Molon Labe! (74 page)

The Oval Office

Fall 2019

Chief of Staff Bill Sowers is meeting with Connor to update him on the nation's conformity with the
Safe Streets and Neighborhoods Act
and the initial stages of the UN's "Rewilding" program.

"And predictably, sir, compliance is lowest in the South and rural West. Since many of those states do not require gun registration or ownership permits, we have to extrapolate numbers based on ATF Form 4473s.

"Showing practically zero compliance is, of course, Wyoming. In fact, the ATF considers compliance to be less than zero."

Connor frowns. "
Less
than zero? How is
that
possible?"

"Because the few assault weapons that
have
been turned in weren't even worth the $500 compensation. One example was a Chinese-made SKS fused together by rust after being pulled from a pond.
SSNA
did not specify that the guns had to be in working order."

Connor's face grows red as he repeatedly clenches his jaw. "Bill, those people having been rubbing our noses in shit for five years now on the gun control issue. Now, they're making a mockery of our buy-back program designed to save lives!"

Sowers clears his throat and says, "Well, Mr. President, considering that Wyoming has the lowest crime rate in the country, they probably don't think the
SSNA
makes much sense out there."

Connor glares at Sowers for an eternal second.

"Just trying to understand their mindset, sir," Sowers offers.

"Yeah, well, who
can?
Those people are flat-out
nuts
. I'll bet their compliance with the UN's rewilding directives is also poor to nonexistent."

Sowers reluctantly replies, "Yes, sir, I'm afraid so. The UN has received absolutely none of its requested data on biosphere corridors. Its World Heritage signs at Yellowstone and Devil's Tower are stolen just as soon as they're replaced. UN personnel report that they are rarely served food in local restaurants, are refused lodging, and have their tires slashed almost daily. Several have been beaten. Most of them won't return without armed escorts."

"Armed escorts for UN people snooping around Wyoming?" reflects the President. "Yeah,
that
would really cause some shit out there! The Smurfs are lucky they haven't been shot at already."

Sowers nods in agreement. "Yes, sir, Preston's administration has really sounded the bell on the UN program. They even published that 'Rural Cleansing' report which — "

" — has gotten the entire West up in arms, yes, I know," finishes Connor. "The timing for another sagebrush rebellion couldn't be worse with next year's general election. Many Congressmen are getting skittish."

Sowers raises his eyebrows, remembering something. "Oh, while we're on the subject of congressmen, I have a copy of a Wyoming report on legislative reform that is being widely circulated. It makes for some, uh, well, interesting reading. Those people seem to be only just getting started."

President Connor is a voracious reader, and takes the report
¹
to his study after the work day. As much as he loathes reading hard-core libertarian material, he vowed never to be caught surprised by anything the Wyoming crowd came up with.

President Connor puts down "Revising Democracy" and rubs his tired eyes.
Just when I thought they'd run out of daffy ideas!
He can tell that he will not easily fall asleep tonight. Thoughts of how to put Wyoming back in its place are already swimming through his mind.

__________

1
   "Revising Democracy" is reproduced in the Appendix at pages 433-444.

2020

Secession is not a singular event. It consists of several smaller and sequential secessions. The first is a secession of the mind from the dominant culture. This is the most important secession, as all else stems from it. Next comes the cultural secession itself, which over time will grow into an economic secession. An internal nation must first develop economic self-sufficiency before political action.

The trouble with talk of political secession since the 1990s is that no area of the country has "paid the dues" of all the lesser secessions described above. Political secessions are a
de jure
recognition of a venerable and seasoned
de facto
secession.

For example, the Confederate States of America had culturally and economically seceded from the U.S.A. years before their 1861 resolutions announced the political act. Taiwan was fully independent from mainland Communist China in everything but name. When Taiwan finally announced her
de jure
independence in 2008 (just before the Olympics, when China dared not respond militarily), she was merely completing the final 1% of secession. Taiwan had been practicing 99% of secession since the 1950s.

An ongoing example is the cultural, social, and economic
Reconquista
of the Southwest. Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California are becoming the wealthiest part of Mexico. And political power, that faithful caboose, is following right along. By 2030, the Hispanics will control those states in all aspects but name.

The lessons of history are clear for any internal nation of the U.S.A. which desires to secede. Secession must first be
lived
in the hearts and minds and bank accounts of the disenchanted. Such people must create a separate country in every area but political before the political paradigm can ever be realized. Once they do, political recognition is inevitable, and will largely feel anti-climactic when it eventually happens, just as a couple must feel on their wedding night after having lived together for many years.

The world is geographically finite, and the scramble for blocks of land will soon resemble a frantic game of musical chairs. Internal and external immigration is rapidly shifting voting patterns to the left. The razor thin margin of the Florida results in the 2000 election clearly demonstrated this. Find a palatable area and "sit down" quickly, else you'll be left standing.

