Chapter Eight - part six

   It happened at one of the big monthly meeting where they spent several hours going over the current state of things in the nation; talking about the current operational issues and the future goals. James had finally brought the video screen and program that had so impressed General Kendrick into use in his briefings for the President. He had been very reluctant to let it be seen by those outside his command before this. That was mostly because he knew it could be used by others who might interfere with his operational plans.  James had finally agreed that he had to start using it if he wanted to get the President and his cabinet on board with the next step forward with his operational plans. It was clear to James and some of his staff that it was time to lift martial law. The evidence was easy to see when displayed on the screen. The nation was ready for that next big step. James had expected a lot of questions, but he hadn't expected a total revolt. But that was the only way to describe the reaction when he first suggested lifting martial law across the entire nation. He had been allowed to ease curfews and even reduce the travel restrictions across much of the nation over the last few weeks. That had helped James to reach the decision that it was time to return things to the way they had been in regards to who was running things. It was time for the military to step back and give full control to the local governments once again.

   James had been watching more than just the things happening inside the nation while he was considering this. He had been watching the world events and had seen the changes that were taking place outside the borders too; especially the changes taking place overseas. Those changes for the most part weren't good ones, at least not where the United States was concerned. James saw a need for a renewed focus of military might overseas. The world markets were still unstable and hadn't started a real recovery. The best that could be said was that things weren't completely out of control at the moment. The problem was that much of the world was now under military law, if it had any law left at all! The global stock and money markets were both still a shambles. Most small nations couldn't buy or sell in the world markets without taking a beating financially. It wasn't a lot better for the huge nations either. Money was all but worthless in most world markets. It was goods that were used as money to transfer other goods and wealth now. Unless you had something to trade that someone was willing to trade something else for you would find it all but impossible to do business in the world markets now. You could still sell your goods for cash, but the price was determined by the demand and if you didn't have fuel or food the demand was usually very low at the moment.

   The United States had agreed to begin talks again with other world powers about stabilizing the world markets again. Those other world powers weren't in favor of restoring things to the way they had been. Many if not all of them saw this as a golden opportunity, both figuratively and literally, to get a bigger piece of things for themselves. They didn't have any intention of letting the United States return to a position of power, let alone dominance in the world again. They were working very hard to get a world currency based somewhere that would take control of it away from the United States. China and Russia struggling against each other for control was the only thing that had stopped it so far. It was argued that taking a risk of letting things get out of control again would weaken the position of the United States in those talks. James was stunned by that. The chances of things getting out of control again were small. As long as the people could stay working they would have food and shelter. They wouldn't risk those so soon after having lost them. The chances were slim of any major problems in the short term. The long term was another story, but the long term goals James had worked out required restoring control to the local governments to succeed. The best thing that could happen in James opinion would be if America let the rest of the world argue while it restored the nation. Then America could go to the talks from a position of real power, rather than in the hope of getting some kind of power back.

   After several long hours of heated debates and outright screaming matches among the people there the President tabled the discussion. He told everyone to look this idea over and be prepared to state their views and defend them on the matter of lifting martial law at the next meeting. James could already tell that he would be in the extreme minority for completely lifting martial law. There were a few who wanted to try it in a few key locations first. Most of those locations would result in immediate benefits for the people supporting those particular locations. James had expected that, but what he hadn't expected was that a great majority of the people in power wanted to keep martial law in effect indefinitely. In fact many of them openly hinted that it might be best to just keep the military in power permanently! Some even stated flat out that the people were no longer able to understand how to govern themselves!

   James and his team spent a good bit of time and effort getting ready for the next meeting. James knew all too well that things were going to be stacked against him this time. The last time, even unprepared, his opponents had stomped all over the idea. He knew that during the month between the meetings people were working very hard to find ways to prove the country wasn't close to being ready for martial law to be lifted yet. Even some of the people James was working with began to question the idea. James didn't. He knew that that the people probably weren't ready to govern themselves the way they should yet. But he also knew that unless they got the chance to start... they never would be ready! James intended to do everything in his limited power to make certain they got the chance to try. He had worked too long and too hard to restore the faith of the people in their own ability to take care of their lives. James had no intention of throwing all that effort and success away by failing to show them his faith in them and in their ability to govern themselves again.

 The next meeting rolled around and once more James stood up to call for the complete removal of martial law in the nation. He made an impassioned plea for the need to let the people decide for themselves what their future should be. The results were still the same. In fact James was soon so busy defending his position and explaining why all the problems still out there didn't matter that he couldn't show them how much this meant to the people. James hadn't just spent his time working on charts and figures to prove the readiness and the need. He had been quietly talking with the people who were becoming leaders among the people. These were the ones that had helped James to see the need for the removal of martial law. They were the people who wanted to rebuild America the way it was intended to be. They were the people who had found enough faith to begin to dream about what the future might be. They were the ones that had begun to look beyond today and even tomorrow. They saw the opportunity to rebuild their nation and they recognized the dangers of doing nothing with that opportunity. They loved their nation enough to make sacrifices to save and rebuild it.