An Independent in 2000

Timeline of An Independent in 2000

1963

 * A Seattle couple discover an infant lost on a hiking trail in Mt. Rainier National Park. His family is no where to be found and there is no evidence of where the child came from. The couple decide to adopt the child after they the ranger station informs them that their have been no reports of parents loosing their children. He is adopted as Charles Malcolm Edwards.

1976

 * Charles Edwards enters into the Propulsion Engineering program at UC Berkley, where he minors in Political Science.

1977

 * 'Edwards' mother dies of untreated ovarian cancer. When he learns that their medical insurance wouldn't cover his mother, Edwards vows to never let his tragedy befall anyone else. He changes his Major to Political science and minors in Propulsion Engineering.

1984

 * Edwards' graduates from Berkley with a Doctorate in Political Science, and honors from his work in the Propulsion Department of the University.

1988

 * Edwards' founds Seattle Dynamics, a Propulsion Firm that specializes in Scramjets. Edwards signs his first contract to the military to develop a stealth cruise missile. His IPO at the end of the year makes him millions more.

1992

 * Edwards designs, builds, and tests the world's first Pulse Detonation Jet Engine; he becomes a household name overnight.
 * The Air Force purchases the PDE for the F-22 and F-35 fighter jets. Their production is stepped up with the superior engine technology.
 * Boeing announces the development of the 777 HyperLiner, an aircraft that will make a three hour flight from New York to Tokyo.

1995

 * Edwards usurps Seattle Mayor Norm Rice in the 94' election, and reduces government waste by billions. He changes zoning laws to encourage growth, and redirects funds for Medical Care Subsidies.

1996

 * Edwards begins the Emerald City Program. A long term goal to increase development and promote economic growth.

1998

 * Seattle begins construction of what is to be the worlds tallest building, the Emerald Tower. Set to be 2100 feet tall, and act as a vertical city, it is to be finished in 2003.

1999

 * Edwards, now one of the world's richest men, wins a second term in a landslide victory. Seattle now one of the wealthiest cities in America, and education and healthcare are free within the city. Their are now growing calls for a 2000 presidential bid.

2000

 * Edwards announces his candidacy for President as an independent. Utilizing the power of internet donations and webcasts of his speeches and policies, Edwards quickly establishes dominance on the West Coast, running on a campaign for Universal Healthcare, Education Reform, and continuing fiscal responsibility.

2001
9/11:Two passenger aircraft crash into the World Trade Center, one into the Pentagon, and one is brought down in Pennsylvania. President Edwards immediately orders a covert operation to capture and kill the plotters. The action is broadcast uncensored across the world and Edwards issues a single threat, "Don't ever think you can attack the people of this country, and get away with it." The act is controversial, but within three months following the subsequent invasion of Afghanistan, terrorist cells all over the world are being turned in by their nations that harbor them. In some circles there was talk of impeachment articles being passed against Edwards for torture, though when it became obvious that the Constitution does not apply to foreign citizens, the issue was promptly dropped.
 * After several successful debates, and the announcement of Senator John McCain for his VP slot, Edwards wins a 40% plurality. His first 100 days are marked by the Right Track Act, the massive reductions in spending, and the reform of the military to a lighter, more agile force.
 * Russian President Vladimir is visited by President Edwards for their first meeting. What was hoped to be a formality by Russia, ends with Edwards asking Russia to join the US in a new series of nuclear arms reduction, if the US agrees to halt development of the Missile Defense Shield until an agreement can be made between all nations about comprehensive nuclear proliferation.
 * President Edwards condemns the proposed Patriot Act in its current form, stating that it effectively gives the Executive Branch the right to ignore civil liberties and Constitutional Law for the purpose of tracking down terrorists. He also stated that, "While we experience a new enemy that holds no value to the lives of the innocent; driving us to abandon our highest held beliefs in the face of fear, would be a far greater victory for any terrorist group than the September 11th attacks could ever have hoped to have been."
 * The Patriot Act is revised to establish a Department of Homeland Security, and increase Airport and Border Security. Secretary of Commerce and Transportation Nader's proposed aircraft doors are immediately put into effect, and Air Marshals are put on every American airliners.

2002

 * With the War on Terror going so well, Edward's is able to pass his Universal Health Care legislation with little effort. The War in Afghanistan proceeds swimmingly, many acclaim the success to Edward's military reform, and the invention of the Mobile Palisade.
 * Russia reluctantly agrees to send troops into Afghanistan to assist the war effort. There are growing calls for Russia to join NATO from outside and within.
 * China refuses to join the War in Afghanistan, though continues to support the War on Terror. Currently the nation is vastly increasing efforts to stop drug trafficking, and is working with the other members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to crack down on illegal arms dealing.

