Velvet Lies and Iron Gates

By Jason Kane

Velvet Lies and Iron Gates is a fictional novel taking place not far into the future. On a cold, dreary day, America wakes to a stunning presidential election defeat. The public did not heed warnings and unwittingly gave away the most prized right a person could possess, their individual freedom. In shock, people worldwide read newspaper headlines, Socialism now the Law of the Land in America.

Dark clouds of Socialism looms over America, with greed and corruption widespread. The fear is that Socialism will suppress freedom and crush man's heart and soul. In this nail-biting story, former war hero TAYLOR SHAW, against near-impossible odds, struggles to break the Iron gates of Socialism and return the country to freedom and Democracy.

Shaw battles courageously against government crime and corruption, overcoming devastating tragedies and deep state attempts on his life. The question is, can the genie ever be put back in the bottle? Can the nation rally and rid itself of Socialism? Will the lion and the lamb walk again in peace and freedom?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jun 29, 2020
• ISBN: 9781984581020

Jason Kane

Jason Kane grew up in Southern California and is now retired, living in Dallas, Texas, spending time golfing and staying physically fit. Kane attended the University of Southern California on an athletic scholarship. He was All-American and captain of their national championship baseball team. After college, he followed his love of sports and signed with the New York Yankees. His business career includes building a successful executive search firm in technology. Among other accomplishments are, mentoring Orange County youth, serving as a city councilman, and city vice mayor. His passions are politics and writing.

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Copyright © 2020 by Jason Kane.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 06/29/2020

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Contents

When you see corruption being rewarded and honesty becoming a self-sacrifice -You may know that your society is doomed.

Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged, 1957

Since this is an era when many people are concerned about ‘fairness’ and ‘social justice,’ what is your ‘fair share’ of what someone else has worked for?

Thomas Sowell, an American economist.

Author’s Disclaimer

Velvet Lies and Iron Gates is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Book Dedication

This book is dedicated to the memory of Ayn Rand. She was my inspiration from years ago when her novel Atlas Shrugged increased my awareness of how socialism destroys individual freedom and steals the heart and soul of a nation.

Introduction

For years, the country moved closer and closer to socialism. Ignoring the warning’s careful what you wish for, and on one dreary cold gray day, the improbable happened. America already on life support just flatlined. Socialism became the law of the land. Individual freedom, the heartbeat of America, died.

"An American patriot, Taylor Shaw, on a crusade to fight socialism, is dealt a tragic blow when his family is violently murdered. Shaw, with a vengeance and no rules apply, sets out to revenge their deaths and tracks down responsible FBI government killers. After exerting his form of justice, Shaw continues his battling against socialism and government crime and corruption.

Chapter One

Socialism Triumphs

Six months after a tragic life-threatening accident, Taylor Shaw miraculously woke from a coma. Since then, he has suffered from violent pulsating headaches that are terrifying. The odd thing is that the headaches only occur before a huge coming event taking place in his personal life or before a worldly event is about to happen.

In some ways, it is like being able to know in advance that an earthquake is about to happen. Shaw couldn’t predict what the event is going to be, only that, very soon, a significant event would be occurring. At first, Shaw thought his psychic ability was pretty cool, but the headaches suffered are so painful, they took away any pleasure of this extraordinary capability. The pain came on quickly with unbearable force, like being hit head-on by a freight train. So strange and unique is this power that Shaw chose not to share it with his doctor or anyone else.

Today, after a physical exam, while sitting on the edge of a hospital bed buttoning his shirt, Shaw cannot believe his good fortune and smiles to himself. He continues listening quietly as the doctors discuss among themselves his six-month follow-up physical health exam. Their moods were joyful as they review his charts. Excitedly, they are commenting on how it is nothing short of a miracle that anyone with a 5 percent chance of living could recover from a prolonged coma without some degree of permanent mental or physical impairment. They are elated and marvel that their patient Taylor Shaw, after several weeks in a coma, is experiencing no permanent damages or symptoms following his severe head concussion.

Of course, Shaw was not entirely truthful with the doctors during the mental part of his examination. He feels well enough physically, but there are differences mentally that even he does not understand or, least of all, can explain. For one thing, Shaw is amazed that his mental capacity is now equal in speed to that of a computer, able to process information faster and more accurately than he can believe possible. This news, Shaw is happy about; the other change where he is experiencing painful headaches gives him pause.

