In Washington, a surprisingly large number of senior government officials have been working on a strict privatization plan for decades. Over the past 50 years, key players have been passionate about the need to integrate the private sector with government spending. 9/11 and the Iraq war became major jumping points for putting these plans into action.
The Tri-X IPO was the most recent shining example of the level of influence that this new economy held over the rest of America. Companies that produced more bodies than revenue were being heralded as the future of the United States and they were being rewarded for it. Everyone wanted to be a part of these ‘rising stars’, from pension managers right down to Joe-six-pack who saw this kind of investment as a great way to ‘support the troops’.
And when the wallets opened, many of the companies that were at the front of the line were either owned by or even still influenced by members of the government itself. In times past, this kind of double-dipping would have guaranteed a quick visit to the guillotine, but not today. Making capital investments in a company like Tri-X, which owned the extremely influential Greyrock Military Solutions Inc., has become hundreds of times more profitable than buying the right politician who can put regulations on hold for you. Or better yet, have them buried.
This is the military-industrial complex that Eisenhower warned the world about in his farewell address in 1961.
Nearly 50 years later, his words ring true as the US stands perilously close to a dictatorship that would make the Pharaohs envious. Of course, it won’t last, so if you’re running a small business or organization that could possibly benefit from wild government handouts, get in while the getting is good. That assumes, of course, that you are able to get the right connections together.
Leonard Daniels, who had performed dutifully for his senior commanders with Greyrock was finally being brought home. After seeing the most disgusting situations throughout the world, he told himself he would be able to see a more normal side of life again.
As his private jet whipped across the Atlantic, he reclined in his comfortable leather chair and rejoiced in the peaceful state of calm that comes shortly before sleep. As he relaxed, he thought about how his efforts propelled Greyrock to where it is today. His own personal wealth was now about $80 million, as every successful mission brought him another stack of stock options.
Len Daniels was on his way to a meeting with a number of senior officials from the federal government, although most of these people were just figure-heads in charge of handing out paycheques to people who could kill people in innovative ways.
Joining him would be some associates with Greyrock and of course, senior delegates from the Univist Church.
He didn’t know it, but Daniels was going to be promoted and this was his review committee.
He entered the towering doors that opened into the central meeting hall of the Planning Group, the informal name that this host of people called their organization.
It should have been called a hall, given the size of room. It in were a number of faces that he recognized from the papers, a few from his employer, but there was a mix of people that he didn’t know, but immediately assumed had wealth or influence, or both, just because they were invited to a private meeting such as this.
The official meeting hadn’t been called yet, so the attendees were standing around talking in small groups chatting amongst themselves. Occasionally, Daniels could here quips like “Peru’s about to elect another commie,” or “… we have to attach Iran …” or “…a common NAFTA currency would secure our oil future.” However, after a few minutes, he made a mental note that the most consistent words he heard were “China”, “Disaster”, and “Regime change”.
He realized that the world he had entered was very different than that which lay just a few feet behind him. At the same time, he realized that his role in this world would be the same as it has always been: he would be the bringer of bad news to someone.
He just didn’t know that it would be most of the population of the US.