"What Madness Is This?" Volume I: The Union Forever

[Time Enough]

Apologies for any typos. I'm absolutely exhausted and will proof-read the chapter tomorrow. lol A decent bit of this chapter is based on Time Enough's Australian GWW chapter in the Star Spangled Expanded Universe, but most all of it is wholly fresh and new. Enjoy!

Nice to know that yet again my habit of bringing out obscure Socialists and Social Democrats and making them evil Fascists is holding true, also I would love a 1940s Australian Commonwealth political scene in which Hindmarsh has died and there is a political war between Jack Lang, John A.Lee, Bob Semple, Eric Campbell and Mary Dreaver as they go at each others throats and each proposes similar but different Fascist ideas.

Also I would find it amusing if a certain Yorkshire man rises through the ranks of the Britanna Union, becoming the youngest Cabinet Minister, then the youngest Director in the late 50s/60s and brings in some Oswald style reforms etc. and in is well liked by the people...until it turns out he's an Illumanist agent,cue a "Very British Coup" happening.

"The Britannia Union means Nothing"-Harry Wilson's final words
​

 

[dakkafex]

It's "Everything that could go wrong did" as well? So whenever there's a decision, usually the worst decision is made?

To an extent, but not quite to the same degree as a For All Time, for example. I'd say the more overriding theme is one of an exaggeration of the United States' most prominent traits (exceptionalism, religiosity, militarism, hypocritical prejudice, etc.) towards a dystopian end. There's also a strong focus on aesthetic over strict plausibility or determinism (often with the same caricaturing of different eras in mind), to highlight through exaggeration the ideas and attitudes underlying OTL history.

 

[sampleswift]

To an extent, but not quite to the same degree as a For All Time, for example. I'd say the more overriding theme is one of an exaggeration of the United States' most prominent traits (exceptionalism, religiosity, militarism, hypocritical prejudice, etc.) towards a dystopian end. There's also a strong focus on aesthetic over strict plausibility or determinism (often with the same caricaturing of different eras in mind), to highlight through exaggeration the ideas and attitudes underlying OTL history.

Here's the thing though. It's not only the U.S. and areas attacked by it that are problematic. Everywhere is problematic. The most prominent traits of the United States turned either negatively or exaggerated would affect the United States, but it seems every country is bad. U.S. problems would not explain why everywhere else is bad. Unless you also say that the most prominent traits of the other countries are also exaggerated or made dystopian to highlight the ideas and attitudes.

 

[Sunstone77]

So the PoD of this timeline isn't just "Constitution of the U.S. cannot be ratified, corrupt Federalists, and insane George IV". It's "Everything that could go wrong did" as well? So whenever there's a decision, usually the worst decision is made?

More or less. It’s a world that encourages ruthlessness and selfishness. It’s a universe where the worst aspects of people aren’t just exaggerated, but encouraged to flourish. I believe in 1.0, Napo said that everyone in the timeline has a touch of the Madness, some just more so then others. Some people might be a little more vain then otl, others unrepentant murders.

 

[soulpelt]

Flooding part of Africa... Dear gods how much cocaine is this guy on to dull the pain of his humanity dying?

 

[Laserfish]

I have an idea, Gandhi as a Bin Laden style terrorist. Let me explain my reasoning.

• Both of them, when they were in their late youth, went abroad and traveled around the West, gaining essential knowledge.
• They then, after some sort of spiritual awakening, became drastically traditionalist and devout in their respective faiths.
• They proceeded to become influential and uniting leaders in movements that were anti-colonial and anti-western (although Gandhi was much more peaceful then Bin Laden)

With India currently having gone through a massive reduction in population thanks to the Beckie Flu, there would perhaps be a spiritual revival based around Hinduism and Islam. This could cause the still probable Indo-Pakistani split to be, in true Madness fashion, dramatically worsened thanks to the Europan colonial authorities playing off both sides for their own end and general mismanagement, with the reformers desperately trying to stop this sinking ship of a nation from plunging into the abyss. Extra points also for Gandhi becoming the first nuclear terrorist.

