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Chapter XV
Qilai! Qilai!
A History of Modern China and the World
Jiang Weiwei (Revolutionary Kuomintang)
February 2014 - January 2017
A History of Modern China and the World
Jiang Weiwei (Revolutionary Kuomintang)
February 2014 - January 2017
Jiang Weiwei inherited a powderkeg, in a sense. While China's economy was slowing down, it seemed fit to continue to grow for years to come. However... sometimes, things are not meant to last. In March 2014, the United States subprime housing bubble, and the DotCom bubble burst, sending the American and Chinese economies into a state of absolute shock, as billions were shed seemingly overnight. The Chinese government had to act immediately to stem the tide of the recession that was now surging through out the world. Jiang ordered the closure of all Chinese banks, and the immediate investigation into the major banks and lenders that had been responsible for the creation of this crisis. The closure of the banks across China did not play well for Jiang, and there was some protest over people not being able to access their money in a timely fashion.
In the United States, President James Hill of the Democratic Party had managed to grip on with his might, but the economy was in free-fall and showing no signs of slowing down. Elected in 2012 after defeating Hillary Williams in her final attempt at the White House, he had come into office at literally the worst time, just like Chairman Jiang. Unwilling to simply forgive the big banks whom had caused this disaster, President Hill gave a scathing speech and called for immediate investigations into the matters of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Bank of America, CitiGroup, Chase Bank, and even the United States Federal Treasury.
U.S. President James Hill addressing Congress
However, President Hill faced a new kind of opposition. Taking advantage of the shuttering of banks, and the anemic near-collapse of the American and Chinese stock exchanges, the Patriotic Movement used the opportunity to tout how the foolish dogma of the Democrats and Republicans, and their Chinese and Soviet communist allies had doomed capitalism in America, and unless 'real solutions' were put into place, it would never improve. Several 'Conservatives' in Congress whom had largely been pushed out of the frame by moderates, liberals and progressives, were moved enough to defect parties, giving the Patriotic Movement an unprecedented 37 seats in the Senate, and 186 House Seats as well. The Democrats maintained a majority, but both them and the Republicans were hurting. Growing discontent within the party ranks was causing further fraction, as Conservatives unconvinced by Populism looked to split their own way, Socialists and Communists were heavily learning towards departing the mainstream parties, and pushed for change.
President Hill was soon regretting the bill he had pushed for on the campaign trail. The United States had passed a bill in 2013 changing the electoral system. Instead of mandating a winner-take-all system like had been in place for generations, the United States adopted a proportional voting system, which meant that the third parties now had a fighting chance, and with that, it seemed as if the Big Tent parties were fit to come crumbling down. By 2015, the system was a number of spinning cogs flying off of the handle, and Hill was facing unbelievable opposition at home, from within his own party, more so than anything. A young woman named Koharu Toyama, age 18, was beginning to take shape as the leader of a grassroots movement of liberal and socialist young Americans. After the death of her Congressman in May 2015, the girl announced her intention to run for Congress, literally days after turning 18. Her campaign, which was ran out of her father's garage in the small Florida suburban town, she gained local attention as dozens of students from her college and high school came to help her in their endeavors. She ran for the Democratic nomination for the seat, and faced opposition, but the media power seemed to favor her and her 'underdog' story. When the run-off election came, she defeated her Patriotic Movement and Republican adversaries 41-39-20. America's youngest Congresswoman had grand ideas for the Republic, and wouldn't be content to sit and do nothing. She was out for blood.
In China, Jiang had his own fair share of problems. He was not able to deflect the blame on the housing and economic crisis on the other parties, but instead, he was saddled with it, with many people lampooning the idea of electing an artist as Chairman. Many people even bothered to compare Jiang to Hitler-- "failed artist, economic downturn... authoritarian despots?"--which faced some criticism across China and other nations. Despite the best efforts of Jiang, the economy did not improve going into 2015, and the Tripartite Powers and their interests were soon threatened in June 2015, when what was supposed to be a pop culture event, turned into a nightmare...
In the United States, President James Hill of the Democratic Party had managed to grip on with his might, but the economy was in free-fall and showing no signs of slowing down. Elected in 2012 after defeating Hillary Williams in her final attempt at the White House, he had come into office at literally the worst time, just like Chairman Jiang. Unwilling to simply forgive the big banks whom had caused this disaster, President Hill gave a scathing speech and called for immediate investigations into the matters of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Bank of America, CitiGroup, Chase Bank, and even the United States Federal Treasury.
U.S. President James Hill addressing Congress
President Hill was soon regretting the bill he had pushed for on the campaign trail. The United States had passed a bill in 2013 changing the electoral system. Instead of mandating a winner-take-all system like had been in place for generations, the United States adopted a proportional voting system, which meant that the third parties now had a fighting chance, and with that, it seemed as if the Big Tent parties were fit to come crumbling down. By 2015, the system was a number of spinning cogs flying off of the handle, and Hill was facing unbelievable opposition at home, from within his own party, more so than anything. A young woman named Koharu Toyama, age 18, was beginning to take shape as the leader of a grassroots movement of liberal and socialist young Americans. After the death of her Congressman in May 2015, the girl announced her intention to run for Congress, literally days after turning 18. Her campaign, which was ran out of her father's garage in the small Florida suburban town, she gained local attention as dozens of students from her college and high school came to help her in their endeavors. She ran for the Democratic nomination for the seat, and faced opposition, but the media power seemed to favor her and her 'underdog' story. When the run-off election came, she defeated her Patriotic Movement and Republican adversaries 41-39-20. America's youngest Congresswoman had grand ideas for the Republic, and wouldn't be content to sit and do nothing. She was out for blood.
In China, Jiang had his own fair share of problems. He was not able to deflect the blame on the housing and economic crisis on the other parties, but instead, he was saddled with it, with many people lampooning the idea of electing an artist as Chairman. Many people even bothered to compare Jiang to Hitler-- "failed artist, economic downturn... authoritarian despots?"--which faced some criticism across China and other nations. Despite the best efforts of Jiang, the economy did not improve going into 2015, and the Tripartite Powers and their interests were soon threatened in June 2015, when what was supposed to be a pop culture event, turned into a nightmare...
- Asami
- Word Count: 810