The Balkanization of America

by Ira Tabankin

  “Of course sir, I’ll be right there.”

  Wearing a dark blue suit, white shirt with a red tie and a small American flag pin the General could be any successful executive visiting the proceedings. “Senator, I’m here as you requested.”

  “Mr. Brownstone we seem to have an issue, the Congress and Senate of these United States have just impeached the sitting President of the United States. For the first time in our history, the Senate has voted to remove the President, the Vice President, and his entire cabinet. This leaves us without a President. Since your confirmation as Secretary of State, you are now the sole member of the senior executive branch. This puts you in the line of succession, as such we have asked one of the Supreme Court Justices to join us, Mr. Rodney Brownstone you’re going to be sworn in as the 45th President of the United States. All of the members of Congress join the Senators for the swearing-in ceremony. When the Supreme Court Justice arrives and administers the oath of office, the new President takes the podium to address the Congress and the people of America.

  “My fellow Americans, today isn’t about right or left, it’s not about conservatives or progressives, it’s not about rich vs. poor. Today we are all Americans today we are beginning a start fresh; we should put our petty differences aside and work together to build a strong and free America. Our nation, our very way of life is under attack, we are in an economic world war. Russia and China have attacked us; their weapon of mass destruction has destroyed most of our economy, the Federal Government, and many of the state governments are broke, we owe more money than there is money in the world. Think about that for a second. We as a nation owe more money than all of the available money in the entire world. Not just more than all of the available dollars, all of the money in any currency. We are broke. We as a people have very little to show for it. How many reports on the sex habits of shrimp does the government need? How many reports do we need to figure out eating too many sweets makes our children overweight? We have to change our way of doing things; we have to change the way the country operates. I was just sworn in as the President of the United States, yes UNITED we have to unite to see ourselves through the crisis we’ve all found ourselves in. As such, I would like to place the following names in front of the Senate for speedy approval so that I can have a cabinet. For Secretary of Finance, Mr. Steven Forbas, I’m sure everyone knows Mr. Forbas. He’s a financial wizard and genius. For Secretary of State, I nominate the Senator from Kentucky, Mr. Randy Paul, for Secretary of HHS, Senator Mark Lee. For Secretary of Labor, Mr. Hal Goldstein from Ambrose funds. For the Secretary of Defense Senator John Sessions from the great state of Alabama, for Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, I nominate US Navy Admiral Zander I’m asking the Senator from our wayward state of Texas, Mr. Ted Cruise to become my Vice President. For Secretary of the Interior, I’m nominating Sarah Patlin from Alaska. As Secretary of Homeland Security, I’m nominating Mr. Alvin West from the great state of Florida. My first order as President is I hereby sign executive order 1776 to reinstate the US Marines, all previous members of the US Marines may go to either Camp Pendleton, Quantico, Lejeune, Twenty-Nine Palms, Paris Island or Marine Base Hawaii and take the original Marine Corps oath.

  All leaves for all military members are canceled. The personal oath to the previous President is hereby overturned. The original oath of service is hereby reinstated. To the members of our armed forces, some of you signed the new oath, some of you refused to sign it. There has been much anger between both sides. I’m ordering all of you as your commander in chief to set aside such issues; we have a greater mission in front of us. The mission to defend the United States of America from all enemies both domestic and foreign. We are in a state of war; the country needs every member of the military to be focused on the real enemy. I’m ordering all units of the US Military, who rebelled and took their equipment with them to return with said equipment, the Navy’s battle groups are ordered to take orders from the chain of command. The US Air Force is ordered to accept orders from the chain of command. I’m hereby granting amnesty to all members of the military and all of the brave first responders who refused to sign the President’s oath. We are one nation, a nation of laws. We are a single combined team with a single mission, to defend the United States of America.

  I’m also placing the United States back on the gold standard. I’m reinstating the US Constitution with the original first, second, fourth and fifth amendments. Many of you sold your firearms to the government, I can’t commit to returning the same weapon, all I can do is commit if you sold an AR 15, you will get an AR back, if you sold an AK, you would get an AK back, you will get a similar weapon to that you sold. There’s too much paperwork and cost to ensure you get back the very same weapon you originally sold. If your weapon was destroyed, we will replace it with a similar one. If you have your receipt showing the number of rounds you sold, you will be returned the same number. This will be done without you having to return the funds paid to you. I doubt anyone has those funds available any longer given the massive inflation we’re experiencing.

  I’ve been asked if I plan to continue the wage and price controls, my response is executive order 1777 which releases wages and prices to be controlled by the markets. Executive order 1778 overturns the order forbidding fracking, I hereby open all federally owned lands for oil and gas exploration, we will be energy independent within 18 months, we’ll stop sending a trillion dollars a year to countries that hate us. I’m also signing executive order 1779 ending foreign aid payments, our people need the investment here at home, why should we be sending billions of dollars around the world when our own brothers and sisters are in such need, why are we as a nation borrowing money to give away? This makes no sense at all. I’m frankly amazed at the members of this Congress who authorized spending bills that put us in our current position. Executive order 1780 allows private citizens to own precious metals again. In fact, the country will soon be minting coins made of gold and silver, the sizes of these new coins is going to change from what we’re familiar with given the current value of the metals.

