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Chapter 7: A "Constitution" from 1944
When Roosevelt uttered those words in his distinctive tone, Leo Wallace felt the blood rush to his head.
It wasn’t an unfamiliar term.
For a Ph.D. student who had dedicated his academic life to studying Roosevelt’s New Deal, these six words were like a lost scripture—the most radical ideal of Roosevelt’s entire political career.
It was his vision for a new “economic constitution,” conceived as he approached the end of his life, to secure America’s future peace and prosperity.
Leo found himself back in that warm virtual study.
Roosevelt still sat in his wheelchair, but he was no longer the sorrowful historian reflecting on the past. Now, he was a stern mentor, ready to explain this long-forgotten blueprint to his sole student.
"Those who criticize me say I betrayed my class, that I wanted to turn America into a socialist state," Roosevelt began, his voice calm yet powerful. "They’re wrong. I never intended to copy anyone’s model. I only wanted to graft onto America’s democratic traditions a solid foundation that would guarantee economic freedom for all citizens. This bill is my answer."
"Now, let’s examine its first right—and update it for the 21st century."
Roosevelt’s gaze sharpened.
"The first: Every American citizen has the right to engage in useful, remunerative employment."
"Notice my wording, Leo," he emphasized. "It’s a right, not welfare, and certainly not charity from the government. My Works Progress Administration and Civilian Conservation Corps were temporary scaffolds built with planks and glue during national emergencies. The real structure should be permanent."
As soon as he finished speaking, images flooded Leo’s mind.
He saw the rusting Pittsburgh, factories shuttered like steel tombs, unemployed workers drowning their despair in alcohol at bars—his father’s generation.
Then the scene shifted.
In Leo’s imagination, a massive wave of investment, guided by the state, poured into this Rust Belt.
The unemployed workers shed their greasy overalls and donned uniforms emblazoned with the insignia of the "American Green Infrastructure Corps."
No longer idle, they began laying high-speed rail networks across the country.
They erected rows of massive solar panels in the western deserts.
They climbed electric towers, upgrading outdated grids into smart systems capable of meeting future energy demands.
"Look, child," Roosevelt’s voice narrated, like a documentary voiceover. "When private capital refuses to invest in the nation’s future because of insufficient profit margins, when they’d rather gamble their money in Wall Street casinos than build a bridge, the state must step in as the chief investor—and ultimate employer."
"Every willing American worker should find dignity and value in building their own country."
"This is the right to work in the 21st century."
The vision faded, leaving Leo’s heart racing.
But Roosevelt didn’t give him time to catch his breath. He moved on to the second right.
"The second right: Every American family has the right to decent housing."
"A home—a haven where children can grow up safely," Roosevelt’s voice carried a note of anger. "It absolutely should not, and cannot, become a financial tool for Wall Street gamblers to bet against!"
Images of foreclosed homes after the 2008 financial crisis flashed before Leo’s eyes. These houses, abandoned for years because their owners couldn’t repay loans, stood like hollow eyes staring at the nation’s failure.
Then the scene transformed again.
These vacant homes were taken over and renovated by a newly established "National Housing Authority." Meanwhile, large new communities sprang up on abandoned industrial lands surrounding cities.
These houses were modern, energy-efficient, and environmentally friendly, surrounded by green spaces and parks. They came equipped with well-funded public schools, community hospitals, and daycare centers.
"Housing must return to its fundamental purpose as shelter," Roosevelt stated his core principle. "Through state power, we will construct rent-only citizen apartments on a massive scale. Rent levels won’t depend on the market but will be strictly tied to the median income of the area."
"Our goal is to transform the speculative real estate market, which has held countless families hostage, back into basic livelihood security."
The right to work.
The right to housing.
Leo felt as if he might leap to his feet.
Weren’t these the very ideas he and his peers had shouted about under the @NewDealGhost Twitter account, debated fiercely in forums, only to be mocked by so-called “realists” as naive utopian dreams?
And now, these dreams were being articulated one by one by one of America’s greatest presidents.
But reason compelled him to ask a question.
"Mr. President…" Leo’s voice trembled with excitement. "All this… it sounds wonderful, but… where does the money come from?"
