I like this. There are some pretty good SciFi alternate history books out there which explore this theme. James Phillip's New England series is one of my favorites.
James Phillips has one series that starts off with George Washington being captured on Long Island. He has a separate series that starts off with a REALLY bad decision by JFK in October 1962. I’m keeping up with both. Fortunately for my wallet most of the books fall into Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited group
Just finished #13 (Manifest Destiny) . He says he'll probably write 20 or so. Other than seeming to require at least one Lesbian pair active all the time, very good in general.
Yeah, if London hadn't been so cheap towards colonial forces, we'd be learning how Lord Potomac (George Washington) put down the New England Rebellion.
I suspect we would have eventually expelled France. Spain also, as taking everything south to the beginning of South America would have made land defense easier.
And everybody watch Habitual Linecrosser's July 4th video!
Perfidious Albion...we are well shut of them. It's a shame we fell back into fighting their wars for them in the 20th century. They never have our best interests in mind.
We are a far more egalitarian and far less class conscious society, all other speculative alternative universes of faithful colonialism aside. As a working class Jew of modest means, I am thankful we kicked them to the kerb. There are far less barriers in this country for non-WASP to suceed than in the Commonwealth.
"We are a far more egalitarian and far less class conscious society,"
I'm sorry to see signs that this has reversed somewhat of late as some attempt to imbue all with immutable characteristics.
In our own little corner here, one can point to the redistillation of the military service gene down into smaller and smaller fractions each generation. That does not bode well IMHO.
Very good point in your last paragraph. We really don’t need a Janissary-type armed force that comes from a narrow sector of society. I’m not talking about DEI-style diversity. I want Congress to clearly understand they are sending representatives of the ENTIRE country to war.
The history of the United States is a history of the volunteer. That has been the case for 212 of its current 247 years. Where we stand today is a function of the leadership over the past three decades and not a direct result of those who chose to volunteer. IMO
The Draft has been used in every one of the six major wars: the American Revolution, the Civil War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and Vietnam. I believe that the model of the Citizen Soldier fits our National Character and Aspirations more so than a Volunteer Military. I am also in favor of a mandatory two-year National Service for every American Citizen. This can include, but not be limited to, the military. The WPA did tremendous good works for our country and helped many citizens that had no other way to rise above their circumstances. The WPA set a darned good example. I believe the degredaton of our National Character and mores started with President Bill Clinton.
The citizens soldier of the draft era (post WWII) was mainly middle to lower economic class, not college educated - because being in college was a pretty good way to get a draft exemption.
If the US ever faces an existential enemy again and has time to draft, we should draft everyone, male and female, who can walk up to the desk. No college deferments, no health deferments, no drug deferments (just get them in shape and/or clean of drugs, such time does not count against federal service and gets paid 1/5 the rate of an E1). In short, everyone has skin in the game.
It goes the other way as well. I'd be much happier if all our Assistant Secretaries of (Defense, Amy, etc) actually had worn muddy boots at some point, and we absolutely need more Congress types (and staffers) who know the difference between a VLS, a magazine and a clip. Both parties. Tammy, Tulsi, Joni, Tom C, Mark K, come to mind. I might not vote for all of them, but they are needed to leaven the Elitist loaf that Congress has become.
A cheerful salute to you for that thought! There is a legal truism that “ignorance of the law is no excuse.” It is my opinion that ignorant people should not be allowed to make the laws. Unfortunately that pre-condition isn’t in the law.
Thank you for making that point. My wife and I have been watching a number of British TV detective series; the degree of deference to the “better” classes apparently still remains. I would suggest that an actual revolution was needed to kick that problem to the curb here. Unfortunately, too many here have found other ways of defining “better”.
Ah….. that Chinese curse. Last year I read “Pendulum” (Roy Williams and Michael Drew). If you ascribe to its timing, the U.S. has several more years of peak “we” before the country mores more toward “me”. Williams and Drew suggest that “we” last peaked in 1944, showing itself as nationalism across the globe, “me” last peaking in 1984.
One can argue that the opposite is true, with privileges accorded to women and ethnic/sexual minorities. Say the wrong thing or use prohibited words and you're canceled. Pretentious tittles like "queer woman of color" now serve to distinguish nobility. Mandatory taxes are extracted in the form of affirmative action, minority set asides, female quotas on corporate boards, etc. This goes to serve a cosmopolitan class, who is not subject to the law as commoners are.
Just to be fair, note that it was a female Group Captain (an O-6 to us) that resigned in protest over what she saw as an unlawful order. That took guts to flush away her career like that, especially when that unlawful order benefited her demographic. That's what honor is all about, American GOFOs take note.
I can think of two things that would be different - the last war between Britain and France would have happened later (no Napoleon), and slavery in the South would have ended a few decades earlier, though perhaps not any cleaner.
