Prior to the Third World War, revolutionary educational standards supported by the victors resulted in the establishments of ‘Student Governments’ and ‘Student Economies’ operating from the secondary schools and universities. The increased complexity of postcapitalist economies accelerated student participation in political and economic life. In secondary school, mandatory classroom instruction was tied to hands-on training and specialization in various Professions, with lifelong calling to particular fields designated as ‘Vocations’. Everybody graduated into one of three paths: university, the workforce or conscription. Those who seldom had a Vocation in mind, a ‘lifelong career’ within a Profession, received a draft notice for either the workforces or the armed forces. Those attending university did so to pursue more specialized Professions or participate in the affairs of their Student Government.

The German People’s Reich was a two-party Council Democracy governed by the Pan-Germanic Socialist Party and the Communist Party, with Reichstag Delegates elected from across much of the known German-speaking world. Operating from the campuses of university-level ‘party schools’ and ran by the student wings of both parties, Student Government served as the conduit between the Reich Government and the Regional and Municipal Governments. Participation in the functions of Student Government as Vocation secured a student’s acceptance into Reich, State or Municipal Government positions.       

Leaning against a windowsill in full party regalia inside his office, Christoph Denker headed the Stettin Student Council at the local party school. He was speaking to a party official on his desk telephone handset with a mug of tea in his other hand. “With all due respect, being sent to America as part of the international relief effort would be an honor. Will we be working alongside the European Student Governments or is it just us, the Soviets, Chinese and Japanese?”

The door behind him opened. Andreas Buehner, also in party regalia, stepped into the office. Christoph turned away from the window. “Are you not going to be in class today?” Andreas asked him, gesturing at the clock on the wall behind Christoph’s desk, situated between two portraits of the Reichspräsident and Reichskanzler. “I’ll make sure to let the professors and the others know that you have official matters to attend to.” He wrapped his hand on the doorknob.   

Christoph said nothing, put his mug aside on the desk and held up his index finger, as if motioning Andreas that he would be finished soon. “I need to think about it first,” he told the party official. “I will call you back later this week.” He hung up the phone and eyed Andreas. “What were you trying to tell me?”

“Today’s one of those mandatory firearms training classes again,” Andreas spoke. “You know, the electives that would allow us to maintain our draft deferments?”

“You don’t need to remind me,” Christoph replied, pulling his tunic from the desk chair and draping it over his shoulder. “Why would I want to miss out?” He hurried through the doorway with Andreas shutting the door behind him.

At the lecture hall, Christoph and Andreas took their seats in front of their comrades, Max Vogel and Wilhelm Haas. After the rest of their class poured into the lecture hall, the professor showcased a few firearms on the table in the front of the room. The students were given a basic introduction to firearms training as part of a mandatory elective to fulfill their draft requirement. Taped on the marker board behind the professor were large diagrams of a handgun, submachine gun, a semi-automatic rifle and carbine, and an assault rifle used by the German military. The diagrams read: P250, MP24, G8 and K8, and StG10.

As the professor proceeded with their lecture, Andreas yawned as if he was about to doze off. But instead of falling asleep, he whispered to Christoph. “What kept you busy earlier?”

“Can we talk about it in the dorms?” Christoph whispered back.

“We’re curious as to why you’re always on the phone and almost showing up to our classes tardy over the past several days now,” Max chimed. “Is something wrong?”

“It’s not like you to be withholding things from your comrades,” Wilhelm mused.

Christoph sighed. “The GSPDV and KPDV are looking for young volunteers across the Fatherland to join an upcoming international relief effort. Counselor Müller at Stettin Municipal Council was wondering if I will participate, seeing how I have family relatives in America.”

“Are you sure that’s everything?” Andreas retorted.

“There’s more,” Christoph continued. “You know that ‘government institute’ dedicated to studying foreign socioeconomic policies? Well, this institute is accepting student researchers who could study how the Americans are adjusting to life after Neoliberalism. All expenses will be covered by the institute for the duration of our time there.”

“If you’re planning to visit America,” Andreas spoke, “Then I’ll go there with you.”

“What, so you can hit on one of my cousins?” Christoph quipped. “You do realize that we are going to be doing some field work during our stay?”  

