Conspiring to Destroy America

                  By Stephen Cafaro

                 Synopsis

The book opens in the late 1970’s when 2 Harvard College room mates are confronted with a fight for their life in Boston’s notorious Combat Zone. The plot develops with the assassination of Joe Robbins, a business mogul in Boca Raton, Florida. His son, Todd Robbins, swears revenge upon the bankers who ordered the execution. Todd is well educated and street smart with access to many wealthy and powerful businessmen. Soon, he comes to realize that the reason for his father’s death goes far beyond the actual killers to a malady that infects the basic economic structure of the country. Todd becomes obsessed with a plan to destroy the American economy by using the negative aspects of a system grounded in greed, arrogance and dollars. He enlists Chou Bing, a devoted Chinese friend, to assist him. Together, they embark on a thirty year crusade to obliterate capitalism.

The carefully choreographed plan is designed to take advantage of a rapacious, self serving mentality that permeates American government and big business. Over time, Todd Robbins and Chou Bing partner with some of the third world aggrieved countries who have been victimized by American policy. These nations have suffered as a result of military wars, economic transgressions and covert political actions, and they all have an axe to grind with the American oppressor. Silently and submissively, the consortium accumulates the profits and dollars which enable them to buy the commodities and resources which will be used to counter the arrogant and condescending American giant. By 2008, the groundwork has been carefully prepared. America is now vulnerable and is positioned to be economically devastated without a war being fought or a shot being fired.     

In 1984, a furloughed steel worker, David Paine, finds himself without a job, a pension or any strong prospects for the future. After 20 years on a job he thought to be his career, he is laid off as his company seeks to move to a more profitable part of the country. David is incensed by the betrayal, and turns to political activism to channel his outrage.   He becomes consumed with the growing list of financial inequities and dedicates himself to economic solutions. Over the years, he becomes increasingly frustrated by his inability to bring about meaningful change. He comes to think that the Democrats and Republicans have melded into one giant special interest group, and that they failed to represent the needs of common Americans. By 1988, he is leading an effort to elect an independent presidential candidate. Once again, he becomes discouraged as he comes to realize that his special candidate is just another product of a discriminatory system whose only concern is money, wealth and power. Dissatisfied, he turns away from political work. A prolonged hiatus ends in 2006 when he feels obligated to confront the political system again. This time, he will try a different approach and he will attempt to engage Americans on the issues. He starts a grass roots effort at a local library speaking before 20 concerned citizens.  Before long, he forms Wake Up America with the assistance of a wealthy patriotic supporter.  His timely message energizes tens of millions of followers. Ultimately, a 700,000 person group marches on Washington DC in an effort to change the motivations of elected officials. The populist group is close to a successful conclusion when David Paine is assassinated. The government, under a pretense of terrorist infiltration, orders the dissolution of the group.  This covert action will effectively eliminate any further resistance from the American people, and will deny America a final reprieve from her self imposed death sentence.  

The characters debate and analyze many of the self destructive tendencies evident in today’s society. Some of the issues include the export of American industries, the import of millions of illegal immigrants, the demise of living wage jobs, the pilferage of pension funds, questionable free trade agreements, the over production of dollars, the failure of labor unions,  and the financial manipulation of various major markets. The common denominator in all these concerns is the ever present need for greater profits. All must be prepared to be sacrificed on the altar of capitalism in order to sustain the new level of greed. Corporate leaders, wealthy elitists and government officials are the antagonists who proclaim the virtues of existing policies. Working stiff Americans and small businessmen represent the protagonists who financially suffer while waiting for the promised benefits of trickle down economics to arrive at their doorsteps. However, even those dispossessed or unable to participate have difficulty revolting against the stifling system. Unemployment, social security and social assistance programs have effectively quelled the whispering spirit of rebellion.

The dialogue intensifies as the crumbs falling from the elitist tables become fewer even as the privileged few enjoy a lavish banquet. Lower wages, reduced health care, disappearing pensions and a reduced standard of living become the mantra of the American worker, while record profits, enormous salary packages, guaranteed retirements and ever increasing wealth reward the corporate and government leaders. The rich have gotten richer at the expense of the poor and the middle class. These factors all work toward the inevitable conclusion. Unchecked capitalism alienates and demoralizes the American people while eroding the economy of the United States. The revolt is slow to develop due to the general apathy of the people, but it does happen when the mass media messages of David Paine finally awakens the masses.   

A group of disgruntled countries, led by China and Russia, join the Robbins master plan to destroy America. They will use the tools of capitalism as their only weapons in this endeavor. Over time, the syndicate gains control of many of the worlds critical resources. They accumulate gold, silver, oil, coal, essential minerals, strategic commodities and most important, dollars. These countries have used the dollar profits of a liberal American trade policy to make the purchases. Adding insult to injury, they have bought up close to 45 percent of the national debt of the United States. They will use this special holding to begin the financial onslaught.  They plan a new monetary unit, backed by gold, which will replace the declining dollar as the reserve currency of the world.