A Planet for the President
| Industry | Publishing |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
| Products | Books |
A Planet for the President (2004) is a novel by Alistair Beaton that offers a satirical examination of the potential decisions a U.S. president might make upon confronting the reality that global climate change is rendering Earth increasingly unlivable. Encouraged by his advisors to "consider the unimaginable," President Fletcher J. Fletcher endorses extreme actions aimed at stopping environmental degradation and cementing his reputation as Earth's protector. The work functions as a pointed political satire, providing an implicit critique of George W. Bush and his administration.
The novel was issued by Orion Books.
The environmental situation
As unprecedented natural catastrophes unfold, a growing segment of the American populace demands decisive presidential action on ecological matters. Despite this, Fletcher repeatedly dismisses scientific alerts as the ramblings of "eco-nuts." For example, following wildfires in California that claim the lives of 38 celebrities at a Malibu gathering and destroy the ancient General Sherman Tree, a 2,200-year-old emblem of American resilience, Fletcher justifies his inadequate environmental policies by blaming arsonists while overlooking the drought—partially caused by human factors—that exacerbated the fire's spread. The narrative notably precedes significant wildfire events that occurred in 2007 and 2018.
On a global scale, environmental crises intensify. The United Kingdom suffers extensive flooding in East Anglia; Prime Minister James Halstead sends Fletcher "the last cod from the North Sea in at least a decade," symbolizing species extinction. In Nepal, structural failures trigger a glacial lake outburst flood that devastates a valley and results in 62,000 fatalities. Within the U.S., Hurricane Wendy—a Category 5 cyclone—ravages New Orleans, causing over 23,000 deaths, foreshadowing the actual Hurricane Katrina disaster of 2005. Simultaneously, the bald eagle, America's national emblem, approaches extinction.
Amid this turmoil, worldwide leaders increasingly turn to the American President for direction, prompting Fletcher to contemplate both domestic and international circumstances:
Domestic politics
Though the United States remains nominally a democracy, Fletcher effectively commands a War Cabinet. Agencies such as the FBI, CIA, and the Pentagon have assumed control over most governmental operations. To divert criticism from presidential shortcomings, Fletcher’s closest aides operate with ruthless precision. For instance, after a televised White House encounter with a family who later perpetrates a brutal crime, Fletcher’s communications director and the Defense Secretary coordinate an airstrike on Haiti to redirect public attention. They justify this military action by citing alleged terrorist threats despite internal doubts about their legitimacy. The strike results in casualties among guerrillas and civilians alike, while the President commends national vigilance during a live broadcast.
Subsequently, the administration intensifies its approach by deploying a chemical attack that eliminates all nine members of the Supreme Court.
Civil liberties under this regime deteriorate sharply; citizens’ First Amendment rights are increasingly disregarded. Freedom of the press is virtually eradicated; opposition voices are forced underground as media outlets become gleichgeschaltet. Extensive use of covert surveillance devices ensures private conversations are monitored and recorded.
The U.S. defense budget soars to unprecedented levels while social welfare programs vanish. The administration champions traditional American values, discouraging imports of foreign foods and opposing vegetarianism. Female leadership is reduced to symbolic roles; teenage abstinence campaigns are widespread; and homosexuality faces broad social condemnation. Strong Christian influences permeate White House policy decisions.
This culminates in a profoundly hypocritical society: officials like Vince Lennox conceal their vegetarianism; celebrities publicly advocate moral causes while privately indulging in excess; and the President frequently retreats to his study—a euphemism among staff for drinking bourbon—particularly after his son openly comes out during a live television broadcast.
The approach: MPR and Operation Deliverance
Under the influence of a confidential government-backed think tank report, officials within the Fletcher Administration implement the contentious policy known as MPR—Mass Population Reduction—to confront the worldwide environmental emergency. Instead of encouraging sustainable practices or reducing emissions, their plan involves unleashing a pandemic that would eliminate six billion individuals—accounting for 96 percent of the global population—while sparing only American citizens. This is to be executed through a newly engineered deadly virus that causes immediate death unless vaccinated against.
To guarantee widespread vaccination, a government initiative persuades Americans that external adversaries are poised to launch biological attacks, employing tactics such as a chemical assault on the Supreme Court to generate fear and ensure compliance. Following this, "Operation Deliverance" is set in motion, with the U.S. aiming to colonize the Earth under a narrative claiming divine endorsement.
Preparations commence as President Fletcher announces an international environmental assessment, securing global cooperation and overflight permissions for U.S. military aircraft. Unbeknownst to other nations, these planes are outfitted to release the contagious virus worldwide. Simultaneously, vaccine production begins on a large scale, and inoculation of U.S. citizens is initiated. Initially, Fletcher cannot be vaccinated due to an allergy to eggs, but German advancements enable creation of an egg-free vaccine, allowing him to receive immunization.
Following the initiation of Operation Deliverance, numerous reports surface of vaccinated Americans dying unexpectedly. Subsequent investigations reveal that hasty vaccine manufacturing—driven by deregulation intended to favor business interests—compromised its safety and efficacy. ("The free market built America and the free market destroyed America.")
In the end, Fletcher J. Fletcher stands as the lone survivor, having received the only vaccine produced outside U.S. borders. He remains in the White House for several years until his eventual demise.
Reception
In a review published by The Independent, Tom Boncza-Tomaszewski characterized the novel as a "depressingly plausible satire," noting its characters were "all pretty vile — but pleasingly so." The work is also examined in the 2015 volume American Political Fictions: War on Errorism in Contemporary American Literature, Culture, and Politics.