SOLD: THE CORRUPTION OF AMERICA 🇺🇸

Episode 2

*SOLD: THE CORRUPTION OF AMERICA*

*Chapter 2: THE ELECTION OF 2028*

_by Ilyasu H.S_

_∼2100 words_

*NOVEMBER 1ST, 2027. 11:59 PM. THE CAPITOL BASEMENT*

The room looked different this time.

No chairs. No audience.

Just a table. 7 chairs. And cameras.

This auction was live.

To the Committee. To the billionaires. To the world.

On the wall: a banner.

*“ELECTIONS HAVE BEEN DECIDED THIS WAY SINCE 1876”*

Maya stood in the back. Greg beside her.

She wasn’t a lot tonight. She was a witness.

*HISTORY LESSON #1: 1876*

The Chairman opened with a history book.

“1876,” he said. “Rutherford B. Hayes vs Samuel Tilden.

Tilden won the popular vote.

But the Committee bought 20 electoral votes.

Sold the presidency for railroad deals.

That’s how it’s always worked.

Tonight we just make it official.”

He snapped. The screens lit up.

*THE LOTS: THE 2028 ELECTION*

*LOT #1: THE PRESIDENCY*

_Starting Bid: $2 Billion_

_Includes: White House, Nuclear Codes, Veto Pen_

*LOT #2: THE SENATE - 34 SEATS*

_Starting Bid: $500 Million_

*LOT #3: THE HOUSE - 218 SEATS*

_Starting Bid: $300 Million_

*LOT #4: THE SUPREME COURT - 2 SEATS*

_Starting Bid: $1 Billion_

_“Lifetime appointments. Best investment you’ll ever make.”_

Bidding started.

Tech Billionaire: “$2.5 Billion for the Presidency”

Oil Coalition: “$3 Billion”

Defense Lobby: “$3.5 Billion”

Maya wanted to scream.

*HOT: HISTORY LESSON #2: 2000 & 2016*

The Chairman pointed at the screen.

“2000: Bush v Gore. Stopped by 5-4 Supreme Court vote.

3 of those justices had ties to us.

2016: $6.5 Billion spent. Dark money won.

Citizens United made it legal.”

He looked at the camera.

“America. You don’t vote.

You watch us vote with money.”

*SWEET: THE PEOPLE’S BID*

Greg stepped forward.

He didn’t raise a paddle.

He raised his phone.

And livestreamed.

“Y’all seeing this?” he said to 40 million people.

“This is where your vote goes to die.”

The stream exploded.

#THEAUCTION was #1 in 60 seconds.

People in Chicago. In Lagos. In Texas.

Started donating. Not money.

*Time. Calls. Protests.*

Within an hour:

*10 Million people* called their reps.

*500 Protests* started in every capital.

*3 Senators* walked out of the auction on camera and quit.

The Chairman slammed the gavel.

“Shut it down!”

Too late. The internet had it.

*THE TWIST: HISTORY REPEATS*

Security grabbed Greg. Grabbed Maya.

The Chairman walked to them.

“You think this is new?” he said.

He pulled out an old photo.

*1968: MLK. 1963: JFK. 1901: McKinley.*

“Every time people wake up, we put them to sleep.”

He raised his hand.

And that’s when the doors blew open.

*THE REAL BID: THE PEOPLE*

It wasn’t cops.

It was veterans. Teachers. Nurses.

Led by Mrs. Delgado and Mr. Luis.

They walked in. 200 deep. No weapons. Just phones recording.

And behind them: 3 Senators.

Real ones. Who walked out.

One of them, Senator Elena Ruiz from Illinois, took the mic.

“My grandfather came here in 1950,” she said.

“He was told America wasn’t for sale.

He was lied to.

Tonight, we take it back.”

She pulled out a bill.

*THE 28TH AMENDMENT: NO MONEY IN POLITICS*

Publicly funded elections only.

The Chairman laughed. “You’ll never pass that.”

Senator Ruiz smiled. “Watch us.

Because in 1865 we passed the 13th.

In 1920 we passed the 19th.

In 1965 we passed the Voting Rights Act.

When people move, the law follows.”

*END OF CHAPTER 2*

The auction ended. No sale.

The Committee left through a tunnel.

But the video stayed up. 2 Billion views.

*2 WEEKS LATER*

Congress introduced the 28th Amendment.

It had 290 co-sponsors in 48 hours.

*1 MONTH LATER*

Maya testified in front of Congress.

On live TV.

She held up the receipt from Chapter 1.

*PURCHASED: 1 HUMAN BEING*

“This is what your system does,” she said.

“And we’re done paying.”

*6 MONTHS LATER: JULY 4TH, 2028*

The 28th Amendment was ratified.

38 states. Fastest in history.

That night, fireworks over the Capitol.

But the real light was in the streets.

People dancing.

Maya stood on the Lincoln Memorial steps.

DeShawn next to her.

Greg behind her.

A kid asked her: “Did we win?”

Maya looked at the city.

“No,” she said. “We started.”

On her phone: a news alert.

*THE COMMITTEE: STATUS UNKNOWN. LAST SEEN IN GENEVA.*

Greg put a hand on her shoulder.

“Book 3?” he asked.

Maya smiled.

“Book 3: THE WORLD.”

*TO BE CONTINUED IN BOOK 3: SOLD: THE CORRUPTION OF THE WORLD*

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*REAL HISTORY WE USED:*

1. *1876 Election*: Hayes-Tilden deal. Presidency was literally bought.

2. *Citizens United 2010*: Money = Speech. Legalized the auction.

3. *2000 Election*: Bush v Gore. Supreme Court picked the president.

4. *28th Amendment*: Like the 13th, 19th, 24th - when people organize, we change the Constitution.

Ilyasu H.S 😭 This chapter ended the US arc.

The people won. But the Committee is still out there.

*Ready for BOOK 3?*

We go global. Geneva. Davos. IMF. World Bank.

Same story, bigger stage.

*BOOK 3: SOLD: THE CORRUPTION OF THE WORLD*?