— James Wayne Preston,
Journals

Cheyenne Sentinel

January 2020

Yesterday the legislature voted to dismantle the state's drivers licensing and vehicle registration system by 1 January 2021. Several national insurance companies are reportedly interested in establishing new offices to specifically serve the unique Wyoming market.

The Senate leader explained:

"Just because you travel in a motorized conveyance doesn't transform that right into a privilege. That has been a great American myth. Therefore, we will eliminate all vehicle registration fees and taxes, and replace the lost revenue with increased sales taxes on gasoline, diesel, and tires. The proportionality and severity of road use is paid for by such taxation. Even electric cars will pay for the roads through their tires. Once this new system is operational, your cars will no longer be subject to any inspection, registration, or taxation.

"Similarly, individuals have a right to propel themselves down the road without any prior restraint or licensing. The great history of our English common law is that people are by default free to do as they wish, unless some action is proven to be a tort. Wyoming will be the first state to eliminate its driver licensing system, which has become over time a
de facto
National ID Card and database. A free people cannot be required to acquire and possess such 'papers' on their persons, always ready to be inspected by police.

"Also, Wyoming will no longer coerce people into insuring themselves against risks they
voluntarily
assume. Any drivers concerned about risk have the right to purchase private insurance for protection against being injured by those without assets or insurance. Those who choose
not
to purchase insurance personally assume all risk. In the absence of a state-issued drivers license, the insurance companies will no doubt begin to issue their own 'Certificate of Driving Competency' based on standards and testing of their own design. This is the most logical and equitable system, for it is the insurance companies with the greatest vested interest in driver competence and safety. However, the unseemly state and corporate partnership of the universal licensing and insurance scheme will end in Wyoming."

The White House

January 2020

Connor shouts, "No more
driver's licenses
? It's
unAmerican!
"

Chief of Staff Sowers remarks, "Well, the licensing program
is
within the states' bailiwick, sir. Wyoming probably has the right to eliminate it."

"Not
and
keep receiving their highway funds!" snaps the President. "Look, otherwise I couldn't give a shit, but our future 'AmeriCard' is cut off at the knees because it's
based
on state driver's licenses! Goddamn it, I've
had
it with those people. They've been increasingly rebellious for the past five years, and this drivers license stunt is the last fucking straw!"

Sowers knows to keep his mouth shut and ride out the storm.

"Get me the Attorney General," orders Connor.

An idea that is not dangerous is unworthy of being called an idea at all.

— Elbert Hubbard

Wyoming

January 2020

Governor Preston discusses driver's licenses on his radio show:

"Some heartfelt concerns have been raised about deregulating the driver licensing system, so let me address those this evening.

"First, we all already know how to drive. A laminated plastic license is evidence of that, not the cause. None of us will forget how to drive safely when we no longer have little cards in our wallets and purses.

"Regarding future drivers, the insurance companies will no doubt insist on training and testing far more rigorous than the current standards. Exams will include adverse weather driving, which no state requires. So, a privatized system will increase driver competency, not diminish it.

"Some people have been very alarmed at the prospect of cars being driven without license plates, which they claim will enhance crime through anonymity. This will not likely be so. One, criminals can already remove or switch plates before a crime. Two, the 'getaway factor' is insignificant when you consider that 70% of Wyoming adults are daily armed. We don't need a policeman on every corner, because the citizenry at large is its
own
police force. There is no place for criminals to escape
to
, assuming that they manage to successfully commit a violent crime and not get shot."

Eliminating a part of American life which seemed grafted onto the national DNA was difficult at first, but folks gradually saw the light. Wyoming would thus avoid the dreaded "AmeriCard" and its police state databases.

Meanwhile, the federal trumpeting of indignation was deafening. A dozen threats were made: how Wyomingites would no longer be able to board commercial aircraft, get a passport, buy a hunting license, or cash a check, etc. Preston's team calmly and handily dealt with each of the desperate claims, always ending their denunciation with:

Big Brother stops with Wyoming! No "1984" in The Equality State!

Denver, Colorado

February 2020

The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals issues an injunction against the State of Wyoming, prohibiting the dissolution of its driver's licensing system which is
"an essential component of national security."

Cheyenne, Wyoming

March 2020

Tom Parks slams down his phone and rushes into Preston's office. "Sir, I've just heard that US Marshals are on their way here to arrest you on charges of conspiracy to violate federal laws."

The Governor stands up briskly as he grabs the phone. "I knew this would come. Tom, no US Marshal is to set foot inside this building. We planned for this eventuality, so you know what to do. Get to it. I'll call Colonel Mallory of the WHP."

Within minutes the Governor's Mansion is surrounded by Cheyenne Police and Wyoming Highway Patrol, who prevent entry to the US Marshals. After a mutual drawing of weapons, the outnumbered feds bitterly return to their cars, vowing to successfully serve their warrant another time.

The White House

After his eruption from hearing the news, Connor calms visibly, as if he's made a decision. "I want a meeting with the Joint Chiefs next week. Subject: Wyoming's insurrection and its military resolution. Have someone from Fort Bragg there, too."