Capitalism's Final Solution

By Larry Wohlgemuth

Laura Johnson had it all. A husband who loved and adored her, a beautiful child, and a fantastic job, but that wasn't enough for her. She wanted more, she needed more, and she was out to get it.

Some people have what it takes to do anything for money, and Laura Johnson believed herself to be one of them. As a result, she stood on the cusp of riches beyond her wildest dreams. In a system that's rigged and a game that was fixed, her path to riches lie before her free of any other than self-imposed obstacles. Believing there was nothing she wouldn't do to reach her goals, she imagined she would soon take her place among the capitalist elite.

Laura headed a project at Covenant Health Insurance that would make them billions, and her millions. All she had to do was sell this "investment opportunity" to some of the nation's wealthiest people, and she succeeded spectacularly. There was a $50 million bonus, a billion-dollar stock option, and an Executive Vice President's position with her name on it.

Unfortunately for Laura, she had two problems. First, she didn't understand all the complexities and entirety of the game, and second, she hadn't yet been stripped of her last shred of humanity. These two details would lead her on an odyssey, the likes of which she never could have imagined.

Alerted about dangers to her mother who is confined in her project, The Colonies, Laura makes a series of inquiries around Covenant. It sends up red flags among her "friends," and they decide she's become inconvenient. They attempt to eliminate her. It begins a journey intended to lead her to physical safety, but what she finds is far more important. Forced to hide underground in a vile place known as Slugtown, she meets several people who share her experience.

Their stories are similar to hers, and all have paid an incredible price for their greed. Laura watches and learns as they explain what their "profits at any cost" attitudes wrought on their lives, and how they've learned to adapt and survive despite the most heartbreaking of personal losses. As she regains her soul, she is shocked at the level of inhumanity demonstrated by her capitalist cohorts at Covenant, and she decides it's time for payback.

This leads her on a quest to make amends for all of her wrongs, and it takes her back to the man she loves more than anything else. However, there are two questions that torment her every step of the way. "Am I too late, and too late for whom?"

• Language: English
• Publisher: Larry Wohlgemuth
• Release date: Jan 16, 2012
• ISBN: 9781465837318

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Capitalism's Final Solution

by Larry Wohlgemuth

Copyright © 2010 by Larry M. Wohlgemuth

All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.

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~ Dedication ~

Dedicated to my beautiful wife Peggy. You never wavered in your belief of me. You gave me strength when I was filled with doubt. I love you, babe.

Introduction

If Jesus ever comes back, these crazy greedy capitalistic men are gonna kill him again.

― Mike Tyson

A new generation has been awakened to the consequences of greed. It's evidenced by the tens of thousands who've taken to the streets as part of the Occupy Wall Street movement. Greed permeates the discussion like at no time since the 1920s, however many see it as a good and honorable thing.

There's even an entire political party, the Libertarians, that's built around the teachings of Ayn Rand. Their mantra: Greed is Freedom. That is, freedom to do whatever they please to whomever they choose. It's becoming ever more difficult to raise children with values in the land of conspicuous consumption. The big question might be, where does it end, or does it?

Most health insurance companies used to be what are known as mutual companies; that is, they were owned by their subscribers. Any profit made was put back in the company to reduce premiums the following year. That's changed, and today most insurance companies are now what is known as stock companies. They've sold stock to investors who expect a return on investment.

So, unlike any other time in my life, insurance companies now do whatever they can to avoid their responsibility for paying subscribers' bills. They declare illnesses as pre-existing conditions, or they work to rescind policies claiming incomplete or inaccurate disclosure on the part of the policyholder. If you walk out of the doctor's office diagnosed with cancer, expect the first thing to happen is the insurance company will deny any treatment protocol proposed by your physician.

But the big question is, how far will these men and women go in order to make a profit?

Greed is not new. The problem is we have men and women who were willing to go to any lengths to attain high position. By their very nature, these are the people least likely to act with integrity when their profits are threatened. Consequently, millions of people in the United States every year have to fight their insurance companies to force them to perform on their contractual obligations.

In that regard, it's unlikely, sans regulation, that these men and women will be able to control their greed and do what is morally correct. Occasionally, however, someone like Laura Johnson comes along who is properly motivated, despite her own greed, to do what is right. The question is, does her transformation come too late to save herself and those around her?

When morality comes up against profit, it is seldom that profit loses.

