax evasion. This ultra-rich, bitch-glitz social class of prominent and celebrated individuals had set themselves up for destruction once they collectively chose to ignore the needs of America's homeless, hungry, underprivileged, poor, aged, sick, disabled, and disadvantaged.

A trio of young college-aged girls appeared in front of the camera. introducing themselves only as "the Lenin sisters' from Eugene, Oregon. While under different circumstances these attractive women may have been party revelers full of gaiety and hell-raising, they displayed a somber maturity that defied their youth. "We are here to present the next resolution," one of the sisters drawled. Abruptly, the resolution was read and posted.

ARTICLE XVII. RESOLUTION: ABORTION AND THE RIGHT-TO-DIE

"Emotional issues such as abortion and the right-to-die take on religious implications that, over years, have created conflict within our society and hypocrisy within our government. Politicians have used these kinds of issues to solidfy their political base without regard to the fact that these issues are none of the government's business.

While we personally find abortion to be a despicable form of genocide and wholesale murder, we also believe that the U.S. government has no right to ban such activity. Abortion must remain an issue between the woman, her mate, her family and friends, her clergy, her conscience, and her God. Her government should have no right to tell her what to do with her own body. The government's involvement must be restricted to ensuring that - should a woman choose to abort - she will be guaranteed safe, sterile, professional medical attention, just as she would for childbirth, or any legal healthcare procedure.

The same idealism must be in place for those who wish to end their lives. Hospitals and the medical community have opposed allowing people the right to die, claiming they have taken a hypocratic oath to uphold the sanctity of life. Perhaps doctors, hospitals and pharmaceutical companies have decided, instead, on a 'hypocritic oath', putting profits before patients. While we, again, do not necessarily subscribe to someone taking his or her own life, we believe that it is a personal issue based on religious and spiritual belief. There needs to be stringent protective measures in place to ensure that such decisions are not made lightly, and are not influenced by those who may have a financial stake or covert motive for wanting a patient to end his or her life. The government's only roles, therefore, must be to ensure the patient's safety against any criminal intent - and, should the patient independently decide to choose such a path - to ensure that safe, sterile, proper medical procedures are available.

We recognize these are emotional issues, and many people vote with their pocketbooks or emotions. We urge you to rationally consider this resolution as a means of taking it out of politicians' hands to be used for exploitive purposes of election or re-election, and to remove the profit motive for the medical profession. These are spiritual matters that must be decided based on a person's personal beliefs and moral compass. The government's only role should be that of protector and defender of that individual's personal, independent decision. While we are not suggesting that these procedures be made too convenient or easy, we are suggesting that the government restrict its role in such tragic incidents. Certainly, a committee of common citizens will be convened to formally turn this non-binding resolution into a piece of legitimate legislature. We respectfully request that you cast your vote using the portable voting devices available to you at this time. Thank you."

As another popular vote took place around the country, the LED signage displayed the results of yesterday's vote.

ARTICLE XVI. RESOLUTION: ESCALATE THE WAR ON POVERTY
TOTAL NUMBER OF VOTES CAST: 1,213,099
NUMBER OF "YEA" VOTES: 1,079,658
NUMBER OF 'NAY" VOTES: 133,441

Seventeen important resolutions had been brought forward in eighteen days. Millions of American citizens, having registered to vote with their Social Security numbers, were engaged in a process that didn't rely on Congressional lawmakers or sleazy politicians influenced by big money, heavy-handed pressure tactics, or unmitigated political power. These were refreshing referendums passed for the people, by the people. No special interests influenced these votes; no lobbyist greased elected officials' hands to rig the votes in its favor. In all eighteen elections cast, the people had spoken. Clearly.

The videoscreens across the country all went dark until tomorrow when yet another resolution would be put foward for a public, democratic vote.