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Off Topic » in reply to What the hell do conservatives want? An alternate history project

I wish I was that good
Tom Brosz — (archived)

To do that up right would require a much more extensive knowledge of historical details than I possess, and weeks of research.

I will make a few general comments:

I believe that in general, many of the socialist mechanisms put in place over the years (and not just by FDR) were not necessary, at least in that form, to solve the problems they addressed. On the other hand, I have seen an arguable case made that had not FDR gone for the leftist solutions that he did, more radical forces may have taken over before the market system recovered on its own. Remember, this was back when people thought Communism worked.

That Roosevelt would have gone much further in socializing America is almost undeniable. Had his health been good, he would have pretty much ended up President For Life. Presidential term limits passed after his death, and I doubt they would have passed had he still been President. He had ambitions for his "progressive" ideas that went far beyond what was enacted.

On the other hand, would a less activist president pursued WWII like Roosevelt did? Phillip K. Dick's "Man in the High Castle" postulates a history where Roosevelt was assassinated, the U.S. maintained neutrality in WWII, and the West fell.

There are so many points of divergence. Research will show that many, many other people have already addressed alternate histories of this kind.

Although not specifically related to Roosevelt, I can also recommend L. Neil Smith's "Probability Broach" SF series, which includes that title and several others. Smith is far more radical a libertarian than I am, and proposed a marvelous anarcholibertarian parallel history that diverged just after the Revolutionary War. The key fork in history?

Their Declaration of Independence reads: "That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their powers from the unanimous consent of the governed."

The Whiskey Rebellion succeeded, and Washington was put against a wall and shot. Over the next 200 years, hijinks ensue.

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