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I wish I could write

As a reader of this blog, you know that I can’t. I do wish that I could. I’ve got this idea for a book; or movie; or short story; or, heck, even a song. I’ve never written any of these before (OK, I’ve written contributed to a few songs) and suffer from the fact I can see the forest but not the trees. I’m not a detail-oriented person (you’ve probably noticed that too) but more a big picture kind of person. In other words, I tend to look at the broad overview of something and minimally focus on the small stuff. This creates a problem when, you know, trying to write stuff because books tend to be specific (unless it’s some sort self-help or how-to-succeed-in-business crap). My idea is very libertarian in nature but in that libertarian-as-problematic sort of way. So, here’s the basic plot:

The story starts in the not-so-distant future (let’s say Tuesday). A company that develops computer operating systems, network software, network security and internet related type products is successful at this venture and makes tons of money by bullying/buying competitors, developing cushy corporate partnerships, and integrating all this stuff in convenient packages. The company’s products are extensively ingrained into the fabric of society (they make the buses go, the water flow, manage the big banking institutions, etc.). This company is fictitious and not based on any real company currently operating. Tentatively, the company is called MacroHard.

Because the company is successful, everyone wants a piece of it, including certain regulatory and governmental agencies. However, try as they might, they can’t quite get MacroHard under control. It outsmarts them regularly and is usually way ahead of the various agencies’ ploys. Litigation ensues and MacroHard keeps paying out small settlements to satisfy these agencies (mostly because it’s cheaper than fighting this stuff in court).

One day, the various governmental agencies of the world launch a major legal offensive to reel in this company that is just too big for it’s britches. Said legal offensive would literally ruin the company by making it pay out huge dollars, subdividing it into separate smaller entities, and giving out its technological secrets. The company mounts a glorious legal defense (I sense the book could have some court room drama) but the fix was in. The company loses.

The outrage from the corporate world is astounding. Major executives, feeling their life’s work is in danger from such tactics, are enraged. All major corporations suddenly become quite hostile.

MacroHard, in defiance, basically tells the government No! We’re not going to do that. The government threatens the use of force. MacroHard says We’re still not going to do it. Various law enforcement and military agencies show up at MacroHard’s corporate headquarters ready to launch an offensive. Some intense negotiations ensue with MacroHard still saying No! and the government intent upon enforcing compliance.

The raid commences. Suddenly, the cars don’t go; the radios don’t work; the communications links fail; the internets are down; the phones are dead; various military technologies stop functioning; satellites no longer provide positioning data. The military’s sophisticated hardware and software is basically useless. Using brute force, the corporate HQ is secured by the military only to find that no one was there. MacroHard and its corporate allies have pulled the plug on things electronic and ran (remember, they’re ingrained into society and, as we just found out, they know all the back-doors since they put them there).

MacroHard just launched World War 3 (or maybe 4 depending on who you ask). Corporate America vs. Regulatory Bodies. The effect is widespread. The buses no longer go; the water doesn’t flow; the dams don’t work; deliveries aren’t made; money and banking assets are frozen. The corporations have shut the world down and it’s one giant Mexican standoff. General chaos ensues as Corporate America and the Regulatory Bodies duke it out. The militaries are neutered since they can’t communicate and their nifty gadgets don’t work. Corporate America can’t do much since money is now worthless. Those hardest hit, of course, are the regular Joes, who can’t keep their electricity going or go to the store and get some food.

That’s as far as I get. Don’t know how to conclude or who the major characters would be. What do you think?

Update: Apparently, it’s been done, sort of.

12 Responses to “I wish I could write”

  1. SayUncle : I wish I could write (part 3ish) Says:

    […]
    I wish I could write (part 3ish)
    |By SayUncle|

    I wrote part one here. And Lobbygow contributed possible part two in comments. Smijer now has […]

  2. lobbygow Says:

    The struggle is eventually won by Macrohard, and our flag is replaced by their famous “Portals” logo. Chief Imperial Office Frederick Fence III is crowned for life. An imperial program is created that gives all Portalians (they renamed the country Portalus) a choice. In their 13th year, following corporation approved testing, they can choose a guaranteed job with a steady salary as a coder, system administrator, analyst, etc., depending on their skill level. If they want the possibility of greater financial reward with increased risk, they can enroll in the Portalian “managed free market” for a small annual user’s fee, where they are free to design, manufacture or sell their own products – as long as they are compatible with Portalian information commerce protocols. The Portalian operating system becomes as standard as our shared voltage or road sign symbology. The creation of alternate OS is punishable by death – the risk to vital infrastructure is too great.

    Finally, they can enroll in the Portalian IPPF (Intellectual Property Protection Force), which offers its members opportunities to visit strange foreign markets, meet interesting hackers, innovators or counterfeiters and kill them.

    Bartering is illegal.
    Creating unregistered (outside the MFM) competing products is punishable by imprisonment.
    The creation of non-sanctioned viruses or malware is punishable by death.

    Welcome to the Free Republic of Portalus! Please click the “I Accept” button at the bottom of our Constitutional EULA to proceed.

    SU, this has potential.

  3. skb Says:

    And then, Atlas shrugged.

  4. SayUncle Says:

    Actually, I’ve never read that. Is it similar or something?

  5. ben Says:

    it’s essentially identical.

  6. SayUncle Says:

    Dammit. I should probably read it then.

  7. mx5 Says:

    When I first started reading this post, I halfway expected you to start describing Antitrust, that fantastic little gem of a movie starring Tim Robbins, Ryan Phillipe and a couple hottish chicks in irritating roles. Mmmm….Claire Forlani

  8. mx5 Says:

    …and of course, by “fantastic gem of a movie,” I mean >avoid at all costs, unless you like Claire or Rachael.

  9. mike hollihan Says:

    Sounds a bit like “Jennifer Government” by Max Barry. You might like it, too.
    http://www.maxbarry.com/jennifergovernment/

  10. TriggerFinger Says:

    As a fairly hard-core libertarian, I have two weaknesses: anti-trust law as applied to Microsoft and the space program. As you can probably guess, I’m here to talk about the first.

    Most libertarian types see Microsoft as a hero, resisting a government determined to hobble them. And to an extent that’s accurate, because the anti-trust trials really were designed to hobble Microsoft. But if there was ever any case where the ends justified the means, this is it. And Microsoft’s actions have forfeited any claim to heroism.

    I won’t get into an argument about what they’ve done that is so horrible, because this really isn’t the place. But realize that casting “MacroHard” in the role of hero against the government is sort of like Godzilla vs King Kong: no matter who wins, the city gets smashed.

  11. smijer Says:

    We Showed Them Who Was Atlas
    Go read the back story. Done? Back? In the spirit of blogospheric collaboration, I offer my humble effort to fill in some of the blanks… In Long Island, the looting continues. Big ticket items and weapons were the first to…

  12. tgirsch Says:

    I’m not a detail-oriented person

    Anyone who’s read any of your gun-related posts — particularly your posts fisking AWB editorials — would beg to differ. 😉

Remember, I do this to entertain me, not you.

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