[Outside an Elementary School, a reporter prepares for a live feed on the local television station.]
“Good morning. This is Chip Mason, reporting to you live outside Trump Elementary School For Language and Arts, here in Calhoun, Georgia. This morning I have the unique opportunity to attend an actual class of Fourth Graders who are learning about the history of our great country. Whoa! I hear the bell. Let’s go in!”
[The reporter, with camera crew in tow, enters the building. They are greeted by the Principle, Walter Thoroughgood, as they enter the building.]
“Principle Thorough…”
“No, no, no. Please, call me Mr. T. We have a very relaxed atmosphere here and that is how I am known to all my students and their parents.”
“Thank you, ah….Mr. T. So, tell me. What makes your school so special?”
“Well, our students come for diverse backgrounds. Our curriculum is exacting, intended to separate students into separate tracks of academic curricula that reflect their potentialities and prepare them for occupations best suited to their talents and attitude. Today, we will be visiting a fourth-grade class. Fourth grade is important. It is what we call a “transition grade,” the grade that will determine the specific educational track each student will take through middle school, high school, vocational school, military school, or college.”
“Wow. That does seem challenging.”
“Yes. But it is the best approach we have to ensure that each and every student is valued for the contributions they are projected to make to society. We have outside funding and apply it appropriately to the different educational and training paths our students take. As such, the most basic areas of learning for those with the least potential have resources to ensure basic literacy and computation skills. Those with the most potential have state of the art electronic equipment, robotic training modules, and AI-based research aids.”
“Where does the money come from?”
“We have a generous endowment from an anonymous donor. All I know is that he is involved in car manufacturing and space exploration. Now, shall we visit the classroom? They are expecting us.”
[The group walks down the hall to a classroom. The door is closed, with the nameplate of the teacher, Mrs. Penelope Pithington, attached to the door. The principle opens the door and greets the class.]
“Good morning, Mrs. P, and good morning students. Today, we have special guests from CAN, the Citizen Awareness Network. They are here today to record your history class. I believe the segment will air this evening as part of the 7 PM news program. So, be alert and don’t be shy. We want everyone to know how smart you all are. Please welcome our guests!”
[The students were all sitting upright at their tables. In unison, they all chimed out, “Good Morning Guests!” There were four rows of tables, with five students sitting in each row. The teacher raised both her hands. The students stood up and recited the Pledge of Allegiance.]
“We pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the Republicans and Donald Trump, who taught us all, the value of our inheritance, as a Christian nation, glorified by God, indivisible, vigilant, obedient, and loyal to the vision of our founders, with liberty, property, and prosperity for all, and retribution for all those who seek to despoil our heritage, our history, and the promise of our future.”
[Mrs. P signaled for the class to be seated. She turned to the interactive white-board and began her lesson.]
“Today we will be learning about the Civil War, how it started, and what the outcomes were of this terrible confrontation that divided the nation. Before we start, can anyone tell me what caused the nation to turn on itself, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Americans?”
[A number of hands went up in the first two rows, and one girl from the back row raised here hand. She was recognized by the teacher.]
“Yes, Annie.”
“The Civil War was about slavery. The North wanted to stop it. The Southern States wanted to keep it.”
“Thank you, Annie. But that is not correct. The Civil War was about States’ Rights. Our Constitution was designed as a compact among the thirteen states, which were former colonies of the British Empire. That compact recognized slavery as necessary, not only for the owners, but also for the slaves. Remember, the slaves came from Africa. They were not Christians, did not speak English, and were not accustomed to civilized living. Even though we no longer have slavery, that period of our history was important because it provided time for those of African descent to learn our customs and become part of our nation. Do you understand, Annie?”
“Yes. Mrs. P”
“Okay class. Can you tell me why Abraham Lincoln is considered a great president?
[Again, mostly from the first two rows, hands went up. A boy from the second row was called on.]
“Yes, Tommie.”