― Shirley Chisholm

Chapter 1

Laura Johnson strode down the hall to her office, her heels creating an angry click, click, click on the marble floor. Emily knew she was steaming mad by the way she flung open the glass door into the reception area. In here now, she snapped as she stormed into her personal office. Emily grabbed a steno pad, but she knew what this was about and it wouldn't require any notes.

Why is Marguerite Lopez still in this building? Laura demanded. I told you I wanted her gone by last Friday. She misses more work than the rest of my department combined. Tell me why she's still here.

Emily drew a deep breath; she was 52 and needed her job. She spoke softly, I discussed the matter with Human Resources. Marguerite Lopez misses work to care for her husband who was badly burned in Iraq. He's already had three surgeries and will require several more. Even though her FMLA benefits are exhausted, HR believes it would open the door to a lawsuit, especially since she's a minority female. Plus it would be a public relations nightmare, and they're hesitant to move on it.

HR and ball-less Bill Thornton, Laura snorted. That's why he's not being considered for the Executive VP position. He couldn't find his testicles with a magnifying glass and tweezers.

Emily was totally disgusted. Laura's Christian sanctimony was legendary around Covenant, and she had even organized Bible studies in the cafeteria. However she judged people harshly, and sometimes she spoke like a drunken sailor. She knew that Bill's wife had cancer and was running up hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical bills, and he desperately needed his job and benefits. Emily believed that when Laura was promoted her first act would be to fire Bill and his huge medical liability, and justify in the name of profits for Covenant Health Insurance. As if she was reading Emily's mind she went on.

I'm valued here because I account for every penny. I run a tight ship, and I don't tolerate malingerers. That's why Marguerite Lopez must go, and it's why I'll get that promotion. Unlike the rest of you, I understand that we are a for-profit enterprise.

Emily struggled to keep her tone non-confrontational. I know you want your numbers to be the best in the company, so Bill and I discussed moving Marguerite to another department. That way you won't have to take the hit for it, and we can get someone in here full time to handle her duties. No more paying temps. It sounds like a good solution.

Laura looked disgusted, but after a few moments she relented. Frankly, I don't have time for this. Tell Bill Thornton to make it at the same or lower pay grade, or he will answer to me. And make no mistake, very soon he will be answering to me. That job is mine.

Emily stood and asked quietly, I'll do that. Is there anything else? It was work not to sound sarcastic.

No, that'll be all, Laura replied. Hold my calls for the rest of the morning. I have that presentation on 'The Colonies' at one, and I need to prepare. It had best be a disaster of biblical proportions if I'm interrupted.

Emily recalled past conversations with Bill Thornton. They had both worked at Covenant for 27 years and often spoke about the changes during that time. At 41, Laura was not alone in her brutal, retaliatory management style. The generation of managers coming behind Laura could charitably be called mercenaries, they were so aggressive.

The older VPs would joke about the Lord of the Flies attitudes of the young managers, and that they must be graduates of the Khmer Rouge University. It was too bad that those older VP's weren't around, because it was a much better place to work back then. Unfortunately they were victims of the terrorist biological attack in 2012, and they now lived in The Colonies, too. At least there was some value in Laura's work, keeping so many people alive, but it didn't justify her meanness. Anyhow, Emily just wanted to keep her job and collect the company pension she'd been promised, so she wouldn't be making waves.

Laura had spent months preparing this presentation for the Board of Directors and 100 major investors, and she wouldn't let this Marguerite Lopez nonsense affect her performance. A exemplary showing and the Executive VP job was hers, and nothing would get in her way. However, she allowed herself a moment of superiority before dismissing all thoughts about the issue. So much whining about poor Marguerite Lopez and her circumstance, yet Laura had been brutally raped her freshman year at college. By the power of God Almighty she had returned to class and excelled. She earned her Bachelor's degree in three years, and finished a two-year Master's program in 15 months, both with a 4.0 GPA. People should just quit whining and pull up their bootstraps.

Turning to her presentation, she reviewed her outline and verified that her PowerPoint presentation was on the network drive. Nothing could be left to chance. She went through each slide and verified every statistic until she knew it was perfect. She locked her computer and left the office, saying nothing to Emily, and headed to the corporate auditorium.

Hank, if this doesn't run perfectly heads will roll, and yours will be first. You got that? Laura barked at the IT manager as she walked into the auditorium.