His headaches follow a precise pattern. First comes an excruciating pain in his head; next, he loses focus and becomes dizzy, and then strange voices begin that Shaw cannot understand. Everything is disconnected, making no sense.

The more Shaw tries to connect the words and form sentences, the more twisted everything becomes, with words and thoughts bouncing and exploding within his brain. The harder his efforts to understand, the more intense the pain until he forces himself to let go, trying not to make sense of the message and what it’s trying to tell him.

Shaw had painful headaches in the past because of his time in Iraq. He was beaten and tortured while an ISIS prisoner in Mosul. After a week of near starvation, he managed somehow to overpower the guards and lead three other prisoners to safety. Afterward, Shaw was hospitalized for three months and had recurring headaches that fortunately stopped after a year of painful suffering. As bad as the headaches caused by his Iraq experiences, they pale in comparison to those he now experiences. Shaw could only hope that, in time, they also would go away.

That evening, home after his physical exam, Shaw is relaxing in his favorite recliner and listening to the election returns. As the results start coming in for the president of the United States, without any warning, his head begins throbbing intensely, more severely than ever before. Shaw’s instincts tell him that his headache must have something to do with the election returns. He decides to go to bed, putting all thoughts of the pending outcome out of mind in hopes that sleep would ease his throbbing pain. He can find out the results in the morning. Shaw fears that trouble for America is looming; why else would he have such a headache? He resigns himself to the fact that, at this moment, it is late, and there is nothing he can do about it.

Shaw continues to hope that if he can get to sleep, at least his headache might stop. He can read the results in the morning, and if his worst fears come about, he can try dealing with them in the morning. There is not a lot he can do before the results are in, and most likely, not much he can do once the results are known.

At daybreak, still tired and exhausted from a restless night, Shaw rubs the night’s sleep from his eyes. With the lack of rest, his eyes are half shut as he finds his way to the front door and fumbles for the doorknob. It was a horrible night full of worries.

Once outside his home, like every morning, it starts with the search for the newspaper, and often, he finds it in the flower bed. Maybe if he increases the tip to the delivery man, the paper will find its way to his porch rather than to his rose garden. Shaw mutters to himself, Why the hell am I still subscribing to a newspaper? There must be the word ‘dummy’ tattooed somewhere on me. There is truly little honest news in the paper anymore, and the editorials are all crap.

An everyday first-thing ritual for Shaw is to open the newspaper and read the headlines. But today is different; strolling back into the house, he remembered his intense headache last night. He keeps the paper folded and mumbles, Please, Lord, don’t let my worst nightmare come true. Afraid of opening the morning news, he tosses it on the kitchen table and stares at it and then continues the task of making his morning coffee. Unable to put off looking at it any longer, with coffee in hand, Shaw hurriedly strides back to the table. He stares keenly at the paper and slowly opens it to the general election results. His worst nightmare has just come true, in bold print, the entire front page read, Socialists Win the White House. China Rejoices in Great Satin News.

My Lord, how did our country, with so much going for itself, come to this? Of course, Shaw knows the problem and understands perfectly what the ultimate consequences will be. When times are good, apathy grows to a dangerous level, and it is easy to dismiss the concerns and levels of discontent that others may have. Four years ago, the defeat of socialism was so decisive at the ballot box, many believed that socialism was dead forever. But it was not. Socialism is incredibly determined, like a malignancy, it goes into remission a short while then roars back stronger than ever.

The American majority was caught sleeping and did not see the degree of anger that many were feeling. Shaw agonized over the fact that socialists’ participation at the voting booth to affect election results was real and has just happened.

Many people saw the rise of socialism in politics and how it has the media’s support. Still, it was not taken seriously enough by the people. And when earlier polls showed socialism gaining in popularity, citizens ignored them. One survey showed 55 percent of women would rather live in a socialist country than a capitalist one. Americans shook their heads and said it could not be right and refused to believe the surveys.

Shaw’s worries came true. The warning signs across America about the emerging acceptance of socialism had taken hold. A naïve nation’s enthusiasm for socialism ignored the fact that it never has and never will work. It was not the ignorance of knowledge but the illusion of knowledge that pushed them to vote in socialism.

Politicians looking to gain political power always exploit the social concerns of the day. They fan the flames of a fire until into a movement. Half of the people supporting the socialist cause are like clapping seals, not even knowing why they are clapping. They clap when they see others clapping. They cannot even articulate what the movement is all about except that they will now be getting free stuff. Meanwhile, the public, never comprehending the magnitude of those wanting change, failed to go to the polls on Election Day. The result is what happens when the public is too complacent, going through like a potted plant.