  Executive order 1781 overturns the censorship of the press. I’m not sure why the press was censored since it appeared to me that the press was the White House press organization; I’m sure they won’t have the same love for me as they did for the previous administration. The country needs a strong and free fourth estate to keep the rest of us honest. When the press took sides and stopped reporting the truth, America suffered. All I ask the press is to open your eyes and try to see the truth. Not the so called truths they wrote, but the real truth. The press is an important factor in a free America; however, the press should report the news and not be the news. I say to the media and to Hollywood, don’t try to play mind games with me, not only won’t it work, but you won’t like the games I play in return. I was trained and spent my entire adult life preparing for war, to defend this great country of ours, I’m not going to allow anyone to destroy it.

  I pledge to serve a single term and not to run again for any office. I hereby pledge to appear in front of the American people once a week to take questions and report on our progress. We all have a large task ahead of ourselves. Therefor I ask the Senate quickly to confirm my cabinet and Vice President selections so my new administration can get back to work. I also suggest that the Congress return to Washington DC

  I’m inviting President Lawson of the Republic of Texas to allow me to meet with me with the intent of Texas rejoining the United States, we should be united again, President Lawson, you saw your people through some very difficult times. I promise you the American troops on your border will begin to leave within two hours, there will be no invasion of Texas, the declaration of war is declared null and void. I ask the people of the Republic of Texas to think hard on rejoining your brothers and sisters. I promise you the United States is going to be greater than ever before.

  My last message, today, is for the President of the Russian Federation and the Premier of the People’s Re
public of China, you may think you’ve knocked America down. You may think the two of you can now split up the rest of the world. I’m telling you that may have been true an hour ago. There’s a new sheriff in town today, if you move against our allies, you will find out striking an ally of America is the same as striking America. A friend of America is a true friend an enemy of America is one that will be ultimately destroyed. Just ask Germany and Japan how much they enjoyed fighting us in the Second World War when America saved both of your hides. Don’t deceive yourselves, America is not a paper Eagle, our claws are still sharp and I know how to use them.

  My fellow Americans, may God bless our great nation. Thank you and good night.”

  Before President Brownstone completes his remarks the country erupts into chaos, the left screams racism is the reason for the impeachment of President Obsma, the President’s base swears to fight the new President, at every step. They beg the press to put pressure on President Brownstone to resign and reinstate President Obsma. The inner cities explode in flames; the sections that were burned and rebuilt are burned again. Anonymous fills the air with the support for the New President; They post millions supportive posts and stories how President Obsma was harming the country. Nothing slows down the violence from Obsma’s supporters. The country is closer to civil war than any other time since 1860. State Governors start talking about seceding from the country. The governor of California openly calls on President Obsma to form a new country. Millions march in support of and against President Obsma. The marches quickly turn very violent.

  Impeached President Obsma flies to Chicago to figure out his next steps. He knows he has to act quickly if he wants to avoid being charged by the new Attorney General. He’s soon joined by his close friends, and political allies, Nanny Polsi and Harold Reid, who jointly issue an announcement asking their base to fight the new President. Rather than support President Brownstone for the good of the country, Obsma, and his political allies want to deepen the divide between the sides. They hope to create enough violence in the streets that President Brownstone will have to declare martial law. Obsma can then point to this showing he’s a better President.

  Obsma and his allies speak with a handful of governors. The question on everyone’s mind is Obsma going to try to form a new nation. Obsma doesn’t care about holding the nation together; his only concern is his own political power and reforming America into a socialist state that controls every aspect of people’s lives.

  The discussion goes back and forth for 14 hours. Some of the governors are worried that President Brownstone will use force to preserve the Union, others argue that the country is already split, and this is a better course of action for everyone. Obsma decides to have a quick poll taken of his strongest supporters. Unsurprisingly the majority of his supporters and those in the Democratic Party leadership vote to form a new country. Obsma smiles realizing he can pull it off and remain in power. This time, he can have a new constitution written, one that does away with those pesky amendments like the first, second, fourth and fifth. He’s not really concerned the new administration will use the military to force the country to stay together. Obsma thinks most people don’t want a second civil war; they’d rather the country split then face the issues a war at home will bring.

  Obsma calls his major donors to ensure their money will continue to flow if he breaks away and sets up a new country. He promises his donor's positions of power within the new country. More than 90% agree to continue funding in exchange for favorable laws and positions within his new administration.

  Obsma and his key supporters issue a call for a new nation. A nation based on the progressive policies of income equality. Of free national healthcare. Free schooling from preschool through college. A nation build on environmental friendly green policies. A nation without a lower class.

