History /
Famous Russian Poles [243]
Sorry me Prince, but I cannot agree with you. May be you are denying the fact that Poland had been near death long before Russian interference, and the prime causes of the decline were within Polish borders.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Liberty
Golden Liberty (Latin: Aurea Libertas; Polish: Złota Wolność), sometimes referred to as Golden Freedoms, Nobles' Democracy or Nobles' Commonwealth (Polish: Rzeczpospolita Szlachecka or Złota Wolność, Latin: áurea libertas) refers to a unique aristocratic political system in the Kingdom of Poland and later, after the Union of Lublin (1569), in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Under that system, all nobles (szlachta) who held immediate estates were equal and enjoyed extensive rights and privileges. The nobility controlled the legislature (Sejm - the Polish Parliament) and the Commonwealth's elected king.
democracy, since all the szlachta were equal in rights and privileges, and the Sejm could veto the king on important matters, including legislation (the adoption of new laws), foreign affairs, declaration of war, and taxation (changes of existing taxes or the levying of new ones).Also, the 10% of Commonwealth population who enjoyed those political rights (the szlachta) was a substantially larger percentage than in any other European country; note that in 1831 in France only about 1% of the population had the right to vote, and in 1867 in the United Kingdom, only about 3%;
It was the problem ....
With majority of szlachta, believing that they live in the perfect state, too few questioned the Golden Liberty and the Sarmatism philosophy, until it was too late.
Well Poland was much different than Russia (as always) but I was refering to the economical situation.
It is fact that where Russians introduce their absoltists rule ... there is regres ...
Only gas helps you in your insufficient system. Unfortunately some parts of Poland looks different and in the past were much richer it is result of introducing your visions...
Prince if I were you, I'd better start with the mention of so-called smuta and guys like Minin&Pozharski.
Our politicians don't have official doctrine saying that in 20 years times "Gas and pipelines are going to be like panzer divisions"
Russia is a big and multiethnical. One may be against despot rulers two others may be for.
That is why in my opinion you don't need more ethnic groups in your country :)
However I believe things are to change in the next 20-30 years.
I hope so. As you know Poles are very likely to help you in such changes :)
Starina Zbiggi is a blatant Russphobe
He is realist when it comes to Russia.
