Can science fiction show average Americans a way to take back their government? Is there a high-tech equivalent to Mr. Smith Goes to Washington or All the President’s Men? I’ll explore the concept in this series of blog posts. Follow the links to part two and part three.
A summer of interesting times
Even if you don’t follow politics, you probably know that 2024’s US Presidential election season has already seen some wild stories. From President Biden’s disastrous performance in the June debate to the assassination attempt on Donald Trump last month, this year might match 1968 in chaos and crisis. (Hopefully not in body counts).
Not just my American readers know this. Assuming English-language press from Russia and the Arab world reflects domestic media in those regions, people around the world know as well as the average American what’s been happening in the US Presidential race. Perhaps even more than the average American. After all, the US government has toppled foreign governments while its citizens don’t even notice.
Clearly, this summer will generate a ton of momentous news stories. (Of which, the upcoming release of my new science fiction trilogy ranks fairly low in comparison)
Where news goes, conspiracy theories follow
Now, whenever news breaks, conspiracy theories are soon to follow. How long has President Biden been non compos mentis, and who’s really been running things inside the White House? Or, the assassination attempt on Trump was faked: the gunman intentionally missed, and in the security scramble around Trump, someone, perhaps even the candidate himself, pulled an old professional wrestling trick and slashed his ear with a razor blade. Remember, Trump has pro wrestling experience, winning the Battle of the Billionaries at WrestleMania 23.
The questions buzz around the internet: What really happened leading up to and during the debate and the assassination attempt? What are they trying to hide?
Yes, I know, conspiracy theorists are cranks in tinfoil hats. Their delusions have no basis in reality—
—Wait, what’s that?
Historically-aware people know the US media has covered for Presidents and other A++ listers for decades? For over a century?
Yes. That’s absolutely true.
A century of coverups
The media of the early 1960s hid JFK’s womanizing from the American people.
It’s an open secret the media in the 1930s and ’40s hid FDR’s polio the same way. Even worse, when FDR ran for reelection in 1944, he had already been diagnosed with congestive heart failure and acute hypertension, but the New York Times quoted FDR’s doctor as saying he was in the best health of his presidency. After FDR’s death on April 12, 1945, the same doctor claimed “this came out of a clear sky.”
Think this is a recent phenomenon? President Woodrow Wilson suffered a debilitating stroke in October 1919, but his wife and his physician managed to cover it up. Mrs. Wilson was the de facto president for the last year and a half of Wilson’s second term.
In view of all that, maybe conspiracy theorists have a reason to doubt the official story of current events after all?
Sunshine is the best disinfectant
Perhaps you don’t want conspiracy theories cropping up and leading people to distrust the government and the media.
Or, you want a serious investigation into the lies about Saddam Hussein’s WMD program that wasted trillions of dollars and thousands of American lives, but you don’t want your allies to fall down conspiracy theory rabbit holes about Roswell or Nazi UFO bases in the Hollow Earth. Doing so just dissipates energy that should be directed at valid criticisms of government overreach. Plus, you’ll get sized up for the same tinfoil hat as your allies.
Or maybe, just maybe, you’re an American who wants our government to follow the rules it claims to be bound by. Who wants the US to be an example of a republic without Ben Franklin’s qualifier of “if you can keep it.” Or you’re not an American but want to learn from the USA’s experience how to make your government better.
Can we clear up misinformation about the inner workings of the US government and give the average American faith that the government lives up to the civics class ideals?
The answer: yes.
Wait, you write science fiction. I don’t want any ridiculous sci-fi ideas.
Though technically science fiction, you can buy the technology to implement this idea today.
Then it must be impossibly expensive.
No. I estimate it would cost about $10 billion per year. Sounds like a lot? Not when you realize that’s about 0.15% of the USA’s federal spending in fiscal year 2023. And that $10 billion would pay for itself 10 times over in spending reductions.
I’m still not convinced. When will you give us more information about your outlandish idea?
Later this week, when I publish the second post in this blog series.