Sunday afternoon. 4:55 P.M. EST. It seemed imperative that the time be designated as Eastern Standard Time (EST), even though the videoconferences were going on all across the country - and no one knew from where the broadcasts originated. From what little the television cameras showed, it was impossible to identify the huge building that housed so many people for these videocasts. By now, there had to be several thousand people milling around the floor each day. There were no signs of poles or posts that might identify the room as a large gymnasium; there were no indications that it might be an enormous ballroom. No lighting or decor gave any hint, and many viewers speculated that - for reasons of security - the location of this vast facility might not even be within the continental United States. After all, with the right technology and appropriate television personnel, this telecast could originate from anywhere. These broadcasts were simple productions, not requiring elaborate staging or outfitting.

Draped in what might have passed for an American flag, Dooley Warren stood motionless in front of the television camera. The lighting made his red, white, and blue wrap glitter. "Hi," he said, "I'm from Wyoming, and I am proud to present today's resolution for your consideration. While it may not seem as significant as some of the other resolutions you've voted on, it's something that I believe is important from a standpoint of understanding what all this is about. I know there are many millions of U.S. citizens out there who have devastated by this tragic event. Hundreds of thousands of people have died all across our great land. We believe that much of the corruption and incompetence that so flagrantly showed itself in recent years is because many people, including our learned leaders, have misinterpreted or misunderstood the true spirit of our Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights." He displayed a poster board as he began reading.

ARTICLE XVIII. RESOLUTION. CLARIFICATION OF OUR FEDERAL DOCUMENTS

"Within the context of this resolution, we do not intend to provide 'rewrites'; that will be left up to a committee composed of 'common' U.S. citizens if the resolution passes when voted upon. However, we want to exemplify the need for clarification so that people today realize the intent and purpose of the doctrines by which our nation is governed.

As an example, Ben Franklin was once asked what kind of government the new United States of America should have. Republic or democracy? "Republic," Franklin replied, assuming we could hold it all together. His point was that a republic is a state governed by representatives who are elected by the people; a democracy, on the other hand, is a state in which people hold all the power, and there is social equality. Franklin obviously had the vision to recognize that the political system under a republic would require true diligence on the part of the populace; otherwise, politics could easily become corrupted. For more than fifty years, we've seen Franklin's assumptions come true. We are proposing that the United States of America now become far more a democracy than it is a republic. While we do not condone abolishing the role of our U.S. Congress, with its elected representatives, we are proposing that a new democracy be born wherein the people hold the power, and social equality reigns supreme.

As an example, we are told we have the "right to bear arms". Many people today tend to believe that means we have the right to own guns, and fire them at will. While the duly-appointed committee will research this thoroughly, we believe our founding fathers intended for Americans to have a right to bear arms against a tyrannical and oppressive government.

As an example, we are told we have freedom of speech. Many today view this as the absolute right to use whatever vulgar and coarse language we so choose, regardless of how it may offend others. We believe freedom of speech means we have the right to express our views on government and its management without fear of reprisal or incarceration.

These kinds of intracacies and interpretations of our founding doctrines must all be closely examined and interpreted for contemporary society to understand and accept without broad deviation from the original intent.

Franklin once also said, 'Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed amb contesting the vote!' While we firmly believe in the need for our executive, legislative and judicial branches of government to remain in place, we just as firmly believe that bestialized revisions of these doctrines must be contained. Please use the portble voting devices to cast your ballots now. Please realize that this is a non-binding resolution; before any final public vote is taken on this matter, the resolution will be transformed into a formal piece of appropriate legislation. Thank you."

Dooley Warren's grim face faded from view. The familiar two-line message appeared, and the screen went blank.