Great twist Paul, then those with the "free hand" could end up in self destructive civil war and America becomes more of the country it set out to be.

Seeing various religious and war lord characters in the US like Rumsfeld , Sanctorum and Delay become instruments for peace and understanding would be fun.

Catching the "peace disease" could be protrayed with much fear and loathing among right wing proponents. The flu vaccine to prevent the peace bug epidemic could be corrupted by a group of "enlightened" scientists.

Yes Paul your idea will help this book write itself.
the original book Time Machine where the future surface people were peaceful to the point of being subvervient to the underground monsters? We might already be there.