 

[Wolttaire]

Gandhi wouldn’t exist in this world too many pods like the French owning India

 

[Laserfish]

Even so, there can still be a Gandhi look-alike. We don´t always need the same person, even an expy of a person can go far.

 

[FranzAncheNo]

You guys are all thinking too small why stop at the Congo? Why not lake Chad? Or should I say the Chad sea

The impact on sea levels would be so ridiculously huge that IOTL Sörgel even proposed this to balance the rise that Atlantropa would have caused.
If CoCaro gets RU help they may try to "fill the void" with part of Greenland's ice.
Also, wouldn't the Lake Chad project require cooperation with the French? That's simply impossible.

 

[MuricanTauri1776]

The impact on sea levels would be so ridiculously huge that IOTL Sörgel even proposed this to balance the rise that Atlantropa would have caused.
If CoCaro gets RU help they may try to "fill the void" with part of Greenland's ice.
Also, wouldn't the Lake Chad project require cooperation with the French? That's simply impossible.

No, if it just starts flooding... or the canal is dug by the Space Force...

 

[Not Plato]

Anyway, as for the Congo “Sea”: wouldn’t it end up just being a giant freshwater lake? The Congo river would still drain out of it, so even if it was originally saltwater the salt would eventually be drained into the sea.

 

[Wolttaire]

The impact on sea levels would be so ridiculously huge that IOTL Sörgel even proposed this to balance the rise that Atlantropa would have caused.
If CoCaro gets RU help they may try to "fill the void" with part of Greenland's ice.
Also, wouldn't the Lake Chad project require cooperation with the French? That's simply impossible.

The pinnacle men of ru and Carolina shall prevail also getting the help of the French isn’t completely impossible

 

[Sunstone77]

Anyway, as for the Congo “Sea”: wouldn’t it end up just being a giant freshwater lake? The Congo river would still drain out of it, so even if it was originally saltwater the salt would eventually be drained into the sea.

Possibly, but more likely the entire basin will become swamp for years before any usable amount of "sea" develops. Does the congro river even have a large enough flow to fill the basin?

 

[Perfidious Albion]

I have an idea, Gandhi as a Bin Laden style terrorist. Le me explain my reasoning.

[snip]

Extra points also for Gandhi becoming the first nuclear terrorist.

Yes... yes... YES! This must be!

It's too perfect not to use.

 

[Worffan101]

Yes... yes... YES! This must be!

View attachment 503410
View attachment 503409​

It's too perfect not to use.

I once came up with a joke ideology for a oneshot called "Gandhiist communism" that was basically Posadism but crazier. That Gandhi got hit on the head and believed in "world peac through overwhelming superior firepower".

 

[Arthur Marston]

Gandhi wouldn’t exist in this world too many pods like the French owning India

Plenty of OTL people that shouldn't exist ITTL have showed up.

 

[LostInNewDelhi]

That malaria-AIDS one-two boutta hit different

https://imgur.com/a/DW4AXZL

 

[LostInNewDelhi]

Also, I like the Gandhi idea but he's a little too old to start a career in terrorism now. However, Rajneesh was born in the 1930s. So once the war with the Illuminati is over, he will be of age and ready for... mischief.

 

[Murica1776]

*Logs on to alternatehistory.com after a stressful morning*
*Opens WMIT Redux*
*Sees latest post*

A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN:
THE CONFEDERATION OF THE CAROLINAS

The New Model Carolinian Army parades down Jackson Street in downtown Charlotte, 1936

Dear God, Yes! Hell yes! Look at those Cokie boys go, and look at that handsome as hell statue of Chancellor Jackson! Hark the Damn Sound!

Across the seas in Africa, the colonies of Jacksonland, the Carolinian Corridor, and Yonderland proved to the world that the Confederation would respond to jokes and demeaning comments about their nation with a heavy dosage of wanton imperialism, interventionism, and military saber-rattling.

You're damn right we will! Y'all mock our nation, we'll punch you in the teeth! Carolina is to be respected dammit!

whatever the reason for the Southron nation's constant war-mongering and expansionism, it couldn't be said that it wasn't working

The advance of Carolinian Christian Civilization will not be stopped! Hark the Sound!

