Better 2000s

The New York Times has declared the 2000s to be 'The Decade from Hell' and it ranks high on 'Worst Music' and - well it's regarded as the worse decade of the 21st centruy thus far. But what if the 2000s where- better? The times wrote; "Indeed, it is very likely that the first 10 years of this century will go down as the most dispiriting and disillusioning decade Americans have lived through in the post–World War II era." There was 9/11, the War in Afghanistan, Iraqi Wars, the 2008 financial crisis, the Ponzie scheme revealed that October, the fall of the Detroit auto-industry, the brutality at Guantanamo Bay, and so much more. In some nations like Brazil and China there was a fairly good economy but over all the 2000s where horrible- both in culture, conflict, natural disasters, etc. So, what if the 2000s had been a better decade?

What is Better?
For the sake of this timeline 'better' is what causes the least harm and the most joy. It's success, prosperity, and general well being but 'Better' isn't always perfect. Just because events in this timeline are 'better' then they are in OTL doesn't mean they will not produce a negative at some point. Nor can 'better' be achieved for everyone- for example- a persons day can be 'brightened' or 'dimmed' by the outcome of a sports game but typically only one team can win such games. You can't please everyone. Additionally 'tragedy' can lead to needed improvements; at times a lose only makes us stronger and brings to light safety concerns that had previously not been widely public. Like the Concert of Europe starving off a European War what comes may be far worse then what could have been. Such is my word of caution as we make the 2000s one of the best decades of the 21st century.

Rule 1: Only events of the 2000s may be altered be they choices you made in that decade or the choices of others.

Rule 2 - Natural disasters are unavoidable but the severity can be diminished by Human action.

Timeline
Lives Saved thus far: 318

January

 * 31st - Alaska Airline Flight 261crashes in California resulting in the death of 88 persons (this could have only been averted in at the latest the year 1999 [last scheduled maintenance] and at the earliest in 1985 [when time between the replacement of the screw and lubricant was increased]). The event leads as in OTL to improvements in the Jackscrew's design by NASA in 2001 for it's space shuttles, and to better maintenance scheduling by the airline industry likely saving other lives in this decade and beyond.

November

 * 2nd - First resident crew enters the International Space Station.

December

 * 25th - Avoided Luoyang Christmas Fire; the man tasked with welding is another worker then the one tasked in OTL who nervous is careful and while told to work faster latter he unknowingly avoids a disaster that would have saw the lose of 309 lives. Unintentional Side Effect: Without this disaster the Ministry of Public Security doesn't release an urgent request for local governments to spare no expense to safety during the holiday season. As a result many though smaller accidents take place over the holidays but none resulting in fatalities.

February

 * 9th - Avoided USS Greenville doesn't accidentally strike Japanese fishing ship Ehime Maru near Hawaii (In OTL this collision was caused by, based on court findings, multiple negligence with Commander Scott Waddle's insistence on rushing a demonstration to civilians on board being at fault. Scott's 'rush' was caused by his joy at the excited eagerness of the guests and in this euphoria which had also held members of the sonar crew the Commander decided to demonstrate an emergency breach. Scott in our timeline did perform a brief scan rather then the 360 mandated by protocol and in his own words is certain that ship was only slightly further to the right then he had scanned. In this timeline a brief passing of words by a visitor prior evoked Commander Scott Waddle to carry out the 360 scan despite being behind schedule for the sake of the visitor's enthusiasm. In doing so he spotted the Ehime Maru and while the USS Greenville returned from it's Visitor's Excursion slightly behind schedule a comment regarding this by his superiors is far better then the disaster known in OTL. In OTL this event aroused suppressed resentment carried over from the 2nd World War causing some animosity between individuals ranging from victims of Japanese Occupation to Veterans of the Pacific War. Visitor Excursions also became fewer depriving some civilian families the experience of touring a submarine in the service and thus the wonder that had given Waddle and guest pleasure. Waddle's mission was of education much as the Ehime Maru for aboard the fishing ship where High School Students learning about the fishing industry under the supervision of teachers. In total the death tole was 9 [3 crew members, 4 students, and 2 teacher] - lives not lost in the Better 2000s).

September

 * 11th - (in this comes perhaps the largest alternation and one I shall take pause before implementing this change as so much of the 21st century as we know it was triggered by the events of this day and those events still bring upon me deep emotions. Out of respect I shall wait till the sun rises to begin writing of this day)