“Abraham Lincoln’s goal in the Civil War was to free the slaves, believing they were equal to White people and deserved the same rights.”
“Thank you, Tommie, but that is not correct. Lincoln was a great President because he fought to keep us together as a nation. He is even quoted as saying that if he could have kept the nation together while slavery continued, he would have done it. He also did not believe that Blacks and Whites could live in harmony and tried to convince Black leaders, mostly ministers, to convince freed slaves to relocate to Central America or back to Africa.”
[Tommie could not help himself, raising his hand and calling out at the same time.]
“But, Mrs. P, didn’t he free all the slaves?”
“Well, Tommie, it is important to understand the context. You are probably referring to the Emancipation Proclamation. With this proclamation, Lincoln did not free all the slaves – only those in states at war with the North. It was a military tactic designed to get slaves to abandon the plantations and join the Union Army. Lord Dunmore, who commanded British troops in Virginia during the American Revolution used the same tactic intended to help the British win that war. Do you now understand why it is important to understand all the background to historical events and not just interpret what seems obvious, Tommie?”
“Yes, Mrs. P.”
“Okay, let me ask you one more question. Who won the Civil War?”
[Many hands went up. Mrs. P. called on Justin, a boy from the front row.]
“The South won the war!”
“Thank you, Justin. In a way you are correct, and in another way you are not. Let me explain. From a military perspective, the South was eventually defeated and surrendered. However, it is important to look deeper into what happened in the post-war period. Towards the end of the war, thousands of acres of land were given to ex-slaves. Realizing that was a mistake, President Johnson rescinded that order and returned the land to their legitimate owners. He did it to provide ex-slaves with the time necessary to become engaged and capable citizens. The war was followed by a period known as Reconstruction, when ex-slaves were treated equally with Whites. But by 1876, the leaders of our country realized that citizenship was not something that can just be given to people. Carpetbaggers from the North and Scalawags took over local governments and nearly destroyed the civilized way of life in the South. Newly freed people had to earn the right to become fully recognized citizens. So, the Southern states that made up the Confederacy won back their rights of self-determination. Slavery was ended, and ex-slaves were provided with the opportunity to prove they should be treated as equal citizens.
“Let me end with a summary of the principles underlying our nation’s founding and how those principles continue to this day. The story of the United States is a story of equal opportunity. But recognizing we are not all equally endowed with God-given talent, we have systems in place that permit people to find their appropriate roles within society and gain respect for whatever station they attain. This is what is referred to as meritocracy, meaning that our talents, skills, attitudes, ambition and intelligence define how well we do in whatever task we are assigned. And we do not discriminate. And we do not force inclusion and diversity, as these are forms of indoctrination and reverse discrimination. As Martin Luther King Jr. asked us all to do, we have become a colorblind society. We do not see color, we see people and all people, all citizens, have an equal opportunity to prove their worth.
“Thank you, class. Now please turn to the next chapter and begin reading, while I meet briefly with our guests.”
[Mrs. P and Mr. T escorted Chip and his crew to a rotunda area connecting the hallways used by the different grades. Mr. T started the conversation, still being recorded.]
“That was great, Mrs. P. Mr. Mason, do you have questions?”
“Yes, Mr. T. I noticed that the more engaged students were in the first two rows. For the most part, the last two rows of students were attentive, but they seemed comfortable just sitting there, listening. Is there a method to how students are seated in the classroom?”
“Absolutely. As I mentioned previously, students in the Fourth Grade are in transition. The seating arrangement is intended to prepare them for the tracks they will be following next year. The further back they sit, the less demanding will be their educational regimen.”
“Yes, but Mr. T., is there still opportunity for advancement?”
“Well, yes. You noticed that Annie sat towards the back, but had the initiative to answer a question. She got it wrong, but that is part of education. Mrs. P will be watching her to see how she applies her corrective understanding of history going forward. Isn’t that correct, Mrs. P?