Hank rolled his eyes but was all smiles as he turned around to greet her. Laura, you know I do only my best work for you. Everything will run like a charm. His position was safe because he had planted some incriminating e-mails in Cindy Peterson's sent box two years ago in retaliation for accusing Laura's boyfriend of sexual-harassment. They included nude photos of Cindy that Laura had provided, and Hank hadn't asked how she got them. He also posted the photos on the Internet, which cost Cindy her marriage. Even though he held some trash on Laura, he was a co-conspirator. If used, it would be in a scorched earth strategy; he would torch himself, too. Regardless, he knew it was a bad idea to alienate someone like Laura.

Laura, everything is the same, no changes, and it's all ready to go. Do you need anything else? he asked.

Just get your people out of here so I can have a few moments of quiet. And if anything goes wrong, so help me, I'll skin you alive!

Hank knew her threats weren't idle, and he excused himself.

She stood at the podium, visualizing the moment of her greatest triumph. She envisioned a flawless performance, swaying the opinions of the wealthiest men and women in the country. She saw herself taking her rightful place among the elite assembling there today, just as Pastor Ransom told them every Sunday in church, and she stood prepared for God's riches to be showered upon her. At 41 she would be the youngest Executive VP in Covenant history. It was her destiny.

The day's attendees were arriving and there was just enough time to go to the ladies room and preen. When she opened the restroom door, the three women inside chatting scattered like cockroaches. 'Only a few more weeks,' Laura thought, 'and I'll be on the 35th floor with the rest of the senior executives, never to rub elbows with the unwashed masses again.' Having the restroom all to herself she walked over to the mirrors and couldn't help but admire what she saw.

At 5'7", an athletic 125 pounds and a full C-cup she was favorably compared with Angelina Jolie, although she believed herself much prettier. Her perfectly styled, shoulder-length auburn hair offset her sparkling hazel eyes. Her makeup was flawless, and her wardrobe was chic. A beige silk blouse under a navy blue blazer and a gray A-line skirt, all that accented her form, custom tailored by Rosalind's of New York. It was highlighted by a pair of black, patent leather Prada pumps and a Gucci bag; a perfect ensemble for this crowd. Accented with a diamond crucifix necklace and a couple of dainty gold chain bracelets, she wondered if she was just too good to be true. 'Undoubtedly many of the men in attendance will be picturing me while they make love to their wives tonight,' she thought, smiling to herself. The outfit set her back $3,500, but if you wish to become one of the elites you have to look the part, she rationalized. Whether they were ready for her or not, she was going to make herself a permanent part of their existences.

She returned to the auditorium and took her seat in the front row, waiting to be introduced by Paul Fassett, President, CEO and son of Covenant Health Insurance founder Simon Fassett. Paul strode confidently to the podium to make the opening remarks.

"After the biological terrorist attack of December 21, 2012, Covenant sought and obtained a leadership role preserving and rebuilding this great nation. We funded private medical research to find a cure for the plague caused by the deadly bacteria. When that remedy disastrously compromised the immune systems of millions of Americans, Covenant again responded. We conceptualized and secured the private funding for our prototype in the Desert Southwest. We simultaneously cared for our loved ones and built a profitable business model, and today we are ready to advance to Phase II.

"Ten million Americans died, but we found a cure; unfortunately there was insufficient time to test the cure, and it compromised the immune systems of at least 50 million more. The pharmaceutical companies have developed several immune boosting drugs that allow people to live relatively normal lives, but after extended use of months or years they can quit working. It leaves people with marginally functioning immune systems, making them susceptible to simple, opportunistic infections; their bodies unable to fight illness. For those people we must do even more. Using all of our resources and ingenuity we have what we believe to be the solution; The Colonies.

Our prototype in the Arizona desert has proved wildly successful, both economically and from a human perspective. Five thousand immune deficient people currently live there. Our discussions with the federal government, both Social Security and Medicare, confirm they are on board. However we'll need capital, and that's where you come in. You have a ground floor opportunity, and we're here to explain it to you today. Without further ado allow me to introduce today's presenter and rising star here at Covenant, Laura Johnson.

Fassett motioned, and Laura stood up to polite applause which became much more enthusiastic once the audience got a good look at her. 'Fassett you sly bastard", he thought, 'if there's one thing certain about you it's that you know your audience. Put a gorgeous redhead with long legs and great tits in front of these horny sons of bitches and you just increased your take by over 50%'. He smiled as he took Laura's hand to help her up the steps, then returned to his seat. Laura smiled, thinking she was finally getting what she deserved.