He paused, then added, "We’re talking astronomical figures here. The federal debt is already sky-high."
At this, Leo sensed Roosevelt chuckle softly in his mind.
There was no mockery in the laugh—only approval.
"A good question, child."
"It’s always their ultimate weapon to kill any progress. And the answer to this question leads us to our next critical battleground."
"The third and fourth rights," Roosevelt continued, "are the rights to adequate medical care and good education."
"Let me explain it simply: A person’s life or death, and a young person’s future, should never depend on the thickness of their parents’ wallets."
Instantly, another set of images appeared in Leo’s mind.
He saw the bloated, labyrinthine headquarters of private health insurance companies and the extravagantly luxurious administration buildings at his university, where bureaucrats outnumbered full-time professors.
These two structures, in his eyes, were tumors sucking the nation’s blood.
Then, silently, they collapsed into dust.
From the ruins rose a new, clean, and efficient vision.
A national "Universal Healthcare System" terminal where patients could swipe their ID cards to receive necessary treatment, with bills settled directly by the state.
Tuition-free public universities buzzed with students focused solely on learning and research while professors returned to teaching and scholarship without wasting half their energy chasing meager grants.
"Where does the money come from?" Roosevelt’s voice cut through like a scalpel. "You see, by restoring healthcare and education to their rightful roles as public services instead of profit-extracting industries."
"Cut off the parasitic financial and administrative tumors bleeding patients and students dry, and the money appears."
"Leo, this isn’t creating something out of nothing. It’s reclaiming resources that rightfully belong to the people from legalized parasites."
This statement sent a thrilling shiver down Leo’s spine.
But he knew this wasn’t the final answer. These measures were still just patching up the crumbling house.
Next, Roosevelt showed him the true target.
"The fifth right," the president’s voice turned razor-sharp, slicing through the air, "is the right to be free from unfair competition and control by corporate monopolies."
"This is the heart of everything, Leo. It’s also where I fell short—my greatest failure." For the first time, he openly admitted his limitations. "I fought the trust barons my whole life. I won some battles, but I merely trimmed their overgrown branches; I never touched their roots."
"Now, it’s time."
Roosevelt’s voice brimmed with resolve.
He pointed Leo toward the real battlefield of the 21st century and the enemy that must be targeted.
"Finance, energy, data."
"Remember these three words, child. These three domains are the lifelines of modern civilization. Whoever controls them controls everything."
"They determine whether a nation’s economy prospers or collapses, whether we have a clean future or choke on fossil fuels, whether our thoughts remain free or are manipulated by algorithms."
"They cannot, and must not, be controlled by a few private entities driven solely by profit."
Leo felt his heart pounding so hard it might burst from his chest.
He knew this was the blueprint for a true revolution.
"So, our solutions must be direct and thorough."
"First, establish a National Investment Bank. Its sole purpose will be to serve the real economy and national infrastructure, replacing Wall Street’s profit-driven speculation entirely."
"Second, legislate the gradual nationalization—or restructuring as community- and employee-owned utilities—of major oil, gas, and electricity companies. Their operations must prioritize energy security and environmental protection over shareholder profits."
"Third, and most importantly," his voice grew exceptionally grave, "enact legislation declaring all personal data belonging to citizens as constitutionally protected, inviolable digital private property. Tech giants like Omni, Google, and Facebook can act as custodians providing services, but they have no right to exploit this data for their own gain."
"The ultimate ownership of data must be returned to every citizen who creates it."
This vast, clear, yet profoundly radical blueprint unfurled in Leo’s mind.
He was utterly stunned.
After the initial shock, his reality-battered brain thought of the most fatal obstacle.
"Mr. President…" His voice was dry. "To achieve even one of these… it’s tantamount to declaring open war on the entire ruling class of America."
The more he spoke, the colder he felt inside.
"They’ll use every means to stop us… The media will paint us as devils, Congress will drag us through endless procedural delays, courts will rule our bills unconstitutional, and even…"
He didn’t finish the sentence, but both he and Roosevelt understood what remained unsaid.
The military, police, and shadowy intelligence agencies.
Roosevelt’s image in Leo’s mind became exceedingly serious.
"You’re right."
"So, this isn’t just economic reform."
"It’s a revolution."
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