"Franks"
"Good evening ladies and gentlemen: I am honored to stand before you on this important night. By being here you are sending a message. That message is simple. You care about the United States of America and its future. For the past several weeks our campaign slogan has been, 'It's my property, and it's my money.' This is a theme which resonates with you. I know, I've read your e-mails! Thousands of them! (What he was saying was not far from the truth. He was a voracious reader.) Our purpose is to point out a problem - an attitude that permeates our federal government today. An attitude that says, 'What's yours is mine.' And they are perfectly willing to take it too. If not directly through egregious taxation: then indirectly by endless regulation and mandates. There is a word for taking something that does not belong to you - stealing! Since when to the feds have the authority to tell a private enterprise to get rid of its chief executive? Since when do they have the authority to take over a company? And since when do they have the authority to order private citizens to buy something? Or else! "
The standing room only crowd responded has he talked. Charles continued:
"The implications of Federal interference in our personal and economic lives are clear. If they can reach into a big company and order it around, they can reach into a small one and do the same. If they can order you to buy something, anything, what is to stop them from ordering you to shop at certain stores, or send your children to certain schools. I think you know this is an extremely dangerous direction for any government, and especially ours, to take.
Fortunately, we have a precedent established a little over two hundred years ago. Our Founding Fathers put the idea to pen like this: "...That when any government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it..."
"Are you going to stare at that computer screen all day?"
Franks turned in his chair to see his friend and colleague in the doorway.
"Got a couple of interviews in an hour, Mike. Thought I'd make use of the time with some research."
"Shouldn't you be researching the perps rather than the victim?"
"I know, but it's been three days and nothing has surfaced so far. I thought something in these videos would give me a clue as to why he became a target in the first place."
"What have you found?"
"Nothing, really. He seems to be an upstanding guy who's running out of a genuine desire for change."
"Change? I thought the present regime was going to take care of that."
"Apparently they have, except it's all been in the wrong direction." Franks turned his head back to the screen. Charles was still talking.
"Let me ask a question, how many people are tasked with ruling over us? What would that total be? The House of Representatives numbers 435. The Senate is comprised of 100 members. Then we have to add the President, Vice President and the Supreme Court. All in all that makes 546 people. That's it. You know, if those 546 people decided today to stop spending, it would happen. If they decided to reform the tax code, explore oil fields within the continental US, reduce the size and scope of the EPA, or make any number of positive changes, they would happen. Obviously that is not the case..."
Franks paused the video and turned to his friend.
"Time to go. Hey, Mike, before I leave, let me show you something. I got this really strange email yesterday. I can't seem to locate it's source. Might have some implications in the investigation. Can you help me with it?
"Sure. Let me take a look."
A few minutes later he said, "Yea, this is a little strange. May I use your computer?"
"I'd rather you didn't. I've got a lot of things going on right now, but Hank (he nodded to the office on the right) is out on vacation for another couple of days. He wouldn't mind."
Mike nodded, "Just give me a moment to get in."
Franks shot the email over to the other computer, gathered his things and strode down the hall.
Shortly the elevator doors opened and Franks walked briskly across the lobby. He was mentally going over the questions to ask in his upcoming interviews. To be honest, he wasn't optimistic. Neither witness was able to come up with much specific info, but due diligence was required, and time was pressing.
He was almost out the door when someone grabbed his sleeve. "Blast", he said to himself. He was in a hurry. The man was short with a pale be-speckled face. Beside him was a slight boy who refused to look at him. Something was in his hand.
"May I help you?" Franks turned to face the man. He wanted to get this over as quickly as possible.
"Well, er, y-y-yes," the man stuttered. Franks sighed, this was going to take a while.
"What floor is the FBI on?"
"Eleventh floor, turn right and it's straight ahead."
"Thank you, Ummm, are you FBI?"
"I am. Field Agent Tommy Franks at your service."
"Over here, Brian," The man guided the boy over to some chairs where he sat down while the men stood and talked. Franks now saw that he held an iPhone in his hand. Without looking up the boy started playing a game, oblivious to everything else.
His father turned to Franks and started talking.
Ten minutes later Franks pulled his phone and called the head of the strike team assigned to his case. "Get your team ready. Now!" he growled.
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