All twelve Senators were in their designated places well before the ten o'clock deadline; David Luther found his seat was right next to the President's seat, which seemed to have more in common with a throne than a conference seat. On the President's left was the UN representative, then the Senator for the United States, the late President Orwell's Chief of Staff, next to the US sat the Senator for South America. On Luther's right was Germany then the EU member, then the Senator from the Antipodeans Commonwealth (Australia and New Zealand), then China and Central Asian Pacific Union. On the opposite side of the table, and next to South America, came South and Central Africa, the Senator for South Africa itself, then Sub Saharan Africa. The final seat was occupied by Ed Cohen, representing Israel as a temporary measure whilst a full time Senator was elected by the Israeli government, which was in recess due to the impending Passover public holiday.
The Room had been equipped with built in cameras, so the world and its friend were watching. Rick had equipped himself with a gavel and on the stroke of ten he hammered on the table to bring the Senate to order. “Welcome to the inaugural meeting of the World Senate, you who sit around this table are making history, and making a template for others who follow you, to continue. Your allegiance must be to this administration, not, I emphasise NOT, to the governments who nominated you. Our decisions are for the whole world, not in line with local interests. When you are asked to vote on a motion, that vote will take place immediately, there will be no recess to allow consultations with your various governments and communications will be disabled during the voting period. Now we come to the first business of this Senate.” President Pickles opened a file in front of him that contained a wad of sheets of paper, several of which he passed down the table.
“I have not been idle over the past few days; here are a number of edicts that need your consideration and stamp of approval. Firstly, the World decrees that all existing national and union governments are hence to bear the status of 'Local Assemblies'. This is an essential move as they will no longer be dealing with any policy that involves other nations. The Assembly will deal with collecting taxes, and the budgets allocated by this administration within their area of authority. Budgets will be allocated in due course in accordance with population and need.”
“Secondly, following what happened just a few weeks ago ALL military, army, air force, and navies, will from the end of this week, Midnight on Saturday, come under the command of this administration, with me as Commander in Chief. There will be no exceptions.
Thirdly, it will be required that all citizens will be required to register for world citizenship; we need an accurate census of world-wide population. Eventually all citizens will be fitted with sub-dermal chips and will be expected to swear total allegiance to the World Government. Identities will be important part of managing both finance and resource allocation.”
“Fourth: the financial system. In time all cash and currency will be made extinct and will be replaced by a system of credits, these credits will be managed through the sub-dermal chips, credits will be added over the Earth-net and purchases and services will be subtracted at point of sale using scanners. There will be an end to identity fraud, tax avoidance and robbery. Commerce will be taxed on the same basis as the individual, and taxes on profit will be taken at source at the point of payment. I suggest the new currency could be called the ‘Uni-dollar’ (U$).
Fifth. In recognition to the help and assistance, not to mention trust that Israel has given me, I am today commissioning the rebuilding of the third temple on the Temple mount. Engineers, the best the world has to offer, have already started surveys of the site, working around the current conditions there, the temple will be built using the already approved design.”
“These then are my first five executive orders, and I now turn to the Senate to approve these measures unanimously,” President Pickles then addresses the Senators directly, “the papers you have before you, merely require your signature and your official seal. You will each find your own personalised seal machine in the pigeon hole beneath the table to your right. I am expecting you to show a unanimous front, discussion will be encouraged but decent will not be tolerated.” The Senators looked stunned, and stared at each other for nearly a full minute. “Come now people, these are measures that are fair and need to be done for the benefit of the world's whole population.” Germany was the first to nod and sign, and slowly all the remainder followed suit. The deed was done.