On October 29, 1929, the United States of America suffered the "Great Depression" - a devastating economic blow to the country's hard-working inhabitants, and even a more devastating blow to the "rich and famous" who saw billions of dollars in stocks, bonds and other investments turn to nothing more than worthless pieces of paper. Millions found themselves out of work. Government reacted slowly - perhaps out of sheer shock - but, within a few years (and under the leadership of a new President) introduced new work programs, savings deposit insurance plans, and promised that such a fiscal disaster would never happen again. As with most government promises, it was only a matter of time before things went awry.
The Bush administration had done everything possible to ruin the nation's robust economy. Former President Bill Clinton had left office with a budget surplus; in eight short years, George W. Bush's failed economic policies that favored only the very wealthy had put the country into a severe economic depression. Now, seventy-eight years and one day later, a run on the few remaining "large" banks caused panic throughout the country. As smaller, regional banks also closed, citizens became nervous as they saw their life savings evaporate. The interim government, being managed by O.U.T.R.A.G.E., once again could do little to stop the pandemonium as bank customers tried to retrieve their meager savings only to discover that there was no money available. Interim President Colin Powell appeared on the O.U.T.R.A.G.E. television cameras to try and encourage calm. But, in chaos similar to that in 1929, bank customers could not be pacified with meer words.
There was still an upper-middle-class existing in America; in fact, that group of perhaps a few million people had- in actuality - had become the "upper class" since most of America's really wealthy individuals were now dead. As in every case where one's property and net worth is being eradicated, panic ensued, which only served to make things worse.
Dubbed "The Great Depression II" by some media hosts, the depression took America by storm. While people weren't jumping off ledges like they did in 1929, there were reports of attempted suicides, and hysterical conduct. Across the nation, people were more scared than ever; the O.U.T.R.A.G.E. murders, followed by the earthquake and hurricanes, had caused enough tumultuous pain to the country. Now, the entire economic system (or what was left of it) was being stripped away. People who had worked hard all their lives and managed to accumulate a modicum of savings now found themselves penniless.
It was going to take some time, but it would soon turn out to be a godsend: it helped substantiate the concept of total equality for all...something that would prove to help heal an anguished nation just that much faster.