I suggest that quality of life should impact the quality of the military. In the 19th century the industrial proletariat was, in general, almost always unfit for military service due to the loathsome conditions to which they were subjected.
As I see it, there is no way one can play as a straight liberal Western European nation (sans reforms) throughout the 19th century and expect to have a military which would be able to, say, overrun all of Russia or China. In Ricky this if oft the case, and gives the greatest motivation to implement regressive taxes which 1) increased industrial development among capitalists, and 2) makes sure that the middle classes don't "regress." The classes most likely for military services, the craftsmen, laborers and farmers, are likely to bear the brunt of the taxes in the beginning of the game. I think this should have an impact of the ability of these classes to have an impact as soldiers during the mid to late game.
In another example, the quality of life issue has much to contribute to the American Civil War. Southern country boys simply had a better quality of life in comparison to those born and bred in Northern cities. That is a significant reason why the South managed to hold off the North until 1865. In Vanilla/Ricky this is a fact not taken into consideration, thus the North (almost) always wins by 1862. Most soldiers who lived in Northern cities by the beginning of the Civil War would be considered disabled by modern standards, this would not the same for Southern men.
Also, could it be a wee bit less difficult to elect a socialist government? Under a democracy in Ricky I typically need to hike taxes to 90% and tariffs to max and close all of my factories/RGOs to get a government controlled by socialists. After playing hundreds of games I have no memory of having a socialist government elected without outright manipulation. I always smirk when I see the Jean Jaurès event/invention, but never see a social democratic government come to power without me doing something "gamey."
As I see it, there is no way one can play as a straight liberal Western European nation (sans reforms) throughout the 19th century and expect to have a military which would be able to, say, overrun all of Russia or China. In Ricky this if oft the case, and gives the greatest motivation to implement regressive taxes which 1) increased industrial development among capitalists, and 2) makes sure that the middle classes don't "regress." The classes most likely for military services, the craftsmen, laborers and farmers, are likely to bear the brunt of the taxes in the beginning of the game. I think this should have an impact of the ability of these classes to have an impact as soldiers during the mid to late game.
In another example, the quality of life issue has much to contribute to the American Civil War. Southern country boys simply had a better quality of life in comparison to those born and bred in Northern cities. That is a significant reason why the South managed to hold off the North until 1865. In Vanilla/Ricky this is a fact not taken into consideration, thus the North (almost) always wins by 1862. Most soldiers who lived in Northern cities by the beginning of the Civil War would be considered disabled by modern standards, this would not the same for Southern men.
Also, could it be a wee bit less difficult to elect a socialist government? Under a democracy in Ricky I typically need to hike taxes to 90% and tariffs to max and close all of my factories/RGOs to get a government controlled by socialists. After playing hundreds of games I have no memory of having a socialist government elected without outright manipulation. I always smirk when I see the Jean Jaurès event/invention, but never see a social democratic government come to power without me doing something "gamey."
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It sure would make Vicky 2 more realistic.