Joe lives in the year 2060. In 2060, there are two kinds of people in the USA: Vetted Citizens [VC] and Un-Vetted [UV].

Joe is a UV. He is a Starbucks robot repair supervisor. He only owes $8m in back-taxes [see below].

Most of the world’s elite [VCs] have left the planet for their new, pristine, gated community on Teegarden B. Some VCs remain Earth-bound to keep track of production, or to monitor slave labor. Other VCs remain voluntarily Earth-bound for various reasons.

The government is now officially a corporation: ‘AMERICORP’ – answerable exclusively to shareholder demands.

Education is on a 2-tier system:  all children must attend AMERICORP conditioning and indoctrination through grade 8. Education beyond that is highly restricted and is only available to extremely gifted UVs and only with a voucher from at least one VC.

High School through college is for VCs only with few exceptions [see above]. College is off-planet or via ZOOM uplink for Earth-based VCs.

The water available to Joe is unfit to drink even after boiling. Bottled water is outrageously expensive when available, and by mail order only – and UVs must pay the shipping cost. Water for home use is strictly rationed: UVs are only allowed 3 minutes to bathe/shower…on a timer. It is a federal crime to break the water timer built into every home. Dishes and clothes must also be washed during ‘shower time.’

The air in Joe’s world is hazardous to breathe. Masks must be worn outdoors at all times. There is a persistent shroud of brown smoke from constant, uncontrollable wild fires in Canada, California, Brazil and Siberia among others. Daily warnings to stay indoors at certain times of day are the norm. Ongoing volcanic eruptions also contribute to the poor air quality.

Food is tainted with pesticides and other biohazards such as untreated sewage and residue from prescription medications and plastic micro-particles. Levels of toxins are closely monitored by the Food & Drug Administration [FDA].

The FDA is no longer responsible or able to protect food quality due to budget cuts. In 2060, their job is to add drugs to the food supply and administer the amount of poisons permitted.

Drones hover overhead constantly in Joe’s world; primarily to monitor crime [observation only]; for Amazon deliveries, and for monitoring of resource usage by UVs. Amazon drones are full-spectrum, AI controlled, combat-ready, and have offensive capabilities to prevent shoot downs and pirating. In the past, desperate UVs were known to shoot down or hack into Amazon drones in order to commandeer their contents. That is no longer the case.

Cellphone towers are stationed on every corner, and they are used to gather all communications in UV neighborhoods [called “quadrants’], but mostly they are used to emit harmful EMF frequencies which are known to scramble UVs brains; incite violent behavior and mental confusion; and induce UVs to consume more products.

Healthcare is available on a cash basis only, payable up front… in total. If a health condition needs to be treated, you will be given a ‘Treatment Estimate’ [TE]. You must pay the [non-refundable] TE before any treatment begins.

Wells Fargo and Bank of America have merged [‘AmeriFargo’] to become the biggest – and only – bank available for use by UVs. Un-vetted citizens are those making less than $5m per year. Fully-vetted citizens have access to private on-line, offshore, off-planet banks.

Taxes are only paid by the un-vetted, and they begin at birth. Each newborn child has a ledger of tax credits owed, which they must work off throughout their life. Mandatory working age is 11. Every child must apply for a work permit at age 10½. If they do not apply for a work permit they will not be able to compete for the few jobs available.

Robot maintenance is the highest position available to the UV. Other jobs include: Starbucks robot monitor/repair; McDonald’s food taster; Amazon Meter Reader; Google drone camera repairman; Nestle water quality control monitor [monitors and adjusts the amount of toxins allowed].

Stamps are $120 each. Post office is now AmazonPost…no ‘non-Amazon’ items are permitted. Personal mail is delivered in person…or not at all.

Hacking is the most serious crime one can commit in Joe’s world, which carries a minimum sentence of life in prison.

Prisons are basically slave-labor camps where work is done with zero compensation; and prison work will not affect taxes owed to the ‘government.’

Guns are mandatory for all UVs. Weapons training begins in early childhood. Prison awaits those who refuse. Of course, fire arms are forbidden on Teegarden B.

Travel is restricted to foot only for UVs. However, the un-vetted can catch a ride on one of the many human powered carts which operate in most big cities. Carts are driven by 6 to 10 burly UVs and they are on a first-come, first serve basis only. Weaponry is highly recommended when traveling in 2060.

Joe doesn’t travel much.