“Yes, and if she does, there is an opportunity to advance closer to the front of the room. Perhaps, Tommie will fail to appreciate the nuances of history he learned today and will continue to argue contrary to what we are teaching. Perhaps, Annie will take his spot. So, yes, there is opportunity for advancement.”
“I see, but there is also opportunity for going backwards in the hierarchy you have set up. Mr. T, does it always mean that if one advances, another must regress? It seems like it turns education into a zero-sum game.
“Well, let me ask you a question. Isn’t that how life itself functions in the real world?”
“I see your point. Thank you.”
[The news crew follows Mr. T to the exit and Chip sets up outside the school for a recap.]
“Well, there you have it, folks – your hard-earned tax dollars being used to train our future generation of leaders, service workers, and loyal citizens. For CAN News, this is Chip Mason signing of.”
[Meanwhile, further east in Philadelphia…]
“Good day students. I am Eric Johnson, Dean of Wharton School. Today, it is my distinct honor and pleasure to introduce our guest lecturer, no stranger to any of us. He is one of the original authors of Project 2025, long-time public servant and the North Star of our continued development as a nation…”
[Before the Dean was able to even name the speaker, the audience gave a standing ovation.]
“Good morning to you all. Please be seated. I will make one correction to the Dean’s opening remarks, which were beyond gracious and for which I am eternally grateful. It is my distinct honor and pleasure to be here to speak to such a distinguished and accomplished group of students. You, each one of you, represents the future of our nation. You, are the elite. You, are the conservators and protagonists of our nation. You, are the chosen ones. And because I believe this so deeply, I want to reinforce why you are here, how you came to be here, so you know what is expected of you once you enter the workforce.
“The Dean was kind enough not to bore you with my entire resume, which is likely much older than most of your parents. But he did mention Project 2025, a pivotal policy document right up there with the Powell Memo, the Tri-Lateral Commission, and the Welfare Realignment and Personal Empowerment Commission of 2028. So, let’s go back to 2025 for perspective and instruction, a pivotal time that would determine whether our country would honor its founding principles of life, liberty and property, of ensuring that only the most qualified among us would govern our affairs, or whether so-called DEI – diversity, equity and inclusion – would turn our meritocracy into a socialist wasteland.
“The half century prior to 2025 represented an era of capitalist correction. By the 1970s, we were a nation in decline. Private unions, led by corrupt leaders, were destroying productivity, working less and making more, such that investors were plagued with uncertainty, and the entire economy was threatened with collapse. Starting with Ronald Reagan, this destructive death-slide was reversed. And for the following half century business was restored to its place of prominence, incentives were re-introduced into the labor market, productivity rose, and the proper balance of entrepreneur/worker compensation was restored, and appropriately enhanced.
“As a result, money that was removed from investors and business was restored to its proper place. In the process, about $50 trillion went from the bottom 90% of the population (“the takers”) to the top 1% of innovators and game-changers. By 2025, the top 1% of the population owned nearly 1/3 of the nation’s wealth, while the top 10% owned 2/3. However, in a democracy, such as it was, this caused a problem. Inequality reached heights that threatened to infect our politics and result in a newly reinstated wealth-theft transfer from the rich to the undeserving poor and working class. We needed to take drastic action. This was part of the rationale behind Project 2025.
“So what needed to be done?
“We had a limited number of choices. One was to let the cycle play out and find ourselves once again at the mercy of those with a limited or non-existent understanding of wealth creation and maintenance, the necessary ingredients for a prosperous economy and the preservation of empire. We chose to be proactive and fight to keep our country on the right track.