Surveying the crowd she saw some of the wealthiest and most recognizable faces in America, all dressed in $5000 suits. She was finally getting a chance to demonstrate that these were her people. She pulled the remote to run the PowerPoint presentation out of her pocket and queued Hank to down the house lights, and the spotlight was on her; the moment had finally arrived. She would seize the day.

She brought up the first slide. "As you know America's privatized healthcare system responded heroically after the events of 12-21-12. Although 10 million people died, mostly those with serious immunodeficiency and other chronic diseases, millions more were saved through the efforts of America's healthcare industry. Pharmaceutical researchers found a cure for the plague with funding provided by private health insurance companies. Unfortunately there was insufficient time to thoroughly test it, and there were unforeseen complications. More than 50 million people had their immune systems reduced to 20% or less of normal functioning capacity, leaving them susceptible to opportunistic infections. Drugs that artificially stimulate the immune system have shown promise, but a real solution is decades away, so the only answer is to isolate these people away from exposure to communicable diseases; a Herculean task in today's healthcare environment. We at Covenant have found a solution, and we call it The Colonies.

"Currently there are 5000 people, including my mother and many former executives of this company, living in a prototype in the western Arizona Badlands. Far from civilization's epidemics they are living happy and healthy lives. We challenged ourselves to create an economical living circumstance for every American that was affected, and I was tasked with leading a contingent to make this endeavor feasible. I'm here to report we were wildly successful, and here are my findings.

"The Desert Southwest offers a natural absence of allergens and germs, the warm climate is beneficial to the elderly, and there is proximity to millions of cheap Mexican workers to build the facilities. It will be energy self-sufficient, with over 340 days of sunshine to provide ample solar power, and pipelines from the mountains will transport melting snow as a water supply. Finally, the area is secluded enough that accidental epidemics are unlikely, so the last critical issue to be addressed was building materials. We required an economical bacteriostatic product, and we found our answer in an unlikely plant; hemp.

"Hemp has natural anti-microbial properties, and its durability is legendary. When mashed, treated with colloidal silver and formed into studs, beams and panels it is virtually indestructible and anti-septic. World renowned infectious disease specialists attempted and were unable to culture any microbes in it. It's antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal, and it's virtually indestructible, and it can be manufactured for a fraction of cost of traditional building materials.

"Healthcare in The Colonies will be offered by primary care providers that were affected by the plague. Doctors, nurses and technicians will be moved to The Colonies to provide front line medical services. Consultation with specialists will be conducted via videoconferencing, and sterile emergency and surgical facilities staffed by specialists will be constructed 50 miles away. They will perform any medical procedures that cannot be done at The Colonies. These providers affected by the plague are eager to resume their life's work, and The Colonies will provide them that opportunity.

Laura felt the energy in the room as she reached the dénouement of her presentation. The most exciting part of it is that, pursuing a humanitarian ends, Covenant has created a lucrative investment opportunity. We've negotiated a contract with the government to build a series of Colonies for the millions of Americans in whom the immune boosting drugs will stop working. It will be signed within 30 days, and lest there be concern, expect no last-minute glitches in these negotiations. Bureaucrats are at a total loss for any conceivable solution. Really though, does it surprise anyone that the people who would come up with death panels would be unable to solve this problem? The room erupted in laughter at this remark and Laura moved in for the kill.

"We've invited you here to unveil an investment opportunity unparalleled in American financial history. For each person in The Colonies the federal government will turn over all monthly Social Security benefits and Medicare reimbursements, transferring hundreds of billions of dollars a year to the control of Covenant. Detailed cost projections are in the prospectus, however here is a conservative estimate of the expected return.

"For five years we'll operate as a closed corporation and only accept the participation of major individual investors of $100 million or more. We expect an annualized return of 15-17% for each of the first five years, and in the sixth year we'll have an initial public offering to allow fund and small individual investors to buy in. The first year we'll house over 1 million people, a number that will grow by 50-70% annually. This fact will not be lost on Wall Street, and The Colonies will become one of the most attractive investment vehicles ever to hit the market. We expect your initial investment to increase a minimum of tenfold its original value by year six. There will never be another venture with the guaranteed growth factor like this in any of our lifetimes. As shrewd business people you can clearly see that this captive market creates a virtually guaranteed return.