2003

 * Stem Cell Research gains funding in America, and the Kyoto Protocol is revised encourage growth while cutting emissions. When Iraq is confirmed to have used VX gas in the Kurdish Genocide, Edwards implores the UN to arrest Saddam. The UN Multilateral Force does so in a matter of weeks, placing an intern government under marshal law and dividing up Iraq into three new Republics. Though internal hostilities are much smaller than OTL, (primarily because the Sunnis, Shia, and Kurds now have their own independent nations) the UN maintains a presence in Iraq until 2006. The year ends with the US beginning its New Frontiers Program for space exploration.
 * NeoConGate begins in America, and by the end of the subsequent impeachment proceedings, President Edwards (just barely escaping impeachment) disbands the DHS, and breaks it up into the far more nimble agencies it was made of.
 * Turkey recognizes Kurdistan in exchange for full European Union membership.
 * Kurdistan begins inviting foreign oil companies into their nation.

2004

 * After the Neo-Conservative Conspiracy comes to light, Edwards fire's his Vice President and Congress files Impeachment Proceedings on 55 government officials. Edwards declares his New VP to be Defense Secretary Wesley Clark, and begins his campaign against McCain in the 2004 election.
 * The US sends far more aide to the Tsunami Zone than OTL, so much so that India signs a new trade and security agreement with the US ensuring significant reductions in nuclear materials.
 * Russia finally elects to join NATO as a full member, though declines all proposals to join the EU. Still a member of the SCO, Russia begins to act as a bridge between East and West.

2005

 * President Edwards wins the election with 70% of the electorate. When Hurricane Katrina makes landfall in New Orleans, the Edwards administration gains international respect for his handling of the disaster. The new US shuttle makes its test flight for the Moon.
 * The New Orleans Protocol are signed by the end of the year with the conclusion on the International Forum on the Study of Climate Change. The measures set by the Protocol, push for an international cap on greenhouse gas emissions, and implement the cap and trade system world wide. An International research forum is created to further the exchange of climate combating technologies, and a measure to reduce emissions to 80% of 2000 levels by 2050 is passed. The Europeans commit to achieving that goal in 2025, the US in 2020.

2006

 * Humanity returns to the Moon with the new US Space Shuttle Orion. Captained by Commander Eileen Collins, the crew begins to establish the first lunar base, as they prepare for their two week stay. The crew of seven, made up of four Americans, two Russians, and one British astronaut, is signaled as a continuing effort towards international Unity.
 * A US mission to 433 Eros yields ten time the US GDP in mineral rights. NASA immediately contracts multiple private space flight companies to mine and ship the precious metals back to Earth.
 * With the largest surplus in history, President Edwards declares a moratorium on the majority of taxes, and passes legislation that directs the surplus to the people as subsidies and entitlement programs. What becomes the Civilization Acts creates a series of new programs and causes a surge in the US economy to a level unseen at any other time in history. Free and Universal Healthcare is expanded to include high quality care, Right Track is given more funds to insure college for any citizen who wants to attend; Habitat for Humanity is given over a trillion dollars to ensure a home for every American, and the US Job Corps is creates to obliterate unemployment.

2007

 * With the US average income now close to half a million dollars per person, the US economy is exploding. With cheap materials in large supply, high quality American goods can be purchased by the average citizen. To cope with the rising economy, the Federal Reserve raises the interest rates to the point where the dollar is worth as much as it was in the late 1800s. Inflation evaporates, and the US pardons all debts from every country that has ever owed money to America.
 * The US Space Program is expanded to begin manned exploration of Mars by 2012, using the massive IEV. NASA is now given discretion over two trillion dollars of the US budget. They immediately begin allocating them to private firms to build a civilian space industry, and put billion into building the IEV and the new Lunar Base.
 * By April, US goods are the most desirable in the world, with the US economy supplanting those of every other country. Europe, in an emergency session, passes in popular referendum the European Constitution, and establishes Europe as a single country. China concedes to Taiwan's demands to move to a more democratic government and unites with Taiwan and Mongolia.
 * In an emergency session of the Organization of American States, the crippled economies of the other North American nations, propose a Unity under the US Constitution. President Edwards signs the Panama Act by the end of the year and the US expands to encompass all of North America.

2008

 * Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez is implicated in funding drug cartels when a leader of FARC is killed. Edwards condemns Chavez for "Trafficking a poison that has corrupted our nation's youth" and silently funds opposition groups who re-enter the national assembly with a majority and impeach Chavez.
 * NATO is reformed into the Northern Defense Coalition, now including just the EU, Russia, and the US. While basically the same alliance, the Coalition is now intended to stipulate an end to strategic nuclear warfare, and eventually put a Northern Missile Shield in place.
 * Immediately following the birth of NDC, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, forms the East Asian Co-Prosperity, after the Opt out of Russia.
 * The Japanese diet openly consider becoming part of the NDC as well as South Korea.
 * Barack Obama wins in a landslide to become the 44th President of the United States.
 * Edwards begins to become concerned about a "second cold war," this time between North and South