“Sounds more like the vacation of a lifetime,” Wilhelm chuckled. “But what do you think, Max?” He tilted his head toward his. “Should we help out?”

Max nodded. “It’d be a nice change of pace.”

“You’ve never been out of the Fatherland before?” Wilhelm asked.

“Never,” Max answered.

“That reminds me,” Christoph muttered, “I may need to hurry to the Kontor to cash in those Fiefs and Work-Plans that I received during secondary school.”

“Planning to buy souvenirs while in America?” Andreas asked Christoph. 

 “More like converting my National-Socialized Financial Instruments (NSFIs) into Geld to send to my cousins,” Christoph corrected him. “The US Dollar is now worthless. The least I can do for them is to send some of my savings to them.”   

“Consider visiting the bank on the National Intranet instead of driving there in person,” Wilhelm yawned. “It’s more convenient that way, Christoph.” 

The German Reich and the other victors had championed a monetary system of basing the value of a national currency, its Geld, on the Quality of Arbeit from the production processes and transactional sales of every facet of economic life. NSFIs provided additional avenues of generating Geld from additional sources of Arbeit. The wealth of every nation became dependent on the willingness of all citizens to contribute Arbeit to be converted into Geld. This monetary system not only encouraged further development of all postcapitalist economies, it also freed them from the chains of Neoliberalism so long as everyone asserted control over the means of production and lived with what those same means provided. Its distinct characteristics even gave rise to postcapitalist conceptions of finance and accounting for individuals and nations alike. 

***

The morning sun’s rays beamed across the windshield of a jet-black Volkswagen sedan zooming along an American interstate highway. A bridge loomed further up the road. Christoph was behind the wheel, adjusting the rearview mirror. The mirror caught the reflection of two Soviet Mil attack helicopters roaring past the trees that lined the roadsides. The helicopters hovered over the Delaware River, the bridge connecting New Jersey and Pennsylvania.    

“How much longer are we going to have to wait back here?” A bored Max complained.

“We’re halfway there,” Christoph answered.

“Where are we heading?” Wilhelm asked him.

“A town called King of Prussia,” he answered. “My relatives live there, Wilhelm.”

The absence of traffic on the interstate highways this morning encouraged Christoph to press his foot down on the gas. As the Volkswagen crossed the bridge, the two Soviet helicopters hovered upriver, disappearing from view on the Pennsylvanian side of the Delaware.

Andreas switched on the car stereo. A military radio broadcaster reported on the latest news from the Fatherland. “GSPDV and KPDV Delegates in the Reichstag reached an agreement earlier today to lower the workweek from its wartime high of fifty-six hours to the prewar forty hour workweek,” she reported. “Regional Governments applaud their timely decision. The Reich Commissions of Wages and Prices pledge to increase Paygrades for Households, while Central Planners coordinate nationwide efforts of Economic Planners at State and Social Enterprises to restore civilian production.”

In the backseat of the car, Wilhelm and Max gawked at the fleeting scenery from their windows. Squadrons of Messerschmitt fighter jets soared overhead on routine sorties. Convoys of Opel trucks, tanks, and Hanomag armored personnel carriers rolled up and down the highways with various civilian vehicles. Abandoned US vehicles and helicopter debris strewn along roadsides. Some of the old US interstate signs were riddled with bullets, others had graffiti spray-painted in Cyrillic. Beyond the roadsides were fallen trees, collapsed houses, and a few newly-constructed train stations off to the distance.

The military radio newscaster continued her coverage. “The Pennsylvanian Federalist American Union, one of the six postwar American nations, approved a controversial decision to pay war reparations to the Japanese and Chinese governments. Strict curfews remain in effect throughout the FAU and are expected to be lifted after the upcoming elections.”      

In the cities, military police units patrolled the streets alongside reconstituted police forces, security checkpoints inspecting the identification papers of incoming visitors. The occasional car or truck had its trunks and doors opened, internal compartments inspected for contraband or stolen wares. A few motorists were restrained and hauled away in military trucks after being caught with contraband inside their vehicles. Other military police units garrisoned the various stores and shops dotting Main Street. Barely stocked shelves and emptied freezers greeted returning customers with ration books. Long lines of idle vehicles queued at gas stations as the victors had long abandoned petroleum-based fuels in favor of zero-carbon synthetic fuels.   

