Chapter 81

At 09:15 Jason walked the tunnel from the Hart Senate Office Building to Capital Hill, headed to the designated Congressional conference room for the meeting with the President and other members of Congress. Veneshia Jackson, his newest staff member was following close behind. She’d finished her work on the graphic presentation, but Jason didn’t have much confidence in his ability to easily access it. The plan was for her to connect her laptop to the large screen and display the information as Jason or others requested it. While they walked the young girl held her head proudly. Veneshia was pleased with the work she’d done, and she knew her boss was, too. This was a big day for her, as she seldom had any reason to display pride while growing up. Her black father, a Staff Sergeant, had died when she was young, but she was never told how he had died. Her French-Vietnamese mother struggled to support herself and her daughter, but hadn’t received any help from either side of their family. In school she was too smart, too black, too Asian - she was always too ‘something.’ Now, because these meetings were being televised, the whole country would soon see the results of her work, and its value. For once, she was - almost - ‘too happy.’

Everyone was cordial to Jason as the two entered the room. This cordiality disappeared very shortly after the President called the meeting to order, and informed everyone parliamentary rules would be used today to more easily maintain order. “Madam President.”

“The Chair recognizes the Representative from Harlem.”

“Thank you, Madam President. My question this morning to Senator Magill concerns insider trading. Sir, didn’t you and your family sell off all your investments prior to this current crisis?”

“Are you referring to the accusations toward our previous President, his resigning, or the huge tumble the market experienced that same day.”

“The huge drop in the market, of course.”

“Well Congressman, firstly, all my funds are in a blind trust, so I’ve no say about what’s done with them. As for my granddaughter and her husband, I believe they did sell off their stocks that morning.” The congressman looked smug until Jason continued. “Of course, prior to their actions and any actions of my trust, eighty-nine of the largest US individual investors, sixty-seven institutional investors, and fifty-three members of congress all made sizable reductions in their stock portfolio. Of those members of Congress, ten - including your good self - are in this room! So, Congressman, what’s your point?” The rest of the room, liberal and conservative, laughed at seeing this habitual ‘gadfly’ being put in his place for a change. The man was so flustered and embarrassed he didn’t even ask permission to leave the meeting.

The President was smiling as she asked, “Senator, you didn’t set up that poor man, did you?”

“No, Ma’am. I merely anticipated what I thought he, or some others, might do. So I gathered the facts. People like him have made a mockery of justice in the past by making headlines out of outlandish accusations knowing when the truth was eventually revealed the retractions would end up on the back pages with the obituaries. My feeling is the people of this country deserve better, so I’m happy I was able to prepare ahead of time.”

“Madam President?”

“The Chair recognizes the Senior Senator from Alabama.”

“Thank you. Senator Magill, first off, let me say thank you for that last. It has truly made my day. Now, could you please elaborate on what you were discussing yesterday concerning the economic side of your culture. I’m especially interested in how you’d distinguish it from Communism or Socialism.”

“Senator, to be truthful, it has some of the elements of both, but it really isn’t either. In a simplistic explanation, in socialism the central government owns at least part of the elements of production, and supposedly uses the profits for the good of the people. Communism, is similar except it owns and controls all the elements of production and the central government decides what’s to be produced, when, by whom, and for how much. They may claim all this is for the people, but to them the people is the nation and the nation is the government. Do you disagree with any of that at this point?”

“No, Senator, for a simplistic explanation, I think you’ve done a pretty good job.”

“Now, for the new Nation, except for any existing ownership, the nation will own the land, but not the houses, buildings, stores, or factories. Other than homes these other premises can be owned by individuals or communities. The subject of corporations will be for us to work out. If the community owns a business then it’d pay its workers fair wages, and the profits would be used for community projects such as schools, medical clinics, and help for the elderly and disabled. On the other hand, if an individual or family owns a business then they’d pay their employees and the profits would be used as the family sees fit. Fences could be used to keep stock in or predators out, but they wouldn’t be used to restrict the movement of others in the community.”

“Since businesses as such, are not a part of your culture, how did you arrive at this solution?”