Despite its size, the amount of foreign interventions and wars the Carolinas participated in truly boggles the mind of many historians.

If people learned some damn respect, we wouldn't have to Take A Little Trip to em so often!

The Carolinians Armed Forces was actually very underrated and was one of the most seasoned in all the world at fighting in different climates

Damn straight! It don't matter if you live in the mountains, the desert, the forest, or the goddamned jungle, Carolina will find you, and we'll kick your ass till it's black and blue by damn!

The Cokies had actually never lost a war since their initial disastrous outing under their idolized Founding Father, Andrew Jackson.

And we don't intend to break that streak now! Kill the Neuties, it's what God wants!

In 1928, Chancellor Gamble signed the House of Citizens Bill 976, authorizing the Departments of the Army, Navy, and the Aeroforce to spend millions Carolinian greenbacks to modernize the armed forces.

A wondrous and farsighted initiative by our beloved Chancellor! Carolina must remain ready to fight anyone, anytime, anywhere!

American jewelry stores would sell Carolinian diamonds and other rare minerals and during Manifest Climax they were advertised with the slogan, "Buy Cokie diamonds! Fund our Southron Allies!"

Mitchum Alpha-4 bombers were even sold to and utilized by the Union during Manifest Climax, such as this one photographed with Yankee colors somewhere in Oxacre, RU in the late 1930s

Look at those beautiful planes! By damn, Cokie industry never ceases to amaze me! Also, it's quite pleasing to know we'll be making a little bit of cash off of this horrific war! Hark the Sound of Industry's Voices!

Dr. Herman William "Big Bill" Jennings who would first propose the "Congo Sea Project" to the Mittelafrikan government. Jennings wished to flood the Congo basin via an elaborate system of dams and create a "Mittelafrikan Sea."

What a brilliant idea that couldn't possibly go wrong!

The Pacification of Corea in 1908 kicked the can down the road until 1932, when full on war erupted on the peninsula. The South and the traditionalists were crushed for a final time in 1934 and Carolinian troops helped to set up a "Corean Confederation with Cokie characteristics." An Office of Public Virtue protected the public from subversive propaganda and crime, a House of Citizens legislated laws, while a Chancellor, the newly-elected war hero Kim Hyong-jik, led the country.

I'm gonna break character here for a second to comment on how honored I feel to have another idea of mine featured ITTL! Also, Hark the Sound of Corean Men's Voices!

The Confederation of the Carolinas was, at the outbreak of the war against the Neutrality Pact, heading to unprecedented prosperity and prestige. While still technologically behind most great powers and a mere blip on the radar of the Union, they were quickly becoming less a joke and more of a key player on the world stage

yes. Yes. YES!

FEAR NO DANGER, SHUN NO LABOR, LIFT UP RIFLE, PIKE, AND SABER! TO ARMS! TO ARMS! TO ARMS FOR CAROLINA!

Y'ALL LAUGHED AT US, Y'ALL LAUGHED AT US! WHO'S LAUGHIN NOW YOU FOREIGN SONS OF BITCHES? IT DON'T MATTER IF YOU'RE A KRAUT, A FRENCHIE, OR A BRIT! IT'S OUR TURN NOW, AND BY DAMN WE'RE GONNA SHOW Y'ALL HOW IT'S DONE! IF Y'ALL DON'T LIKE IT, WE'LL JUST TAKE A LITTLE TRIP AND SHOW Y'ALL WHAT HELL REALLY LOOKS LIKE! HARK THE SOUND OF CAROLINA'S TRIUMPH! YEE YEE!

*foams at mouth in Cokie*

 

[Prince Daemon Targaryen]

HARK THE SOUND! THE BRAVE COKIE PATRIOTS SHALL CHANNEL THE SPIRIT OF OLD HICKORY TO FIGHT THE HISPANIC INGRATES THAT REFUSED HIS OFFER OF LIBERATION DURING THE CUBA WAR!