Lethal Trajectories - Michael Conley [158]
The unshakable belief in technology as the panacea for conquering all challenges faltered in the face of the immutable laws of supply and demand. Even Mother Nature joined the fury by producing the worst winter in recorded history. For good reason, historians would later draw on McCarty’s challenge and dub the period from October 2017 through March 2018 the Winter of the Perfect Storm.
Like everything else, the American political scene was in chaos. In an off-year election, the few incumbents forced to run for office were thrown out. President McCarty’s vice presidential nomination of Elizabeth Cartright was finally approved in early December, after a stubborn challenge from Senator Collingsworth and his allies. Congressional approval was also given for the newly formed Department of Energy, Transportation, and Climate-change headed up by Secretary Peter Canton.
Wellington Crane and Senator Tom Collingsworth initiated their road shows shortly after President McCarty’s October address to Congress. With the so-called McCarty Manifesto clearly in their sights, they launched their Taking Back America campaign with phenomenal success. In each of the first five cities holding rallies, they drew overflow crowds. Crane was tireless in his attacks on McCarty and his attempts to take away American liberties by rationing gasoline. “Big government run amok” became his mantra, and he seemed unstoppable.
As the perfect storm worsened, his audience started to change. Even die-hard followers grew leery of complaints and demands for quick fixes without potential solutions to back them up. When pressed, neither Wellington Crane nor Tom Collingsworth had any ideas to alleviate the crisis. Like the proverbial emperor without clothes, they were found to be long on bluster but light on solutions, and with it their appeal began to wane. By Christmas, they were forced to discontinue their road shows because of embarrassingly poor turnouts.
Never one to miss a beat, Wellington Crane declared victory and announced the closing of his road show as part of his patriotic effort to save fuel and reduce hardships for followers unable to attend for financial reasons. As a sop, he agreed to half an hour per day of increased airtime (and advertising revenues) to ensure that all Americans had access to his wisdom and experience.
The good people of Mankato’s Life Challenges Co-op fared better than most. They learned something about themselves and their ability to survive by working together. While facing grave challenges, they always managed to keep food on their tables and roofs over their heads, heat for their homes, and transportation to and from work for those still fortunate enough to have jobs. Pastor Veronica was gratified by the results and pleased to see a marked increase in church attendance.
Hundreds of similar grassroots organizations formed throughout the country, rekindling a long-lost spirit of self-reliance. People recognized that the government was overwhelmed and help would have to come from their own personal efforts—either as individuals or in collectives like Veronica’s co-op.
The McCarty administration gained traction and support as the crisis worsened. Realizing that McCarty was not to blame for the unpleasant steps needed to treat the disease, the American people began to appreciate his clear communication and to believe in his no-nonsense approach. He was there on the front lines, accessible to the media. And, as Americans so often do in a crisis, they rallied around their president.
The omnibus energy and climate-change program McCarty proposed to Congress