“Senator, I hold a position in the tribe called the Diiyan, and part of my responsibility is that of tribal historian. The principles behind my previous statement come partially from our hunting and gathering practices. If an individual goes hunting or gathering then whatever he or she kills or collects is theirs to do with as they please. If that person has extra it’s usually preserved for future use or shared, either within the family, or with the widows and disabled. If several members of a family go out together then what they kill or gather follows the same principle, except as a family unit. On the other hand, if the community sends a group out to hunt or gather then the result is shared among the community.”

“And where does the central government fit into the picture?”

“Among the Apache the purpose of the tribal leaders you’d see as a central government includes the defense of the people, the settlement of disputes, and dealing with foreign entities. It’s my guess in the new nation some form of law enforcement would also be included.”

“Interesting, almost classic libertarianism.”

“It is, and it’s also what influences my own political beliefs.”

The President asked, “Senator Magill, what about taxes? What would pay for these things?”

“Madam President, that’s something the people of the new Nation would need to work out, but I suspect a sales tax on non-food items, or possibly a value added tax on goods manufactured for export. There are infinite possibilities. At the same time, the expenses of the government wouldn’t be that great when viewed as a whole. And, since you asked the question, I’d point out the long term savings to the United States Treasury would be significant.”

“Do you have any support for that statement?” she asked.

Before he could answer Maddie came to his desk and left him with several sheets. He glanced at them and thanked her. Before she left she also handed a flash drive unit to Veneshia. “Sorry for the interruption, Madam President, but what my head of staff just delivered is related to your question. Now, if my able assistant, Veneshia Jackson will help me I’ll put this in perspective for everyone. Veneshia, the first map if you please.” Promptly, the first map Veneshia had created was displayed on the screen. “As you can see, this shows the Southwestern part of this country - well the part West of Texas, anyway.” After giving everyone a moment to scan the map, Jason asked, “Now, Veneshia, would you add the overlay showing the original provisions of the Grant.” Again, after giving everyone a moment to fit things into their minds, Jason asked, “Can you reduce that window, and bring up the budget numbers for the tribal areas within those boundaries.”

“Interesting. And the source of these numbers?” asked the President.

“The Interior Department’s budget. And, please note this doesn’t cover any of the current Apache Reservations as they’re outside the boundaries of the grant, nor does it cover any of the costs related to the National Forests and protected wilderness areas.”

“And how will the tribes in this area respond to being part of the new nation?”

Jason replied, “One of the letters Maddie just brought me was from the leaders of the Tohono O’odhsam Tribe, which is the largest tribe in the area of the original Grant. Their existing reservation covers an area basically the size of Connecticut.” Jason looked at the letters and continued, “They wrote, ‘we will find great happiness under the nation of our long time trading partners, the Apache.’ Now, Veneshia, please highlight the first map we created showing the original Grant area, and exclude the Goldwater Range, Yuma, Tucson, and the Southwest corner of Cochise County. Make sure you leave in the ten mile buffer zone with the Mexican Border.”

The requested map appeared on the screen and, after giving everyone time to orientate themselves, Jason asked, “Does this help?”

The President answered, “Yes, it does.”

“Good. Now Veneshia, please add the two main Apache Reservations.” Looking at the display Jason said, “Madam President this area highlighted in orange is a corridor connecting the reservations with the Grant area, and the financial information that Veneshia has just added on the side screen covers the original numbers from within the Grant area, plus the totals for the two reservations.”

“I see two shades of orange on the map, can you explain that?”

“Yes, Ma’am. The lighter orange is used for the smaller area caused by the indention on the southeastern corner of the San Carlos Reservation. It affects the smallest group, about twelve hundred and forty people, and contains no towns. The larger area uses the extreme eastern side of both reservations and draws a continuing line southward to the Area of the Grant. This country, as a whole, contains less than forty thousand people. It’s my thought to let the residents in the darker area vote on whether to stay a part of the US, or become citizens of the new nation. Of course, we’d hope that those in the new nation and their descendants would have dual citizenship.”

“Only twelve hundred and forty people in that entire area. That’s hard to imagine.” Without any prompting Veneshia overlaid the map with the terrain, shrank the window some and started a slideshow of the land.