While the brits nominally ended slavery in Britain in the 1820s they supported the south because they relied on cheap cotton to keep the masses of population (british, and Irish) employed and clothed.
The history of British colonies up to WWI around the world (the West Indies, India, SE Asia, even China) is not a shining beacon of hope.
“If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen.”
I married a member of the Canadian Forces, and lived in Canada for twelve years....I have many friends who are Canadians....but they are NOT AMERICANS, they take odd pride in that despite the overt costs it causes them (building their own variants of US weapons systems instead of just using US systems, for example... And despite their protestations, a C7 is really an M16, a CC-130 is a Herc and a CH-146 is a Bell 412
If King George had just listened, they'd have had 12 seats in the house of Lords and more than that in the Commons.
We didn't really want to leave, and even when we did, we backed up England when they needed help against the French. We helped out in WWI and WWII.
I think Texas would have still had a revolution, but we'd probably have joined the UK.
I keep reminding people that the Texas war of independence was Mexican citizens rebelling against the Mexican Emperor for not paying attention to us. I have a feeling that if America isn't careful, Texas will leave and go our own way. in many ways, we don't need DC.
I like this. There are some pretty good SciFi alternate history books out there which explore this theme. James Phillip's New England series is one of my favorites.
Need to look into those, thanks!
James Phillips has one series that starts off with George Washington being captured on Long Island. He has a separate series that starts off with a REALLY bad decision by JFK in October 1962. I’m keeping up with both. Fortunately for my wallet most of the books fall into Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited group
Just ordered "Empire Day". Thanks for the tip.
Just finished #13 (Manifest Destiny) . He says he'll probably write 20 or so. Other than seeming to require at least one Lesbian pair active all the time, very good in general.
Yeah, if London hadn't been so cheap towards colonial forces, we'd be learning how Lord Potomac (George Washington) put down the New England Rebellion.
I suspect we would have eventually expelled France. Spain also, as taking everything south to the beginning of South America would have made land defense easier.
And everybody watch Habitual Linecrosser's July 4th video!
Perfidious Albion...we are well shut of them. It's a shame we fell back into fighting their wars for them in the 20th century. They never have our best interests in mind.
Nonetheless, while we like our English cousins?
We are a far more egalitarian and far less class conscious society, all other speculative alternative universes of faithful colonialism aside. As a working class Jew of modest means, I am thankful we kicked them to the kerb. There are far less barriers in this country for non-WASP to suceed than in the Commonwealth.
"We are a far more egalitarian and far less class conscious society,"
I'm sorry to see signs that this has reversed somewhat of late as some attempt to imbue all with immutable characteristics.
In our own little corner here, one can point to the redistillation of the military service gene down into smaller and smaller fractions each generation. That does not bode well IMHO.
Very good point in your last paragraph. We really don’t need a Janissary-type armed force that comes from a narrow sector of society. I’m not talking about DEI-style diversity. I want Congress to clearly understand they are sending representatives of the ENTIRE country to war.
We need to bring back the Citizen Soldier. Look at what we have ended up with after fifty years of experimenting with the All Volunteer Force.
The history of the United States is a history of the volunteer. That has been the case for 212 of its current 247 years. Where we stand today is a function of the leadership over the past three decades and not a direct result of those who chose to volunteer. IMO
The Draft has been used in every one of the six major wars: the American Revolution, the Civil War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and Vietnam. I believe that the model of the Citizen Soldier fits our National Character and Aspirations more so than a Volunteer Military. I am also in favor of a mandatory two-year National Service for every American Citizen. This can include, but not be limited to, the military. The WPA did tremendous good works for our country and helped many citizens that had no other way to rise above their circumstances. The WPA set a darned good example. I believe the degredaton of our National Character and mores started with President Bill Clinton.
The citizens soldier of the draft era (post WWII) was mainly middle to lower economic class, not college educated - because being in college was a pretty good way to get a draft exemption.
If the US ever faces an existential enemy again and has time to draft, we should draft everyone, male and female, who can walk up to the desk. No college deferments, no health deferments, no drug deferments (just get them in shape and/or clean of drugs, such time does not count against federal service and gets paid 1/5 the rate of an E1). In short, everyone has skin in the game.
Maybe we should do the "service equals citizenship," ala Starship Troopers?
I am afraid that the vote is insufficient motivation these days. Perhaps a 50% reduction in taxes (with a commensurate increase in others?)
Excellent points. As with most things, the Devil remains in the Details.
It goes the other way as well. I'd be much happier if all our Assistant Secretaries of (Defense, Amy, etc) actually had worn muddy boots at some point, and we absolutely need more Congress types (and staffers) who know the difference between a VLS, a magazine and a clip. Both parties. Tammy, Tulsi, Joni, Tom C, Mark K, come to mind. I might not vote for all of them, but they are needed to leaven the Elitist loaf that Congress has become.