“We needed a leader who saw personal gain as paramount and association with other rich and famous people as validation of his relevance. We got that with the second election of Donald Trump. We needed a Congress that would rubber stamp, or fail to intercede in, any and all executive actions. We got that in 2025 as well. We needed a Supreme Court that was either corrupt or ideologically committed to the unitary executive theory. We got both with the Supreme Court, culminating in a 6-3 majority conservative court when Trump came to office for his second term. We needed a media-sphere of competing ideology, where facts not favorable to us were subordinate to propaganda. We got that with Fox News and OAN. We needed Americans feeling vulnerable and insecure; we needed citizens who felt politically disenfranchised; we needed consumers who were burdened with debt and felt economically insecure and marginalized. We accomplished that. We succeeded in the adoption of a generalized cultural perception that we exist in a zero sum system, and whatever one wants, it’s not only not available because of “others,” but the only way to get it is to take it away from the immigrants who take our jobs, freeload on taxpayer-funded government services, commit most of our crimes, and are only here to enrich themselves and leave and, if they stayed, would never become “true” Americans. The actual truth is irrelevant. People will believe what we need them to believe, so we can save our country. With these pieces in place, we were in a position to start making changes.
“What did we do? We looked to past models of control. What worked and why. At any given point in time, the economic pie is only so big. So as long as immigration was generating economic growth, it was inevitable that demands eventually would be made to distribute the pie more evenly. AND NOTE, I did not say equitably because, given the exigencies of modern living and our collective survival in an increasingly desperate and dangerous world, the equities necessarily balance in our favor and in favor of current economic arrangements. So, if the pie is to continue to grow and to our benefit, and if AI is going to replace many, particularly entry level, jobs, we had to make some radical changes to the then current and projected workforce. It had to be reduced, and we needed to engender and maintain tensions among different groups.
“First off, we halted immigration and deported any and all the unwanted and culturally-resistant minority foreigners we could. This accomplished a number of our priorities. It reduced the workforce and opened up jobs. And I know and heard often enough – “These are the jobs Americans do not want and will not fill.” WRONG! The next thing we did was to criminalize poverty. For anybody receiving any form of government support, whether SNAP, or Welfare, or Medicaid, Disability, Unemployment, Homeless Benefits, Subsidized Rental Assistance, Social Security (if you were younger than 80), or other form of public assistance, we made it a requirement that beneficiaries work for their benefits, filling the jobs previously held by immigrants. If they refused to work, that would constitute the commission of a crime, punishable with imprisonment, and the requirement to work while in prison.
That leaves the race issue, which is important. History has shown that if people from different races or ethnic backgrounds find common cause, it is only a matter of time before their frustration turns to anger and their common anger turns to revolting violently against those in charge. Because of this basic human tendency, we needed to learn from our history, learn from events such as Bacon’s Rebellion. Given the wealth gap, and given that responsibility for demanding job requirements in return for benefits was delegated to the states, most of those engaged in this encouraged form of voluntary labor were Black, and the civil servants overseeing the system were mostly White. And what we could not accomplish through wealth disparity and State-initiated discriminatory selection, we supplemented with federal anti-DEI initiatives, which of course continue to this day.
“Now, I can see in this auditorium there are — it is hard to see with these lights in my face – one or two African Americans in the audience. I want to assure you I intended no insult to you. Do not be concerned. You are here. You have made it. And since your being here suggests you know the deal, that this is just the way it is, be comforted. Even though you will never identify as White, you are the best of the worst, and as long as you play the game and continue to identify with White, you will be successful – even perhaps more successful than those sitting around you. You are more important to our success than you know.
“Finally, I need to say a bit about AI. The system is rigged, and in our favor. We control all the apps that distract the masses, continually feed their paranoia, and allow us to monitor all non-conforming activities. Since federalizing elections, and since the second Trump term when the giants of tech became full-fledged partners of the federal government, we have not lost an election, nor will we ever. So, to all you Captains of Cooptation I say to you, WELCOME! The future is bright and each one of you has a chance to become a meaningful part of it.
“I wish I had time to answer questions, but I have a plane to catch. But feel free to set up or invite me to participate in a university-sponsored chatbot, share your questions, and I will get back to each of you as quickly as I am able.
[Part II, perhaps, in the future.]