The Gravity Tax — Day 21

Genre: Social Science Fiction

Premise: It is the year 2150. Ten years ago, in a last ditch attempt to keep the disastrous results of climate change in check, the world's three remaining mega-governments banded together and developed a way to control gravity. Once the gravity control network is switched on, it is the first respite Mankind has had from the super-storms, earthquakes, tidal waves and famine that have battered the planet for over 100 years. 

But operating the gravity field is laborious and difficult work, and requires great resources. As mankind has begun to resettle in cities and populations begin to grow again over the past decade, the question has been raised as to whether gravity control is a "right," and should be kept uniformly available to all, free of charge, or is a "privilege," and therefore should only be extended to those who can contribute back into the system. The gravity control grid works in zones, so in theory, the stabilizing effects of the system could be turned up, down, on and off to individual zones, like any old fashioned utility company used to do with their resources. For those zones, and people, where gravity control is turned off, the destructive natural effects of climate change are all but certain to return.    

The most populated and prosperous of the three mega-governments is PanAmerica, ruled from the capital city of New Denver. It is they who break the taboo and are the first to suggest that the era of free gravity must come to a close; It is time to tax gravity. The populace is so shocked, and angry, that it is agreed that the issue will be put to a direct vote—the first democratic vote in over 50 years.

For 6 months the public hears arguments for and against taxation. The other two mega-governments and their populaces watch in eager anticipation, with hope and dread, respectfully, of the outcome in PanAmerica. If gravity is taxed there, taxation is sure to spread to the entire planet.

At first the argument for taxation gains little traction in PanAmerica. But then the ProTax movement hits upon a brilliant and time honored tactic, stoking the fires of nationalism. IF taxation begins, their argument goes, it will not only make sure that PanAmerica has the best maintained gravity in the whole world, it will also afford the PanAmerican government more resources, which will raise the quality of life in other ways—not to mention give PanAmerica greater muscle to flex in its dealings with the other two mega-governments.

Our story begins in the week before the vote, and follows the plight of the chief debater from the opposition as he tries to persuade the voting public to vote against the tax. Along the way we meet a diverse cast of post apocalyptic survivors—government officials, media, activists, citizen-voters—all wrestling with issues of government and resource allocation for the first time in their lifetimes.