Meanwhile, the healthcare debate rages in the United States. Arizona Senator Sam Richards plans to rewrite the way medical care is financed, and he’s joined forces with Martin Henderson, CEO of Marker Health, an insurance conglomerate poised to become the “universal healthcare” administrator. Senator Cynthia “Maddi” Madison can’t decide if Martin is truly a decent man trying to improve situations for everyone or if he is an opportunist seeking a chance to profit.

As Maddi tackles the issue of healthcare reform, she finds herself pitted against a formidable and dangerous colleague. What begins as a healthy senate debate gradually becomes a fight to the death—a good and evil battle for victory. She realizes that she and her friends are in danger as they work for a solution to the healthcare problems facing Americans.

As young Voltaire prepares to enter manhood and take his place at the table, he finds himself disagreeing with what “They” say about the upcoming US Presidential election. Emboldened by the impetuous confidence of youth and the fresh face of Barack Obama, he decides to do something about it.

The result is a hilarious, uncompromising look at modern society. Religion, gender, race, celebrity, class—nothing is sacred in this sensationalized romp through the incestuous world of American pop-political culture that chronicles an insider’s fanciful interplay with all the characters. From Caribou Barbie to terrorist pals who made the 2008 campaign one for the ages, For the People intersperses real life with fiction—but is it really fiction? While the outcome of the 2008 Presidential election may be known, this surreal journey behind the election, with its many twists and turns, poses real questions for the people to answer about our role and responsibility in it all.

As young Voltaire prepares to enter manhood and take his place at the table, he finds himself disagreeing with what “They” say about the upcoming US Presidential election. Emboldened by the impetuous confidence of youth and the fresh face of Barack Obama, he decides to do something about it.

The result is a hilarious, uncompromising look at modern society. Religion, gender, race, celebrity, class—nothing is sacred in this sensationalized romp through the incestuous world of American pop-political culture that chronicles an insider’s fanciful interplay with all the characters. From Caribou Barbie to terrorist pals who made the 2008 campaign one for the ages, For the People intersperses real life with fiction—but is it really fiction? While the outcome of the 2008 Presidential election may be known, this surreal journey behind the election, with its many twists and turns, poses real questions for the people to answer about our role and responsibility in it all.

As young Voltaire prepares to enter manhood and take his place at the table, he finds himself disagreeing with what “They” say about the upcoming US Presidential election. Emboldened by the impetuous confidence of youth and the fresh face of Barack Obama, he decides to do something about it.

The result is a hilarious, uncompromising look at modern society. Religion, gender, race, celebrity, class—nothing is sacred in this sensationalized romp through the incestuous world of American pop-political culture that chronicles an insider’s fanciful interplay with all the characters. From Caribou Barbie to terrorist pals who made the 2008 campaign one for the ages, For the People intersperses real life with fiction—but is it really fiction? While the outcome of the 2008 Presidential election may be known, this surreal journey behind the election, with its many twists and turns, poses real questions for the people to answer about our role and responsibility in it all.

Meanwhile, the healthcare debate rages in the United States. Arizona Senator Sam Richards plans to rewrite the way medical care is financed, and he’s joined forces with Martin Henderson, CEO of Marker Health, an insurance conglomerate poised to become the “universal healthcare” administrator. Senator Cynthia “Maddi” Madison can’t decide if Martin is truly a decent man trying to improve situations for everyone or if he is an opportunist seeking a chance to profit.

As Maddi tackles the issue of healthcare reform, she finds herself pitted against a formidable and dangerous colleague. What begins as a healthy senate debate gradually becomes a fight to the death—a good and evil battle for victory. She realizes that she and her friends are in danger as they work for a solution to the healthcare problems facing Americans.

Meanwhile, the healthcare debate rages in the United States. Arizona Senator Sam Richards plans to rewrite the way medical care is financed, and he’s joined forces with Martin Henderson, CEO of Marker Health, an insurance conglomerate poised to become the “universal healthcare” administrator. Senator Cynthia “Maddi” Madison can’t decide if Martin is truly a decent man trying to improve situations for everyone or if he is an opportunist seeking a chance to profit.

As Maddi tackles the issue of healthcare reform, she finds herself pitted against a formidable and dangerous colleague. What begins as a healthy senate debate gradually becomes a fight to the death—a good and evil battle for victory. She realizes that she and her friends are in danger as they work for a solution to the healthcare problems facing Americans.

Ten years ago, Kelly only wanted to reduce suffering and move much-needed funds to where they would do the most good for patients instead of increasing the bottom lines of politicians and conglomerate healthcare industries. Instead, he helped create a dark monster that threatened to devour American health standards, and with the crooked administration adding to the plan, it only made things worse. Now, with the current administration on the verge of continuing the dramatic decline of American healthcare with a president whose power and ego climaxes even the most adulated world leaders, Kelly knows there are no options left. If the people of the great United States of America are to ever have quality healthcare again, Kelly must make a move that will change the course of history—if he has the guts to pull the trigger…

Ten years ago, Kelly only wanted to reduce suffering and move much-needed funds to where they would do the most good for patients instead of increasing the bottom lines of politicians and conglomerate healthcare industries. Instead, he helped create a dark monster that threatened to devour American health standards, and with the crooked administration adding to the plan, it only made things worse. Now, with the current administration on the verge of continuing the dramatic decline of American healthcare with a president whose power and ego climaxes even the most adulated world leaders, Kelly knows there are no options left. If the people of the great United States of America are to ever have quality healthcare again, Kelly must make a move that will change the course of history—if he has the guts to pull the trigger…

Wanting to return to power after Russia became a separate state, several leaders of the Communist Party decide that their best chance is to bring someone in to lead, and make a serious attempt at making Russia a private sector economy. The idea is to have that person fail, so that the people will hunger for the return to Communism. They decide on Alexi Debenov, a University of Moscow physics professor, who loves his countrymen, and has an overabundance of compassion.

Taking the position, he realizes that he has been set up to fail. He also realizes that he does not really know practical private enterprise, so he goes in search of assistance. He ends up choosing his nephew, Mikhail. The young man had been a Soviet spy, but had defected when he became successful in America. When Alexi approaches him, he refuses because he certainly does not want to give up his condo in Santa Monica, or the one on Maui.

Alexi, after another failed effort to have Mikhail return to Russia decides to have him kidnapped. Once in Russia, Mikhail’s own compassion kicks in, and the hijinks begin.

Wanting to return to power after Russia became a separate state, several leaders of the Communist Party decide that their best chance is to bring someone in to lead, and make a serious attempt at making Russia a private sector economy. The idea is to have that person fail, so that the people will hunger for the return to Communism. They decide on Alexi Debenov, a University of Moscow physics professor, who loves his countrymen, and has an overabundance of compassion.

Taking the position, he realizes that he has been set up to fail. He also realizes that he does not really know practical private enterprise, so he goes in search of assistance. He ends up choosing his nephew, Mikhail. The young man had been a Soviet spy, but had defected when he became successful in America. When Alexi approaches him, he refuses because he certainly does not want to give up his condo in Santa Monica, or the one on Maui.

Alexi, after another failed effort to have Mikhail return to Russia decides to have him kidnapped. Once in Russia, Mikhail’s own compassion kicks in, and the hijinks begin.

"Having served with Bill Shepard in Viet-Nam, I value his diplomatic skills highly. In The Saladin Affair, his imaginative and accurate depictions of Vienna, Dublin and Riga, which I know well, put you into those cities and the world of high stakes diplomacy." Vernon Penner, former Ambassador to Cape Verde (1986-1990) and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs.