The American Experiment (Riot Quest)

Forging Bonds and Relations

(John Olsen POV)

"The Problem with the world…is that people don't take the time to understand they have all the means and the tools to make a world worth living in." You stopped and sighed. "That leads to the second problem."

You then sighed. "The biggest problem with that is…that man is an emotional being. And they use their heart more than their head."

"The trick is using both, something most citizen's have a hard time doing." You finished.

You then rolled your eyes and sighed, thanking them for their time and going back to the bar's many patrons who half listened.

Marquette Michigan was in many ways fertile ground for a party headquarters. Its union presence was localized around the dockyards and many of its people were in a more Rural manner of living in spite of a variety of jobs available.

Or maybe you were deluding yourself…maybe the guys up in Houghton were having better luck on the matter of drumming support.

This was the Rustbelt. The land of Republicans, Anarchists and Socialists. You wouldn't find any consensus on what people want if it bit you in the ass.

Sure you could have your revolution, but have you considered a more efficient organization of public utilities for the common GOOD! Or following a flawed bunch of writings from some german living across the sea who doesn't even live here?!

You sighed. How did Marx ever become popular? Because he appealed to the two things that reside in men, their greed and their desire for an enemy. And he turned it into a frenzy of the madness of "Us Vs Them"

You wanted to bring them together instead of tearing them apart by hatred. When you read Das Kapital and the Manifesto you were disgusted… Class Conflict? Bah, that's just another way of saying "Thou shalt covet thy neighbor's goods."

Its greed, simple and plain greed disguised as some moral and just crusade, violence will be the end result…and by god, it will make people scared and demanding for blood, not peace. Their boundless desire for violent and uncompromising revolution will only cause the tyranny they so claim to fight against.

It was the way of things.

"John..and here I thought you were off learning at the feet of a great philosopher?" An old friend seemingly said.

Joseph Carlile was a rail station attendant for one of the larger cities on the peninsula…you didn't know which one but it was honest work that was.

"It didn't work out…now I am carrying a torch for his cause, as noble and murky as it is." You said.

"Haven't made peace with things back east?" He said.

"I've made peace with it…but I'm just having trouble in what to do next…we're currently renting a hotel to use as a headquarters and that's unsustainable and our pamphlets are made on commission, our funds are going to be drying up and sooner or later we're going to probably be attacked or politically assaulted by anarchists and socialists about being capitalism's last shield." You said.

"You seem very cynical that you'll make a difference?" He said.

"I'm going to try and not give up on the matter and not become a communist. You know why I hate Communists?" You said.

"Why…I've heard this story a hundred times and I know how it ends." He said.

"It's because they don't believe in people…and they don't believe in their right to choose…after all, what is a Dictatorship of the Proletariat if just a vehicle to take away their rights, property, and traditions they cherish." You finished. "That's all it is…its power, and its led men who think they know better. That's all it is."

"So go out and talk to more than just the farmers, and give your pitch." He said. "I think the telegram offices might have a word of support in them."

"Oh and next your going to tell me the Longshoremen on the lake have a love for better public transportation?" You scoffed.

"They might…now go out there and do it?" He said.

"You're going to throw a good word at the rail union aren't you?" You asked.

"I might…and take time to talk to other people…Good ideas spread." He said.

You got up and smiled. "I'm going to need to get a meeting with the wider city transport groups in Milwaukee…and the shipping unions…they deserve a say. Maybe visit the Mining unions and tell them they're going to get a better slice."

Ahh, the wonders of good conversation.

"Thanks, Joe…" You said before leaving.

"Go on and do your job." He said.

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AN: A little something for after our men go tell farmers to read Progress and Poverty and why they should join the political movement.

Staring an agitator, his political cynicism on communism and old friends who give good ideas.

@Physici the first Omake is ready!

While I write the update, you may vote for which organization you would like to see grow. This is also a good time to form a new organization, if you wish.


[] West Coast Union Association:

[] The Land and Labor Reform Party

[] The Revolutionary Federation of American Anarchists

[] The Forty Acres Movement

[] The Society of Friends of All Faiths

[] American People's Futurist Alliance

[] The Friends of the Huddled Masses

[] The Orange Disciples

[] The Party of Justice

[] The Association of Friends of the Yellow Scarves