I thought so as well at first, but the meme starts at the independence of the irish. Wasn't it directly going Democratic? And the troubles were between 2 democratic countries. So while the meme doesn't portray the history of the Irish and their problems, it shows the transition to a democratic system AFTER the independence was rather smooth.
The way I see it, when Ireland became independent, the proportional representation was already envisioned and embedded into the new Irish constitution when other countries, at the time, were pussyfooting on doing the same thing, because their elites benefit from the two party system. Fianna Fail tried to rid of the PR with a referendum in the 1950s, but failed by a razon thin margin. Imagine if ridding PR was successful and we'd be like the US and UK in having a shitshow of politics.
That said, many post-colonial countries either struggled or failed with upholding democracy and becoming rich, while Ireland had been relatively smooth in achieving both. The country had been lucky in that regard.
Most egregiously that bit is a settler colonial statelett carved out of Ireland that is still to be reunited. But also some 700 years of violent, sometimes genocidal repression, long spells of apartite conditions, culture erasure, language erasure, and generally not cool behavior.
Also a "few" bit missing from Denmark. The king didn't relinquish actual power until much later, and interfered with Danish politics well into the 20th century. In fact Denmark had a dictatorship in the late 19th century which functioned via the power that the king still had.
Not so fun fact, Switzerland became a “democracy” in 1848, but some parts of the country didnt give women the right to vote until they were forced to in the 1990s. At that point, there were only 9 other countries left in the world where women did not have suffrage
The more I look at it, the less I believe any country is truly democratic, since most elections are popularity contests where people with more money have a much higher chance of being elected. Any place where there are "long running families" within politics, it sure feels like just a crappy veneer of "democracy" over aristocracy.
USSR was arguably more democratic under Lenin (however it's hard to say that given how they became the leaders) than some parts here but Stalin ruined it.
The problem for the Bolsheviks that required a revolution was that systems designed by the rich are designed to keep them rich.
A parallel today would be the US. Student debt relief? Courts strike it down. Massive bailouts for the rich? It's their right. Running as a communist in the US, what media is going to be behind you?
To be fair to Nappy III, he's surprisingly progressive for the time. He gave plenty of worker's rights during the time when it had to be fought from the bottom up. He was still an imperialist though.
He wasn't really but he was following his uncle's footsteps of being an "enlightened dictator". It was kind of about ruling with more executive power to uphold liberal values for the benefit of the people. The view on what liberalism and democracy are, at the time, is different to the modern perception.
During Stalin's time at least: 1922 - 1953. The following premiers might have been less clearly dictators, more like inherited the existing system and mostly kept going with it.
Democracy is woefully overrated and it's praise is largely because the dominant victor of WWIII said it was good so everyone had to believe it was good, but the fact of the matter is that it has only lasted ~300 years and has already deteriorated into tyranny.
Britain had ~400 years about as good as ol usa
Rome had at least 1000 years of peace comparable to the USA
And Egypt probably had ~3000 years+ of genuinely good rule for the people (hard to say it was very different than now)
Democracy is woefully overrated and it’s praise is largely because the dominant victor of WWIII said it was good so everyone had to believe it was good, but the fact of the matter is that it has only lasted ~300 years and has already deteriorated into tyranny.
Username checks out.
Britain had ~400 years about as good as ol usa
... you do realize that the UK has been a democracy since its inception, right?
Rome had at least 1000 years of peace comparable to the USA
Stultus esne?
Of the Roman Kingdom, Roman Republic, and Roman Empire, only a handful of years, by their own admission, involved peace. See: the Gates of Janus.
And Egypt probably had ~3000 years+ of genuinely good rule for the people (hard to say it was very different than now)
Jesus fucking Christ.
Is there a point here other than bootlicking for monarchy to seem 'edgy', or...?
With this level of knowledge of Irish history, I can only assume that whoever made this is a proud Irish American.
Is something troubling you about Irish history?
What you did there, I see it
I thought so as well at first, but the meme starts at the independence of the irish. Wasn't it directly going Democratic? And the troubles were between 2 democratic countries. So while the meme doesn't portray the history of the Irish and their problems, it shows the transition to a democratic system AFTER the independence was rather smooth.
Still doesn't even mention Easter Rising, Bloody Sunday, the Irish Revolution, or the Irish Civil War...
I went to dublin once. I know more Irish history now then the creator of this.
The way I see it, when Ireland became independent, the proportional representation was already envisioned and embedded into the new Irish constitution when other countries, at the time, were pussyfooting on doing the same thing, because their elites benefit from the two party system. Fianna Fail tried to rid of the PR with a referendum in the 1950s, but failed by a razon thin margin. Imagine if ridding PR was successful and we'd be like the US and UK in having a shitshow of politics.
That said, many post-colonial countries either struggled or failed with upholding democracy and becoming rich, while Ireland had been relatively smooth in achieving both. The country had been lucky in that regard.
