2044

After America's drug war ended, in surrender, the full legalization of all hard drugs transformed society in unforeseen ways. Twenty short years after burying millions of Americans, most from Fentanyl overdoses, this powerful synthetic opioid is now a key ingredient in medicated patches that are worn by nearly every American.
It is the year 2044 and pain has been eradicated. Every American wears a wristband that does everything from monitor health and wellness to control sleep patterns, all in an unceasing effort by "The System" to optimize personal productivity. The web-integrated wristbands make every aspect of life enjoyable and easy. Financial transactions are completed by merely speaking, or a wave of the hand. The bands automatically sync to display screens that are free and ubiquitous, and thus information, games and entertainment are available anywhere and everywhere. But most importantly, the bands sync to the customized medicated patches that contain all the necessary vitamins, supplements, and medications that keep everyone working long hours without complaint.
America's AI planned society and her economy have become the envy of the world, but with the ultimate goal of the algorithms being the continuous and perpetual betterment of America and her citizens, what next?
In 1949 Orwell published a horrific view of a distant and unimaginable future, a future that we now see clearly in our collective rearview mirror. The horrors in 2044 aren't distant or unimaginable. They are frighteningly close.