Without vigilant opposition against the velvet lies and half-truths of socialism, freedom and individual rights vanish. The greatest danger to democracy is ignorance, not understanding that it must be vigorously defended not only in war but also in times of peace.

Year after year, with the chipping away at capitalism, the perfect environment for change arrived. Power-seeking politicians were successful in selling the velvet lie of socialism as the answer for every American to have more and that the rich will pay for it.

Too many eagerly promoted socialism as the vision of the future for America. Also, to many low-income voters were convinced by politicians that others are getting rich off the backs of their labor. Together, they went to the polls in record numbers never seen before. With all the ballots in and the counts complete, the Socialist Party took the country by storm. A sea change occurred. The American public and the world looked on in shock. The American dream, now on life support, was about to flatline.

Disheartened by the coming transition to socialism in government, Taylor gulps down a second cup of coffee and tries to clear his mind of everything in the newspaper. He ponders what he can do about what has happened. Shaw dismisses the thoughts for now; there will be time later to think about the problems of the country. Now, he has financial difficulties of his own needing a solution. Not working since his accident, his savings are exhausted.

Chapter Two

Finders Keepers (Losers Weepers)

Shaw’s personal savings are depleted, and today, he hopes his problems will take a turn for the better. He tiptoes into his bedroom, whispers good-bye, and kisses his sleeping wife, Sara. His dog, Milo, at the foot of the bed, stretches and looks up in time to receive a pat on the head before he yawns and goes back to sleep.

While rooted in thought about his financial worries, Shaw grabs his car keys and walks outside. The glistening rays of the warm morning sun spreading brilliantly across the San Juan Capistrano sky are hardly noticed.

Shaw backs his new solid-state futuristic battery-powered car out of the driveway. There is a soft breeze blowing a crisp Southern California chill against his face that energizes his mood. The anticipation of this day and the election returns kept him awake most of the night, so much so that he is a nervous wreck. Out of necessity, Shaw pushes everything, but one thought from occupying his mind. His financial situation is at a breaking point and the dilemma of how he is going to solve the problem. Shaw, with no success to this date, has explored every reasonable means to keep from selling his home.

Shaw, released six months ago from the hospital, has not worked or received any income.

His monthly bills and the massive hospital costs have put a drain on his finances and left his bank account nearly empty.

After exploring most of his options, there is one possibility remaining, which, until now, he has avoided considering. It may be his last hope, and his instincts tell him that there is a good chance that something of value is there at that dreadful site of his youth. So disturbing are the memories that he has blocked the thought of ever returning. But he will never know if he lacks the courage to visit the location he has dodged all these many years. The unpleasant remembrances can no longer keep him away. He is curious about what he might find, but the main incentive is the hopes that there is something of financial value in the suitcase buried so long ago.

Fifteen years ago, as a youth, Shaw encountered an incident altering his life. The occurrence was shocking to the point that he vowed to never return to anywhere near the location where his cousin’s life tragically ended. But now, with his financial troubles at the breaking point, Shaw is willing to do or go anywhere to save his home from foreclosure. He is desperate and resigns himself to venture back to that dreaded location.

Shaw’s anger is at a boiling point that he even finds himself in financial difficulties and blames his dire circumstances almost entirely on the government. The bottom fell out of the stock market several years ago when socialism began gaining public acceptance. Socialist acceptance began to change our economy away from capitalism, finally winning both branches of Congress and now winning the White House as well.

Fears are running high for the entire country, and many Americans like Shaw are angry as hell. Shaw and others are close to having all their investments wiped out along with every penny of their savings and retirement accounts. Slower growth in the economy and increases in taxes are having a devastating effect on the nation. Uncertainties are everywhere that the nation’s economy will crash. How could the most prosperous country in the history of the world find itself on the verge of collapse? Now, with the election of a socialist as president and our current level of the nation’s debt, it is likely only a matter of time until bankruptcy of our country occurs.

The continuing recession has failed to provide Shaw an opportunity to recoup his losses, and millions of other middle-class families mirror the same status. In a few short years, the socialist-leaning economy has taken the country from prosperity to near ruin. Trying to combat his financial troubles, Shaw mortgaged his home to the hilt and, at the same time, has seen his taxes double.