So you're just skipping the whole civil war and the 1920s?
It is posted in a meme community, not /c/SuperDuperAccurateHistory if that matters.
There’s a bit missing from Ireland, if we’re honest.
Most egregiously that bit is a settler colonial statelett carved out of Ireland that is still to be reunited. But also some 700 years of violent, sometimes genocidal repression, long spells of apartite conditions, culture erasure, language erasure, and generally not cool behavior.
And something about potatoes
Also a "few" bit missing from Denmark. The king didn't relinquish actual power until much later, and interfered with Danish politics well into the 20th century. In fact Denmark had a dictatorship in the late 19th century which functioned via the power that the king still had.
Ireland had a lot of death and fights it was not easy… it never is.
Yeah, what a dumb fucking image completely glossing over and trivializing that history.
Didn’t Russia have an actual functioning but highly dysfunctional democracy for a few years until the oligarchs chose Putin as the ‘moderate’?
It... depends on how you define functioning. The 90s were... chaotic.
Haha, good one. I'll drink to that.
Not so fun fact, Switzerland became a “democracy” in 1848, but some parts of the country didnt give women the right to vote until they were forced to in the 1990s. At that point, there were only 9 other countries left in the world where women did not have suffrage
It may be 10. Here in the states, "Repeal The 19th" is a thing.
I feel like given what they went through, the Irish deserved an easy road to democracy.
Although by this logic, Russia deserves Star Trek socialism by now.
suffering is why so many astronauts come from ohio
now do one for the democratic people's republic of the united states of america
How's this?
GWOT?
"Global War On Terror", the entire fucked post-9/11 state of foreign policy.
Thank you!
I figured it was “War On Terror”, but was going through stuff like Greater War on Terror or George’s War on Terror, but not global.
Includes internal rights restrictions of citizens as well
Call me ignorant, but what distinguishes it from pre-9/11 foreign policy?
i made a small edit
The more I look at it, the less I believe any country is truly democratic, since most elections are popularity contests where people with more money have a much higher chance of being elected. Any place where there are "long running families" within politics, it sure feels like just a crappy veneer of "democracy" over aristocracy.
in before .ml downvotes
also needs Putin at the end
USSR was arguably more democratic under Lenin (however it's hard to say that given how they became the leaders) than some parts here but Stalin ruined it.
The problem for the Bolsheviks that required a revolution was that systems designed by the rich are designed to keep them rich.
A parallel today would be the US. Student debt relief? Courts strike it down. Massive bailouts for the rich? It's their right. Running as a communist in the US, what media is going to be behind you?
To be fair to Nappy III, he's surprisingly progressive for the time. He gave plenty of worker's rights during the time when it had to be fought from the bottom up. He was still an imperialist though.
He wasnt democratically elected tho no?
He wasn't really but he was following his uncle's footsteps of being an "enlightened dictator". It was kind of about ruling with more executive power to uphold liberal values for the benefit of the people. The view on what liberalism and democracy are, at the time, is different to the modern perception.
Hope left Russia long ago...
Nichevo.
Fitting that the person seeking democracy is doing it on a bike.
Ireland still had partition, the civil war, British interfranace during the catastrophe (WWII) and the troubles.
awfully presumptuous to put ourselves at the end
Unusually frustrating pug posting as the timelines are on vastly different scales. Iirc Russia's is like half as long.
Never forget https://youtu.be/fgm14D1jHUw
It's hilarious that they got the actual guy to star in it.
And now every place has to do it again
I'm a bit rusty but I'm pretty sure canada is up beside ireland
Probably would need the bike to be almost exclusively made out of indigenous leather. Even in the place where the thing was patented it is known.
when in the heck was russia a communist dictatorship? what even is this meme
During Stalin's time at least: 1922 - 1953. The following premiers might have been less clearly dictators, more like inherited the existing system and mostly kept going with it.
I guess the word communism just means nothing to Americans
Actual Communism has never been tried. Which is why all of the "ComMuNiSm dOeSn'T wOrK idiots are idiots.
The Soviet Union comes to mind.
Napoleon (again) looks a little too long, it was just 100 days.
Democracy is woefully overrated and it's praise is largely because the dominant victor of WWIII said it was good so everyone had to believe it was good, but the fact of the matter is that it has only lasted ~300 years and has already deteriorated into tyranny.
Britain had ~400 years about as good as ol usa
Rome had at least 1000 years of peace comparable to the USA
And Egypt probably had ~3000 years+ of genuinely good rule for the people (hard to say it was very different than now)
Username checks out.
... you do realize that the UK has been a democracy since its inception, right?
Stultus esne?
Of the Roman Kingdom, Roman Republic, and Roman Empire, only a handful of years, by their own admission, involved peace. See: the Gates of Janus.
Jesus fucking Christ.
Is there a point here other than bootlicking for monarchy to seem 'edgy', or...?