"Good evening everybody, this is your host Jeffery Manuel here on channel 1 news. Tonight we're hosting the debate for the General Secretary of the Soviet Union! Tonight we have our two candidates on air to answer questions that you and I have for them." Jeffery smiled broadly into the camera, the focus all on him as we went live on air, the film crew dashing around, adjusting lights and prompts.
"Over here to my left your right we have Premier Merida! Current sitting Premier of the Republic of California and so far the only man to win a general election in the Union." The cameras switched over to the Premier, he leaned forward and waved, subtly caressing his red tie flat.
"To my right your left is a man we all know, Commander in Chief, General Reichenbacher. He's been fighting for us since day one, the man with an iron will." The screens flipped to show me. I gave a small nod, a brisk wave of my hand.
"For our first question tonight, What do you think matters most to our viewers? Premier Merida, why don't you start?" Jeffery ceded the floor to Merida.
"Thank you Jeff, I appreciate it. You know, our citizens have struggled hard, they've worked really hard to get us to where we are now, and I think the most pressing issue in front of them is job security, we have thousands of refugees being let in by the military daily, our system just can not keep up you know?"
"Right, could you elaborate on that Premier?" Jeffery asked.
"Sure, of course… You see, for every citizen in the Union, there's approximately five refugees seeking asylum! That's almost two million people that want to abuse our social welfare system…" I cocked an eyebrow and tilted my head at that.
"Mr Reichenbacher, please let the Premier finish…" Jeff interjected, I gestured for Merida to keep speaking.
"Thanks Jeff, as I was saying, we have over two million people in the Union asking for food assistance, and about sixty percent of them are in government paid housing. They don't pay for their homes, and if they are willing to work they'll work for next to nothing, it's just not fair, our citizens deserve better." Merida leaned back in his chair, a smug smile on his face.
"A wonderful answer Premier… Mr. Reichenbacher, what do you think matters most to our viewers?" Jeff turned to me, a fake smile on his face… so that's how this game is going to be played…
"Security."
"Security, like job security?" Jeff prodded.
"The weak and malnourished didn't drag themselves to checkpoints, the sick and infirm cast themselves at my soldiers boots begging for help hoping for a steady stream of meals, they wanted security. To be protected from the hell outside those walls. I gave them that."
"That's certainly a bold answer Mr. Reichenbacher, do you wish to rebuttal the Premier's response?" I shook my head slightly.
"Mr. Premier, do you wish to rebuttal Mr. Reichenbacher?"
"I would Jeff, thank you… Mr. Reichenbacher, I hardly think it is kind to say the sick and infirm have been… casting themselves at your soldiers boots, it's demeaning, there's no point in belittling our great citizens for emotional profit here…" I raised my mic but Jeff shushed me again.
"You're insulting our citizens, and they've worked so very hard for everything we've built. All the bullets and food they make to feed your tyrannical army."
"I wouldn't insult the military Premier, they don't like politicians insulting their fallen comrades." I spoke over Jeff trying to reign me in.
"Mr. Reichenbacher, please. Let us keep this a civil discussion, but onto our next topic. The military… Mr Premier."
"Thanks Jeff, look. It's an open secret at this point. But the military, particularly the army, is out of control. We have constant military patrols, whole battalions of police patrolling neighborhoods, it's ridiculous, our citizens deserve to feel safe, not oppressed."
"As General Secretary I will tamp down on this overly oppressive behavior. I will make your homes safe again."
"Fantastic Mr. Premier… Mr. Reichenbacher?"
"This is mostly bad planning on my end, mostly in Fyodor and San Dominguez where barracks and civilian housing are across the street from one another. If it is an issue, reach out to the garrison commander and his team. If they can't fix the issue my office is still in the TracPac in Firebase Fyodor. I will fix it." I stared into the camera as I said it, I slowly lowered the mic.
Jeff asked if I wanted a rebuttal, I refused. The premier naturally took his and looked like it was his god given right to rebuttal me.
"Everything the military does so far has been badly done, just look at San Francisco… The city was basically destroyed for nothing. There was no reason for that kind of destruction, we need civilian oversight of our out of control military. It's too much. If you vote Merida for General Secretary, I'll get our rampaging, bloodthirsty, out of control maniacs out of the military and cast out of our Union."
"Thank you Mr.Premier, well said. Let's move on to our next question. What is your plan for the Soviet Union? Mr. Reichenbacher, if you would?" I was a bit surprised by that change but Merida seemed unruffled, like he'd expected it.
"Due to a desire to protect my soldiers lives I can't openly declare what all my plans are, but I'll be blunt. I want to build a large, powerful nation that can protect its citizens wherever they are, whether they be here in Los Angeles, or across the world."
"Why can't you elaborate more on what your plans are? Afraid someone might see it?" Jeffery needled.
"OPSEC is very important Jeff, I think it's very indicative that our civilian government doesn't care about it and brazenly published its military goals for all to see. That costs lives. Soldiers who are not coming home." I put my mic down.
"A strong stance from Mr. Reichenbacher, what about you Mr. Premier?" Jeff pivoted.
"Sure thing Jeff, I want to focus on our economy. It's stratified behind a single pillar, war! No economy can last while it's supporting the destruction of the rest of the world. We need to focus on industries that create wealth instead of squandering our limited money on destroying the beautiful cities of California. In fact, I'd go so far as to say it is our moral duty, we have young children being born, what kind of parents would we be if we couldn't make a better world for our kids? So I want to focus on building a sustainable economy that can support our citizens." Hmm… a soft rebuttal in his own piece… slick…
Both of us turned down our rebuttals. I glanced at the clock, most of the hour had passed, probably another question or two. "Here's a question from our viewers, what do you plan to do with the increasing numbers of refugees flooding the Union? Mr. Premier?"
"Thanks Jeff, I'll be frank with you. We have a lot of refugees, I checked this morning and I think the number is around seven million. That's a lot of people Jeff, and our welfare system just can't handle it. We are already stretched to our limits trying to support all of them, it just can't be done. I'd make the army stop accepting new refugees, it's just not sustainable anymore.
"A very good point Mr. Premier. Mr Reichenbacher, what would you do with the refugees?"
"Same thing I have been, setting them up with a place to live, getting their papers in order and sent off to the department of records. I'd figure out what bureaucratic nonsense is keeping our almost twelve million refugees from becoming citizens and get that sorted so they can find meaningful employment."
"Alright, that's all we have time for tonight everyone. Thank you for tuning in to channel one news, now back to… the news."