DBWI: Winston Churchill NOT a dictator?

And it almost looks like Orwell's "1984," with its widespread availability of cheap sports cars, well-appointed private homes, immaculate Tube (underground/subway) trains with fabric seats, etc. And the eighty brands of chocolate at each corner kiosk! Man. Notably, when I visited London last year, I counted up to twenty-five types of chocolate at a couple kiosks, not bad.

Dunno, I visisted some of my extended family in what used to be the People's Republic of England and it's still pretty run down
 
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Some historians claim that if Churchill hadn't lost two elections to parlament (Oldham, in 1899 and 1900), and in a very humiliating way the second time (according to newspapers he broke down in a confused stuttering which left the whole audience laughing) he may have a career as parlamentarian. Winston Churchill had energy, skill, contacts and was a good writer - all things necessary for a young politician in the year 1900. He had as good chances as anyone to become PM.

Instead he left for a frustrated journalistic career, often complaining over the stupidity of politicians, the lack of forsight and unreadiness in the armed forces. The Asquith government decision to not defend Belgium and honor our obligations to France in 1914 made him say "Democracy is indeed the worst form of government to exist", but he was far from alone in that opinion.

After Imperial Germany by 1915 had conquered Belgium and annexed parts of France and Russia (and Austria taken Serbia) Europe was in chaos. Churchill wasn't alone in starting a nationalistic populist movement, but he was alone in keeping that movement alive for 20 years before winning an election. But the cost was high, not only economical but also personal. Clearly all bitter debates, lost friends, personal bankruptcy and changed audience had affected him greatly. By 1937 he was a bitter, revengeful and more than slightly paranoid - but with a mass organisation that revered him as Leader. His four years in power shows both his energy, political cunning, ruthlessness but also growing paranoia and dementia.

What great things could he not achived if he won that election in 1900?
 

sharlin

Banned
I suppose the alliance with France, all be it one of convinence at first and oddly enough the Italian dictator Mussolini was inevitable.

At least the Kaiser helped the Tsar, his former enemy against the Communist revolt and that allowed the German and Russian pact to hold off the attacks by the Tripple Alliance long enough for the USA to step in.

I don't know what Churchill was on, ordering an attack how ever spectacular against the Phillipines was the height of madness from a military point of view.


"Dunno, I visisted some of my extended family in what used to be the People's Republic of England and it's still pretty run down"

You must have visited the North, a lot of that was bombed flat, it was the industrial heartland after all. Rebuilt after the war with bare concrete and high rise flats as money could be spent. There are plans to rebuild the cities, getting rid of the post war high rises and housing estates, the money from the North Sea Oil Wells might help pay for that.
 
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