It's a momentous opportunity to demonstrate the superiority of the American capitalistic system to the rest of the world, and show how improving the lot of the less fortunate is not at odds with making profits. So please, she said with a seductive laugh, take out your checkbooks and mark down a one with lots of zeros after it.

The room roared with laughter and then erupted in thunderous applause as Laura left the lectern. Paul Fassett escorted her down the steps, gave her a polite, corporate hug and whispered, You'll be living in the executive offices very soon.

'Yes!' Laura thought, 'Yes! I did it! I nailed it! I always knew I belonged here and I was right.' She kept her game face on, trying to appear as aristocratic as possible, but she was reveling in this, her greatest triumph.

Paul Fassett reached the podium as the applause died down. Ladies and gentlemen, I think you understand what I was saying about Laura, because 18 months ago no one wanted to be within 100 miles of this issue. Laura embraced the challenge and has turned it into an opportunity for hard-working Americans to both care for their loved ones and earn a fair return on their investments. The American spirit lives in Laura Johnson!

The room erupted in applause again and Laura smiled as she thought about the new house, car, wardrobe and just about anything else she could imagine to buy. When the ovation died down Fassett continued, I know you want to meet and speak with our wonder girl in person, so we've arranged for cocktails and hors d'oeuvres in the corporate lounge on the 36th floor. Please join us there. The ushers will direct you to the appropriate elevators.

Paul whisked Laura off the stage to his private elevator, and as they ascended to the 36th floor, he spoke. We're 95% of the way there, Laura. All that's left is to get these people to write very, very big checks. Two more hours of what you just did and I predict over $10 billion will change hands today, and if I'm correct that means $50 million to you! Plus we'll match the amount of stock purchased by our smallest investor tonight, minimum of $100 million, to be put into a trust for you. You'll be free to sell it after the initial five-year period. You'll likely be a billionaire! You produced for us and we're willing to demonstrate to you how grateful we are.

Her head was spinning, thinking about those big numbers, and she decided to slip away to take another Tranquilex to steady her nerves. She went to the ladies room and took a pill, and she looked at herself in the mirror. She had to admit she was still beautiful, but now she was rich, too. Damn, she loved this country, and she couldn't wait to tell her mother all about it. She knew that she didn't belong on the lower 34 floors with the peons, and today she proved that she was one of the elite.

Paul's assessment was correct. By the time Laura finished working the crowd she had received business cards from everyone in attendance along with commitments totaling over $15 billion. She wondered how many of them were more interested in getting into her silk panties rather than the investment, but in the end, did it really matter? 'We're all prostitutes,' she thought, 'it's just that some of us know what we're worth while most of us do not. And most of us don't even know what it is we are selling, either.'

Leaving the office, she slipped behind the wheel of her new BMW Z4 sDrive 35I. 'What a piece of junk,' she thought as she exited parking garage. 'Now I can get a real car, a Bentley or a Rolls, and not have to drive a piece of mass-produced refuse.'

She received a text message on her cell phone from her boyfriend, Elwin, with congratulations on her success and asking if she'd like to meet for dinner. His most redeeming quality was that he almost never wanted sex, so Laura did not expect any pressure from him for that tonight, but she had other plans. She wanted sex, just not with Elwin. No, Laura was looking for that earthmoving, life-changing orgasm that he could never give her. In fact there was only one place in town that could provide her with what she needed, and her car knew the way.

Paradise Lost was where discrete professionals went to hook up. Laura parked the car and took an Invigoril, a drug that elevated her mood and had an enjoyable side effect of mild to moderate euphoria, which enhanced her sexual experience. It would take 15 or 20 minutes to work, so she would order a drink and sit quietly in a dark corner by herself until it kicked in. But first she would find Anthony.

Anthony was not really a bouncer, because this place rarely had any trouble, only an occasional jealous spouse or significant other who suspected their mate was on the prowl. Anthony was there as a deterrent for that, but most of the people came simply to find someone to help them explore their sexuality. He was the perfect person for the job; not a bouncer but more like a protector of the peace.

He was a large man; 6'6" and 300 pounds of solid muscle, but not a 'roided-out freak. Anthony was athletic like a cat. He was 30 years old with a boyish grin, a head full of thick, golden-brown hair and piercing blue eyes. Laura met him at