The Return of Elliott Eastman Read Free

every level. I think it is safe to say our nation is in dire straights. It is not better off than it was when we left Afghanistan those many years ago. The economy is on the ropes, we’re hemorrhaging jobs, the number of families falling below the poverty level has been increasing for years, and urban slums are cropping up everywhere. Money has a death grip on the government. It’s obvious our beloved nation is headed in the wrong direction and has been for a long time; yet our corporate leaders grow ever wealthier with each passing day.”
    Again Elliott paused. “James,” he said turning to a heavy set man with deep brown eyes and a neatly trimmed beard, “I know you had some issues with your son being unable to find work and resorting to petty theft. I helped you get him released after one year of incarceration when he was facing fifteen years in prison for stealing a bicycle under the three strikes law.
    “Nine years ago I helped you Rick, when your daughter graduated from college with $60,000 in student loans at 19% interest. She was unable to find work, falling behind in payments and the interest rates and penalties were eating her alive. She was contemplating suicide as I recall, and you were very scared.”
    “Sallie Mae, the bastards had her trapped in debt before she even had a chance to start her life,” Rick Wheeler replied through gritted teeth. “They had no qualms about ruining her life.”
    The other men in the room could feel the rage seething within Rick, the former sharp shooter.
    “I could go on, but I think it’s plain to all of us that the system is broken.”
    Elliott knew he might lose some of the men with what he was about to say, but he would test their mettle and go with the plan he was about to outline regardless.
    “Look around you gentlemen. Life has been good, more than I’ve deserved really, but it is time for me to give back. So I ask you, how do we make a change in the direction our once great nation has taken? Do we write letters to our representatives? Do you believe that will change anything? The answer is, ‘No.’ I’m sure many of you will remember sitting around the campfires in Iraq lamenting our lack of Kevlar vests, flak jackets, or at least heavier armor for our Humvees. We all saw friends die over there for want of a few inexpensive items the government simply couldn’t procure. We didn’t understand it at the time. There were times when our anger was immense, and we hoped one of our beloved representatives would ride along with us just once.”
    “Here, here,” Eddie growled, and a murmur of agreement rolled through the room. Many of the men were recalling those memories of bewilderment and anger at the lack of concern for their well being by those in power.
    “We spoke those many years ago about an Operation Anvil; A way to bring about change in a swift and meaningful way. As I recall it was Eddie who said, ‘we need a way to awaken the powers that be that simply could not be ignored, like dropping an anvil on their toes.’
    “I can tell you from first hand experience that we are never going to change the way Congress works by going through the usual channels. They are awash in corporate money up there, both Democrats and Republicans. They are not going to reform themselves, and the public has no chance of reforming them. They aren’t removable en mass as that would require a revolution, and you know me better than to think I would even remotely consider such a course of action. So how do we go about making change in this country, change of the magnitude we need, playing by the rules? The answer is we can’t. I think it might be time to use a little friendly persuasion on our esteemed legislators.”
    The men all laughed and some huzzahs rang through the assembly. They all knew when the Master Sergeant suggested a little ‘friendly persuasion’ he usually was about to start kicking butt.
    “I’m going to lay some ideas on the table, some goals if you