the same time. Supposedly it's going to air in several cities, I guess in about an hour."
"Oh, you ass! Why didn't you tell us?" replied Stacy.
"Because now he's going to have to listen to it," Taylor answered with a smirk.
The next hour went by way too quickly for Mike. He tried laying in bed, hoping to fall asleep early, before a broadcast of his voice was going to be turned on. That didn't work out for him like he wanted.
The time came, and they all huddled around the radio. All but Mike, who chose to stay in bed.
"Thomas Paine Radio," Mike heard his voice fill the house, even though he wasn't talking. Taylor had grabbed a second radio to continue scanning channels while they listened to the first channel they found. NANN was the only broadcast she could find that wasn't playing his latest recording.
"I am encouraged to hear, from both the state-run NANN media, and independent broadcasters alike, that much of the violence has subsided. Willingness to fight for freedom is most honorable when actual fighting is reserved until other options exist no more. I am seeing residents and guardsmen, the oppressed and the oppressors, talking and sharing meals together. While the reward of having great character may seem to posses little value in trying times, it is that character that will be what delivers you out of hardships.
“During this time of calm, put in the effort to think. Think about what it is you seek. What is it you were willing kill for just last month? Freedom? The all American catch-phrase. Does this word, 'freedom,' even have any meaning left to us. Have we honestly considered just what freedom really is? I know that I firmly believed, back when I wore a uniform in military service, that I was there serving the higher purpose of freedom. And it was a difficult turning point in life when I realized that if anything, I was doing the very opposite. Did you have freedom before the crash? Did you have liberty before the death of the dollar?
“Here are some thoughts to consider, and remember that these applied as much to your local and state governments as to the federal:
“You had the freedom to travel, as long as you passed TSA screening, or received permission to drive a government-approved vehicle, and paid the government a tax on whichever mode of transportation you selected.
“You had the freedom to get married, and divorced, as long as you got permission from the government in the form of a license.
“You had the freedom to build and/or modify your own home on your own land, as long as you got permission from the government before, during and after the project, and paid them an annual tax to prevent them from confiscating it.
“You had the freedom to work, as long as you weren't willing to work for less than a government-approved wage, and gave the government part of your earnings.
“You had a limited freedom to buy what you want, as long as you paid the government a percentage of what you were spending.
“You had the freedom to communicate privately, as long as it wasn't by the phone, mail or internet.
“You had the freedom to consume whatever you wanted into your body, as long as you choose something the government approved of.
“You had the freedom to arm and defend yourself, except against the government.
“You had the freedom to start your own business, as long as you got a government license, and in most cases, served as a government tax collector.
“You had the freedom to say whatever you want, as long as the government didn't perceive it as a threat, or you weren't exposing wrongdoing by the government.
“You had the freedom to practice your religious beliefs as you wished, as long as it wasn't on government property or during a government sanctioned event, or contrary to government-approved moral standards.
“Was this real freedom that you enjoyed before the crash? Or did you really live under a
"Oh, you ass! Why didn't you tell us?" replied Stacy.
"Because now he's going to have to listen to it," Taylor answered with a smirk.
The next hour went by way too quickly for Mike. He tried laying in bed, hoping to fall asleep early, before a broadcast of his voice was going to be turned on. That didn't work out for him like he wanted.
The time came, and they all huddled around the radio. All but Mike, who chose to stay in bed.
"Thomas Paine Radio," Mike heard his voice fill the house, even though he wasn't talking. Taylor had grabbed a second radio to continue scanning channels while they listened to the first channel they found. NANN was the only broadcast she could find that wasn't playing his latest recording.
"I am encouraged to hear, from both the state-run NANN media, and independent broadcasters alike, that much of the violence has subsided. Willingness to fight for freedom is most honorable when actual fighting is reserved until other options exist no more. I am seeing residents and guardsmen, the oppressed and the oppressors, talking and sharing meals together. While the reward of having great character may seem to posses little value in trying times, it is that character that will be what delivers you out of hardships.
“During this time of calm, put in the effort to think. Think about what it is you seek. What is it you were willing kill for just last month? Freedom? The all American catch-phrase. Does this word, 'freedom,' even have any meaning left to us. Have we honestly considered just what freedom really is? I know that I firmly believed, back when I wore a uniform in military service, that I was there serving the higher purpose of freedom. And it was a difficult turning point in life when I realized that if anything, I was doing the very opposite. Did you have freedom before the crash? Did you have liberty before the death of the dollar?
“Here are some thoughts to consider, and remember that these applied as much to your local and state governments as to the federal:
“You had the freedom to travel, as long as you passed TSA screening, or received permission to drive a government-approved vehicle, and paid the government a tax on whichever mode of transportation you selected.
“You had the freedom to get married, and divorced, as long as you got permission from the government in the form of a license.
“You had the freedom to build and/or modify your own home on your own land, as long as you got permission from the government before, during and after the project, and paid them an annual tax to prevent them from confiscating it.
“You had the freedom to work, as long as you weren't willing to work for less than a government-approved wage, and gave the government part of your earnings.
“You had a limited freedom to buy what you want, as long as you paid the government a percentage of what you were spending.
“You had the freedom to communicate privately, as long as it wasn't by the phone, mail or internet.
“You had the freedom to consume whatever you wanted into your body, as long as you choose something the government approved of.
“You had the freedom to arm and defend yourself, except against the government.
“You had the freedom to start your own business, as long as you got a government license, and in most cases, served as a government tax collector.
“You had the freedom to say whatever you want, as long as the government didn't perceive it as a threat, or you weren't exposing wrongdoing by the government.
“You had the freedom to practice your religious beliefs as you wished, as long as it wasn't on government property or during a government sanctioned event, or contrary to government-approved moral standards.
“Was this real freedom that you enjoyed before the crash? Or did you really live under a
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