Welcome, Mrs. President

Welcome, Mrs. President

Preface

My grandfather, Dick Dalton, is 86 years old today (10/5/2030). In trying to come up with a topic for my masters thesis in World Futuring, my mother told me he played a trimtab[1] role in changing the trajectory of the United States following its congressional-corporate-military paralysis in March, 2013. What could have become the worst depression and state of anarchy this country has ever known was diverted by the cooperation and vision of a whole host of citizen servants.

This book is a result of my interviews with him. It tells an almost unbelievable story. I say “almost” unbelievable because the essence of his story is now part of our human experience. His personal story was not in my textbooks, but we all have seen and felt the effects of his small role. I think you will be as fascinated as I was to hear his perspective and the behind-the-scenes details.

Ashti Dalton
Columbia, MO
October 5, 2030

Welcome, Mrs. President.
Introduction

Grandpa, Mom says you had something to do with the rebirth of our country during the last fifteen years, but I couldn’t get her to tell me what you did. She said to ask you. What did you do?

I know many have called it a rebirth, Ashti, which implies there was a death and, in many ways, the US did experience a death and is experiencing a rebirth. I have come to view these last thirty years as a process not unlike the way a butterfly comes about. A caterpillar eats and eats until it is fat and then isolates itself in a cocoon or chrysalis. The caterpillar seems to die and become a soup, but scientists tell us that in that soup are Imaginal Cells that hold the blueprint for a butterfly and, over time, turn the elements of the soup into the beautiful butterfly we all see and admire.

In those early days, after so many years of mindless consumption by the US and other countries, the catepillar world went into cocoon mode. It could have lasted indefinitely, but there were just enough people in the United States, and all over the world, that were able to hold the image of what we could become as planet of global citizens, that, when it looked as though we were dead in the cocoon, those visionary people, already networked together, began to lead the writing of a new story for human beings and build the beautiful world we are becoming. We have all had something to do with the butterfly we see emerging, including you, but your mother is probably referring to a story that came to my mind 25 years ago, that turned out to be somewhat prophetic.

I had just finished teaching my spring semester classes in 2005 and was relaxing, sitting on our patio, reading the latest issue of Newsweek Magazine. It was especially focused on China and its growth and influence in the world. I had not even gotten through all the sections when, boom, out of the blue, I’m seeing this future series of events taking place. I thank my muse, the universe, God, or whatever inspired me that day for a story I could never have dreamed up on my own. My first job was to write it down, which I did. Here it is.

“It is the spring of 2012 and Hilary Clinton is gearing up her campaign for her second term as President. It is going to be harder for her this time after losing her husband right after her first inauguration. It was April 25th when the news came: North Korea had accidentally or intentionally fired a missile carrying a tactical nuclear warhead into southern South Korea killing thousands, including many US soldiers stationed there and US civilians living and working in Pusan.

In short order, the US, Japan, China, and South Korea all declare war on North Korea. In secret negotiations, China requests the allies to hold off on nuclear or other strong military retaliation and allow it to exercise an undercover plan to defeat North Korea. China asks for four months. Amazingly, the allies agree.

The media is told the four countries can’t agree on a military strategy. This hurts Hilary’s campaign, but the good news comes even before the beginning of the fourth month. China has successfully neutralized the military and governmental leadership of North Korea without an overt military attack. The headlines read: North Korea Neutralized: No US casualties or expense. Hilary becomes a diplomatic hero and easily wins the fall elections.

In March of 2013, President Clinton joins the other three heads of state in China for a joint celebration and negotiation for the future of North Korea. As she descends the stairs of Air Force One, China's President Hu Jintao greets her: “Welcome, Mrs. President.”

Two days later, on March 15, 2013, President Hu Jintao, in private consultation with President Clinton, expresses his regret that China is experiencing a financial crisis and needs to redeem the securities and treasury notes it bought to help keep the US afloat following 9/11/2001. The amount is over a trillion dollars.

President Clinton says there is no way the US can come up with that much cash and President Hu Jintao says, “We will be honored for you to be our guest until arrangements have been made. We have no animosity against the USA, but we helped you in good faith and we need our money back with the designated interest.”

The news leaked out and spread like wildfire. Emergency meetings were held day and night to find a solution, but the dominos had started to fall and country after country and thousands of individuals put in their redemption requests for securities and treasury notes they had purchased.

At the same time, country after country stopped supplying the US corporations and government agencies with their products. China and others stopped shipments to Wal-Mart and the many other US outlets. With Wal-Mart getting 80% of its goods from China, business came to a halt. Oil stopped coming from OPEC, Nigeria and Mexico and both land and air travel in the US came to a halt.

The US dollar went flat. No one honored it worldwide. In a matter of days the US went from the top of the heap to the bottom. President Clinton was released to return home to a chaos and panic even worse than that of 1929.”

That was the story.

[1] Trimtab: the smallest rudder on a large ship that could greatly influence course trajectory over a long distance.

How would you finish the story?

How would you respond to such a dramatic change in the world economy?

What are you doing to prepare for such a possibility?