  Many of the state governors take the offer seriously, they figure their people won’t accept the right wing administration. Governor Brownie of California is the first to announce his support for Obsma, he pledges that California will leave the union, Governor Cuma announces New York will join California in the formation of a new nation led by Obsma. Within the hour, Maryland announces they are joining the other two states. In four days, Oregon and Illinois announce they are joining the new union. Many citizens in the states announcing they’re leaving the union are angry. Not everyone within the breakaway states shares the views of their governors. Many take to the streets to protest breaking away from the union. Riots break out within the states announcing their intent to break free of America; riots also break out in many of the states who announce their intent to remain in the union. The rioting causes over one hundred billion dollars in damage. Money the government no longer has. Many in the states pledging to stay are upset the government aid programs are going to cease forcing millions to perform real work. Firestorms are formed. These suck oxygen from the surrounding areas, winds rushing into the firestorm reach speeds of 100 MPH driving the flames to consume everything in their path. Towns are destroyed, burnt to their foundations.

  President Brownstone quickly calls his advisors together, “Ladies and Gentlemen President Obsma just hit us with a sucker punch. He’s proposing breaking America up into two countries. He’s preaching the “Balkanization of America.” I have to admit I didn’t see this coming. I need your input and advice. We’re going to have to come out with an official statement as soon as possible. Our response will determine how or even if America survives.”

  Ted says, “Mr. President, I agree he caught us completely by surprise, shame on us, we should have seen it coming. We can’t change the past, going forward I think we should let them break off and try to form a new country….”

  Ted doesn’t get to complete his thought as the conference room explodes with everyone in it or on the conference call trying to speak at the same time. Everyone is trying to get a word in over everyone else. President Brownstone is trying to get control of the meeting; he tries to calm his staff. No one’s paying him any attention. Out of frustration he leans back asking one of his Secret Service agents for their sidearm. The Secret Service agent looks at the President with fear spreading over his face. “Mr. President, that’s not a good idea.”

  “Pull the magazine, just hand me your empty side arm.”

  The agent removes the magazine and the round in the chamber handling the Glock to the President, who picks it up; he holds the barrel in his hand banging the table with the Glock’s grip. The banging get’s everyone’s attention; they look at the President. Seeing he’s holding a sidearm, they all quickly quiet down. The President says, “Good, now that I have your attention, let’s discuss this in a civil manner. I want to hear each of your thoughts, but one at a time. Ted, you went first, why do you think we should allow Obsma to form a new country and break up America?”

  “Sir, ladies and gentlemen, the country is already “Balkanized.” The country has been split for a long time. The North East and the West Coast are liberal; the central portion and the south are more central in their political views. In 08 when Obsma was elected, he made the split worse. He drove a wedge between the right and left. Rather than bring the country together, he worked hard to divide us. We’ve reached the point where the two sides can’t agree with each other on anything if one side said the sky’s clear the other side will say it’s raining. It’s a lot harder to form a country and run one that talking about it. I say we let them go. Then we sit back and watch them fall apart, when they’ve collapsed, their people will beg to rejoin the rest of the country. It will avoid a bloody civil war that will destroy the country.”

  Steve Forbas quickly interjects, “Wait a minute, today the government is broke, and we owe more money than exists in the world. If we let them go, how much tax revenue are we going to lose? What about the benefits we currently pay to the people living in the states that leave? What about the government owned buildings land and assets in the states leaving? We need a lot more information before we can make any i
ntelligent financial estimate.”

  Randy quickly jumps in, “What about the border, how will we guard against Obsma’s people deciding six months from now they don’t like his system and swarm back here where we’ll have to support them. We’re broke now, I agree with Steve we need much more information before we make any statement.”

  “Sarah what do you think?”

  “Mr. President, ladies, and gentlemen, I’m leaning towards agreeing with Ted, to let them go and watch them fail. We’ve supported break away countries all over the world, how can we say we support the people’s efforts in Europe or Africa to form new nations but not here? I don’t think they’ll succeed, I also agree with Steve we need to figure out how much it’ll cost or save us. However, we are going to have to make a statement very quickly or watch the people fight each other over the issue in our streets.”

  “Alvin?”

  “Sir, Lincoln was faced with a similar question, should he have allowed the South to secede or force them back into the union. Many believe his action of forcing the South back into the Union was the beginning of the Federal Government grabbing power away from the states. Some think that President Lincoln exceeded his authority under the Constitution by going to war to force states that had voluntarily come together to form the United States to stay in the union. While Lincoln saved the union, the real question is, did he make it the situation much worse and did he lay the foundation of where we are today? I’m split; one part of me wants to hold the union together the other part of me says let them go. As Sarah said, they’ll fail and beg to come home. As Steve said, how much will it cost us to let them go and how much will it cost us to force them to stay. We’re in the middle of an economic world war. Russia and China have declared war against us. Can we fight them and still fight Obsma? Given the attack on the dollar by Puten and Xing can Obsma even get his new country off the ground? If we let them go will we be allowing a new Cuba being formed right next door to us? Will we be setting up our children to live in fear of the left-wing breakaway nation? To be completely honest, I don’t know how to answer. I need what we don’t have, time to digest the options and also figure out which states are going to stay and which may leave. I think Steve has a good point we need to model the financial impact. I’d like to propose we break into smaller groups to review the impact quickly in our areas of expertise. I also think we need to poll the governors to see which way their leaning.”