America’s economy continues to slide downhill and pick up speed as the socialist-leaning elected officials are doubling down on socialist solutions by recklessly promising more free social programs for the masses in attempts to reassure the public. Without the money to pay for the programs, the government continues to go further in debt and thinks more taxes are the answer. They continue to search for any means possible to levy new taxes.

Politicians know the government doesn’t have the money to pay for new massive services and spends nearly all their time telling the public not to worry—they will find more ways to tax the rich as their solution.

With a blink of the eye, the country has gone from capitalism to democratic socialism, and now, with the death by a thousand taxes, it appears that America will soon have a full-blown socialistic government.

Shaw’s head is spinning as he drives away from his home and tries to push these bad thoughts from his mind and concentrate on his drive. On a weekday morning, the freeway traffic is bumper to bumper; heavy workday traffic has become the norm for Orange County. Rather than taking the direct route straight up the Interstate 5 to his destination, he figures, on such a gloomy picture of the economy, why make his mood worse by fighting all the freeway traffic? Taking a deep sigh, Shaw decides to relax and make the best of a day with depressing news. He opts for the picturesque Highway 1 and to relish the beautiful California coastline. Once closer to Los Angeles, he will veer eastward, fight the always crowded freeway mess for a short distance, and then head toward East Los Angeles, the place of his early youth and his destination.

With the car window down and the day becoming pleasantly warm and balmy, Shaw enjoys the scent of the ocean breeze driving north on the scenic Pacific Coast Highway. Occasionally glancing to his left, he takes in the picturesque rocky points and long stretches of sand beyond which he marvels at the brilliant turquoise Pacific Ocean view. Looking farther out, he can faintly see the famous Santa Catalina Island, a favorite vacation spot. Late summer is beautiful in Orange County, with gorgeous scenery along the coastline. The vibrancy of the bougainvillea plants is a sight to see with their bursting colors, growing freely along the highway with little care. He glances to his left again as his view opens to the ocean waves crashing against the rocks.

For a moment, Shaw thinks to himself, Why would anyone ever want to leave California? The pleasant smile on his face fades and turns into a frown. He ponders on his thought as he recalls a current article he read in the newspaper: California now has the worst education system, highest taxes, highest cost of living, and the most poverty of any state.

The State also has debt approaching one trillion dollars, the State pensions are massively underfunded, and homelessness has increased by 100% in the last year. San Francisco has become a dangerous, grimy city, and Los Angeles is heading in the same direction. Without even realizing it, the pleasant mood he was enjoying began to fade.

Over two hundred thousand California residents left the golden state last year, and that, along with the increased burden of the homeless, should be a red flag for state politicians. Still, so far, they appear to be oblivious to the increasing economic problem it presents.

The drive goes by quickly in his new battery-powered vehicle, which he spent less on than a new gasoline-powered car would have cost. While reluctant to spend the money on a new car, he had no choice. At the first of the year, a new government program went into effect requiring the elimination of vehicles using oil and gasoline. Thanks to technology and the invention of the new high-powered battery, cars can go a thousand miles before recharging, and the life of the battery lasts forever.

The advancements in battery technology will likely be one of the few innovative changes to be seen since socialist countries do not have the same track record of encouraging the type of innovation that occurs in capitalist nations.

Shaw’s previous car had broken down on the way to the doctor’s office, causing him to be late and miss his appointment. In the new government-run health insurance program, if you miss the regularly scheduled time, you must reschedule, and there is a six-month waiting list. Shaw could not afford to have unreliable transportation, and his old car needed repair but not allowed by the government. Even though he had no choice, as it turned out, the battery-driven vehicle was a good investment.

Shaw is surprised and hardly realizes he is slowing down on at the top of Thomas Street, a steep hill that looks down at a hillside area where he grew up as a young boy. It was many years ago that he hid and watched the burial of what looked like a suitcase next to the old tree just in front of him. The image of that night is as clear as if it were yesterday. Now, fifteen years later, he is sure this is the right place. He is encouraged that the site does not appear to have been disturbed after all these years.

Shaw gazes below at East Los Angeles with its dense population of Latinos, primarily Mexican. It is not the safest location in the world, but the thought of finding out the contents of something buried there fifteen years ago is worth the risk. He is not only hesitant about being here but also out of his mind with the worry of his financial situation. He is also profoundly curious to learn the mystery of what is in