Jason responded, “As you can see from terrain and these images, Madam President, this isn’t the most hospitable of places. In fact, in the best of conditions it takes over forty acres to feed one cow.”

“Why would anyone live there?”

“Because, to them, it’s home. They love the land, and that’s why we welcome these people to join us. We know what it’s like to be driven from our homes, and we don’t want to do the same thing to others.”

“And any cities that are included?”

“They would have the same rights as anyone included in the Grant. We won’t tolerate discrimination among any of the groups. Again, those who want to leave will have the option of negotiating a fair price, but those who stay will maintain their property rights. Well, with the exception of the restricting of movement by others and the claiming of ownership of wild game. Those rights will be universal to all citizens of the nation.”

“Madam President.”

“The Chair recognizes the Representative from Mississippi.”

“Senator, I’m not sure I followed that last statement.”

“Congressman, to put it simply, except around a person’s immediate dwelling there would be no anti-trespassing provisions, though harsh penalties and retribution would be made against anyone damaging someone else’s property. As for the game, it means I can’t restrict people from hunting or fishing on my property as long as they don’t damage anything or leave trash. Now, someone who isn’t a citizen would be subject to the same trespass laws as you’d be used to.”

“And what would keep someone from abusing this right?”

“The community would decide if a wrong was done, or if someone was misusing his rights. At that point it’d be considered as if damage had occurred.”

“And would this include the travel of drug smugglers and illegal aliens?”

“Sir, that’s where we would have the advantage of being a separate nation! Those people would definitely be considered trespassing on the land of the Apache, and we’re notorious for our dealings with such.”

“You mean you might kill them?” blurted out a Massachusetts Congressman, famous for his liberal stand regarding the rights of gays, criminals, and illegals.

“Congressman, since the nation hasn’t been formed yet, the laws have not been created to make that statement. I was just commenting on how my ancestors dealt with such people, especially those from South of the Border.”

“Why the emphasis on those from Mexico?” asked the President.

“Because they started taking my people as slaves almost a hundred years before the first black slave set foot in America. Those who treated us with respect, or traded fairly, were welcome. But most of the Spanish who came into our lands were in search of slaves for their mines. They weren’t welcome then, and they won’t be welcome now.”

“But they’re not trying to enslave you now,” came the cry from the same Congressman.

“Sir, their drugs, their gangs, and their attempts to corrupt officials with money - is this not a form of slavery? The normal illegals will be either turned back or provided work, but the coyotes and those who profit from the traffic, they’d learn the harsh reality of dealing with the Apache.”

The Senator from Alabama who’d questioned Jason about the economic system said, “Madam President, I like the way this man thinks, and he’s right. The Grant gives them the job of trying to keep these people out of the United States. It doesn’t limit how they’re to accomplish it. In fact, I’d suggest if they’re successful along their border we extend their patrol area to cover the two current hot spots, San Diego and El Paso.”

In deep concentration the President asked, “If we honored the Grant and extended it north as you proposed, how long would it take you to take over the control of your border space, and what would you need to get started? Also, how long would you need financial assistance from our government?”

“For the border, I suspect it’d take us eighteen months to really get control. Though the number of property owners who live right near the border, and who decide to stay, will have an effect on that. As for equipment, we’d need some standard weapons, a few helicopters and some small observation aircraft. As for becoming self sufficient, there are some other factors here, and I need to bring them up at this time.”

“Go ahead, Senator.”

Following her boss’s cue Veneshia displayed the map showing wilderness areas connected to the reservation, along with a slide show of pictures from the areas. “These areas shown in a greenish gray are currently listed as national forests and wilderness areas. As you can see, this land is lightly populated and is mostly sagebrush and cactus. Even in the areas containing trees the forests tend to be pretty sparse and the trees underdeveloped. Currently, these areas are maintained by the National Forest Service, but if they were incorporated in the new nation they’d become our responsibility. We’d still keep them open for public enjoyment, but the visitors would be subject to our laws. I don’t know what the saving to the Treasury would be, but I’m sure the benefits would be positive.”

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