States of Change Chapter 11: Empire (New York)

States of Change is an ongoing work of serial fiction.

The speculative story-line seeks to inspire thought on ethics, culture and our planet's future.

The year is 2076, decades after Oosa's defederalization. 

Fifty independent States have forged their societies from revolutionary technology and ideology.

Prominently, The Augment, a real-time, virtual overlay of sensory data 

has become widely available for personal use throughout many of the post-fed nation-states.

[GoodnessFirst Blogchain:Volume 61:Issue 24:Journey's End]

Goal Achieved! I made it to the overripe age of 109. An odd, and decidedly prime, milestone.

Of course when I formed that arbitrary life goal back in 1976, I was a rather silly nine year old who thrilled as much at making fun of Jimmy Carter's toothy grin as I did imagining being one of the few people to celebrate both the Bicentennial and Tricentennial of the United States of America--that's Oosa for you youngsters who haven't boned up on your state history wikis.

Well, who would have guessed back then I would outlast the American nation herself.

Independence Day July 4, 2076 is pretty much meaningless to modern New Yorkers. Still, I can't help but reflect on all things revolutionary. The break up of Oosa into nation states isn't even this century's biggest global change. As far as global powers go, the Nordic-African Union easily outshines the embers of the imploded American, Chinese and EU empires. Even bigger, the VisAR revolution helped achieve distributed citizen states where digital geography reigns. And unless, you're in one of the dozen unplugged nations, the dark web's fierce blockchain accountability makes anything before 2040 look like ancient Sumerian bookkeeping.

On a personal level, my lifetime exploration of the Oosa fragment states has been quite enlightening, one might even say speculative. The select stories, fiction and non-fiction, that I've published here on GoodnessFirst had the intention  of capturing those abstract angels and demons that permeate our cultures.

In spirit I have always inherently felt more an American than a New Yorker, antiquated as that term may be. Identity is founded in ones upbringing, to be sure. Still, with curiosity and critical thinking engaged, I I have come to think of myself as an Earthling foremost, and, at that, one that spends the currency of his lifetime speaking out for the individuals, species and biomes that can't.

Nevertheless, New York has been a good home for me and my idea forging. Back in the '40's I was one of the eighty million who rushed to New York State after the Fed fell before the states began locking down their borders. This State's dedication to citizen, cyber and commercial IP attracted scientists, businessmen and anyone at all who sought evidence based policy. 

Of course, New York's adoption of the Institute of Information linking the Departments of Justice and Education has been their biggest success story. Integrating third-party and expert system fact checking into State policy finally excised the corruption from government, commerce and culture. Sure, some may call New York a State without a soul since it's religious institutions all folded. I'd say the success of ethical community organizations more than made up for it, delivering education, health and happiness to the masses.

It wasn't my intent to have this Blogchain turn into an obituary, but alas (how I love that word alas) that is exactly what this is. Hear my wizened sigh, as I share my grandfather's last epithet: "my time is over; it is your time now." That was way back in the Twentieth. Well, indeed, it is the next generation's time now to take the world and its challenges into their youthful and impassioned hands.

Let my last bit of advice be for you to consider, as your State permits, to leave all your inheritances and estates to the ethical community organization of your choice, one that truly cares (as validated by the IoI effectiveness standards). The health of the planet and all its constituents will thank you.

Per New York State policy 6.5 I hereby invoke my right to end my life.

Carry on!  

TANSTAFLOL!

GF Blogchain Creator, Editor and Writer

Rhumba Rebellion