A cheerful salute to you for that thought! There is a legal truism that “ignorance of the law is no excuse.” It is my opinion that ignorant people should not be allowed to make the laws. Unfortunately that pre-condition isn’t in the law.
VLS = Vertical launch system
Magazine - the part of the gun where the ammo is stored until it is dispensed. :)
I am unaware of the military using clips any longer, though I do know that certain crew mounted weapons use belted ammo.
And I'm a bloody civilian. Wish the congressmen knew the difference, especially the ATF.
When you open a can of 5.56 ammo
It comes in bandoleers ITG two 10 round clips in each bandoleer pocket
You load 20 or 30 round mags be speed loading clips from the bandoleer
Cool. I learned something today.
Thanks Drill.
I thought that NCO's did all that work for the grunts!
Do you actually think that military officers cannot be elitist?
We need to return to our roots of having our military be citizen soldiers.
It appears that the constant redistillation may have been momentarily arrested until the social engineers ponder what they have wrought.
Thank you for making that point. My wife and I have been watching a number of British TV detective series; the degree of deference to the “better” classes apparently still remains. I would suggest that an actual revolution was needed to kick that problem to the curb here. Unfortunately, too many here have found other ways of defining “better”.
The next few years will be interesting.
Ah….. that Chinese curse. Last year I read “Pendulum” (Roy Williams and Michael Drew). If you ascribe to its timing, the U.S. has several more years of peak “we” before the country mores more toward “me”. Williams and Drew suggest that “we” last peaked in 1944, showing itself as nationalism across the globe, “me” last peaking in 1984.
Thats TV....
It's really not like that...
One can argue that the opposite is true, with privileges accorded to women and ethnic/sexual minorities. Say the wrong thing or use prohibited words and you're canceled. Pretentious tittles like "queer woman of color" now serve to distinguish nobility. Mandatory taxes are extracted in the form of affirmative action, minority set asides, female quotas on corporate boards, etc. This goes to serve a cosmopolitan class, who is not subject to the law as commoners are.
https://news.sky.com/story/raf-recruiters-were-advised-against-selecting-useless-white-male-pilots-to-hit-diversity-targets-12893684
Eventually? My guess is the pendulum will swing back with the originators of these ridiculous policies purged from positions of responsibility.
Darwin will eventually rule, just hope that the ninnies don't take the rest of the country with them.
It's kind of a race between between the end of apathy and the ninnies race to the bottom ain't it?
I am afraid so.
Just to be fair, note that it was a female Group Captain (an O-6 to us) that resigned in protest over what she saw as an unlawful order. That took guts to flush away her career like that, especially when that unlawful order benefited her demographic. That's what honor is all about, American GOFOs take note.
I can think of two things that would be different - the last war between Britain and France would have happened later (no Napoleon), and slavery in the South would have ended a few decades earlier, though perhaps not any cleaner.
While the brits nominally ended slavery in Britain in the 1820s they supported the south because they relied on cheap cotton to keep the masses of population (british, and Irish) employed and clothed.
The history of British colonies up to WWI around the world (the West Indies, India, SE Asia, even China) is not a shining beacon of hope.
Canadians...yes.....
“If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen.”
Sam Adams
Sam was a real firebrand.
I married a member of the Canadian Forces, and lived in Canada for twelve years....I have many friends who are Canadians....but they are NOT AMERICANS, they take odd pride in that despite the overt costs it causes them (building their own variants of US weapons systems instead of just using US systems, for example... And despite their protestations, a C7 is really an M16, a CC-130 is a Herc and a CH-146 is a Bell 412
Yep. I served 3 years on exchange with the RCN in Halifax. Great people.
The biggest enemy the Canadian Forces have is the Canadian government.
And that's a big enemy indeed.
Exactly
So glad we now have taxation with representation. I just feel so represented by AOC and others like her.
And then there's Hawaii's flag. https://usflags.design/hawaii/
If King George had just listened, they'd have had 12 seats in the house of Lords and more than that in the Commons.
We didn't really want to leave, and even when we did, we backed up England when they needed help against the French. We helped out in WWI and WWII.
I think Texas would have still had a revolution, but we'd probably have joined the UK.
I keep reminding people that the Texas war of independence was Mexican citizens rebelling against the Mexican Emperor for not paying attention to us. I have a feeling that if America isn't careful, Texas will leave and go our own way. in many ways, we don't need DC.
Lord North really should've considered that 1775 Olive Branch Petition.
Bill Whittle and Team use Sal's article to start off their talk.
https://billwhittle.com/was-the-american-revolution-necessary/