 At a suburban neighborhood in a Pennsylvanian town called King of Prussia, Christoph parked the car by the curbside of a large house belonging to his cousins’ family. Andreas and Max spotted somebody shutting some window blinds on the second floor.

“This is your uncle’s place?” Wilhelm asked Christoph.

“It’s where we’ll be staying,” Christoph replied, “And his car isn’t even here.” Whipping out his smartphone, he dialed one of his cousins’ phones.  

At the other end was the voice of a girl a few years younger than Christoph. “Hello?”

“Lena,” Christoph said. “It’s your cousin Christoph. I came to America as I had promised your father. Where is he?”

“My dad got himself involved in politics a while back,” Lena said. “Did he tell you?”

“No,” Christoph quipped. “Is it just you and your sister Edith at home these days?” He and his comrades watched the front door slowly being opened by a woman holding a smartphone. It was Lena standing at the doorway. 

“Pretty much,” she answered. “Is that you and your friends at the curbside?”

“Your dad–my uncle–agreed to let me and my comrades stay at his home during our time in America,” Christoph explained. “I was expecting to find him when we got here.”

Lena Emmerich’s sister, Edith, plodded toward the doorway, grabbing the phone from her. Lena was shoved to the side, disappearing from view. “Hey Christoph,” Edith greeted, “It’s so nice to see you again! Welcome to America! My dad and I were expecting you.” She gestured to Christoph and his comrades to come inside. “I will let him know that you arrived with your comrades as planned.”       

Shutting off the Volkswagen, Christoph opened his door and plodded across the trimmed grass on the front lawn. While Andreas went to the trunk to retrieve everyone’s luggage, Christoph trudged up the steps of the brick porch, smiling and embracing Edith.

Edith crossed her arms. “What’s with the formalities?”

“It’s been eight years since I last saw you,” Christoph explained. “That war kept our family apart for way too long.” He unwrapped his arms from her. “I didn’t think either of us would live to visit each other again like this. I almost got drafted into the Reichswehr.”

“…I suppose you’re right,” she sighed, eyeing Christoph’s comrades. “These are your friends from Stettin, is that right?” Edith turned away from them.    

Christoph nodded. He and Edith stepped away from the doorway as Andreas carried suitcases into the house with Wilhelm and Max trailing behind. “Andreas, Wilhelm and Maxmillian or ‘Max’ for short,” Christoph told her.    

“Should Lena cook breakfast for them?” she asked him. 

“That won’t be necessary,” he replied. “We already ate upon leaving the airport.”       

Edith shut the door. “What brought you here, cousin?”

“We were sent here by the ‘Adalbert Institute for the Study of Foreign Economies’ as part of the international relief mission,” Christoph spoke. “The Adalbert Institute is named after the incumbent Reichspräsident, who commissioned it to develop cultural understanding of postcapitalist economic systems among young people. The organization is interested in learning how these new postwar American nations are adjusting to a world without Neoliberalism.”

“Sounds really boring if you ask me,” Edith yawned, stretching her arms. “For a second, I thought you were going to say that Reichspräsident Adalbert himself had your comrades sent on an espionage or diplomatic mission involving the FAU’s fledgling Student Government.”  

“You know I was never interested in becoming a spy,” Christoph reminded her.   

“Then what is there to know about the FAU and the postwar American nations?” Edith mused. “Some of the former US States are State Capitalist, gradually developing toward certain variants of Syndicalism, Corporatism, and Socialism.”

“It’s too early to draw conclusions,” Christoph responded. “The postwar power vacuum is poised to attract any number of political parties and movements. Nobody knows for certain whether the former US States will be able to stabilize themselves on their own.”

“Are you planning to travel elsewhere?” she asked.

“For now,” he retorted, “Our area of interest is the FAU. My comrades and I are not going to any of the other former US States controlled by the Soviets, Chinese or Japanese. The FAU is one of the two countries that half of Europe and the Fatherland helped prop up recently.” Christoph smirked. “You and Lena are more than welcome to help us with our research.”       

“We might,” she retorted. “If you and your friends help the family business first.” 

Categories: Blog Post

Tags: Economics, Federalist Party, Fiction, Finance, Hamiltonianism, Philosophy, Politics, Psychology, Socialist Finance, Third Place, United States, Work-Standard