---
title: 'Σοσιαλδημοκρατία: Μερικοί που ζητούν την ψήφο σου σ'' εκυβέρνησαν (Social democracy: some who ask for your vote have ruled you)'
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/sosialdimokratia-election-poster-1946/
description: Colour poster headed 'SOCIAL DEMOCRACY' with a drawn scene of explosions, shooting, bodies, queues and a crouching starving figure, around a cloud of…
section: Collection
---

[Collection](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/)

**Content note:** Drawn scenes of shootings, bodies, explosions and starving people, as printed. This object is shown as it was published. [Why](https://propagandaarchive.org/about/#as-it-was)

[![Σοσιαλδημοκρατία: Μερικοί που ζητούν την ψήφο σου σ' εκυβέρνησαν (Social democracy: some who ask for your vote have ruled you)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/sosialdimokratia-election-poster-1946.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/sosialdimokratia-election-poster-1946.jpg)

# Σοσιαλδημοκρατία: Μερικοί που ζητούν την ψήφο σου σ' εκυβέρνησαν (Social democracy: some who ask for your vote have ruled you)

Colour poster headed 'SOCIAL DEMOCRACY' with a drawn scene of explosions, shooting, bodies, queues and a crouching starving figure, around a cloud of words: revolutions, riots, slaughter, murders, betrayals, lies, thefts, anarchy, fear, hunger, misery. A scroll says some who ask for your vote governed you 2 to 3 years and alone are to blame for today's misery. The tell: one word is stretched to carry every listed evil.

## Text on the object

Original (Greek) · read from the image, not independently checked

```
ΣΟΣΙΑΛΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΙΑ

ΕΠΑΝΑΣΤΑΣΕΙΣ
ΑΝΑΤΙΝΑΞΕΙΣ
ΣΦΑΓΕΣ
ΑΙΜΑΤΑ
ΔΟΛΟΦΟΝΙΕΣ
ΠΡΟΔΟΣΙΕΣ
ΥΠΟΣΧΕΣΕΙΣ
ΨΕΜΜΑΤΑ
ΣΠΑΤΑΛΕΣ
ΚΛΟΠΕΣ
ΚΙΝΗΜΑΤΑ
ΑΝΑΡΧΙΑ
ΑΤΙΜΩΡΗΣΙΑ
ΦΟΒΟΣ
ΟΥΡΕΣ
ΔΕΛΤΙΟ
ΠΛΗΘΩΡΙΣΜΟΣ
ΠΕΙΝΑ
ΔΥΣΤΥΧΙΑ
ΠΑΧΕΙΑ ΛΟΓΙΑ
ΣΟΣΙΑΛΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΑΙ [sic, as read]
ΦΤΩΧΕΙΑ   Κ.Λ.Π.

ΜΕΡΙΚΟΙ ΠΟΥ ΖΗΤΟΥΝ ΤΗΝ ΨΗΦΟ ΣΟΥ Σ' ΕΚΥΒΕΡΝΗΣΑΝ ΤΑ ΤΕΛΕΥΤΑΙΑ 2-3 ΧΡΟΝΙΑ. ΓΙΑ ΤΗ ΣΗΜΕΡΙΝΗ ΔΥΣΤΥΧΙΑ [illegible]ΤΟΙ ΚΑΙ ΜΟΝΟΝ ΕΥΘΥΝΟΝΤΑΙ. Μ[illegible] ΠΑΧΕΙΑ ΛΟΓΙΑ ΕΛΠΙΖΟΥΝ ΟΤΙ [illegible] ΓΕΛΑΣΟΥΝ ΠΑΛΙ. ΠΡΟΣΕΧΕ[illegible]
```

English translation (machine translation by Claude, not verified by a fluent reader)

```
SOCIAL DEMOCRACY

REVOLUTIONS
RIOTS
SLAUGHTER
BLOOD
MURDERS
BETRAYALS
PROMISES
LIES
SWINDLES
THEFTS
MOVEMENTS
ANARCHY
IMPUNITY
FEAR
QUEUES
COUPON
INFLATION
HUNGER
MISERY
FAT WORDS
SOCIAL DEMOCRACY [as read]
POVERTY   ETC.

SOME WHO ASK FOR YOUR VOTE RULED YOU THE LAST 2-3 YEARS. FOR TODAY'S MISERY [illegible] AND ONLY THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE. [illegible] FAT WORDS THEY HOPE [illegible] WILL FOOL YOU AGAIN. BEWARE[illegible]
```

Read from the 422 x 600 px viewer file at 2x enlargement; parts of the scroll are covered by the baked-in watermark. The big diagonal word near the bottom is read as a form of 'social democracy' and may be a variant ending. 'Κ.Λ.Π.' (etc.) is as printed. Accents in modern monotonic form. Translation by machine, not verified by a fluent reader.

[← 'Síla KSČ je v lidu': Communist Party pre-election photomontage leaflet, 1946](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/ksc-sila-lidu-pre-election-leaflet-1946/) [Tegyvuoja TSRS tautų broliškoji sąjunga ir nesugriaunamoji draugystė! (Long live the fraternal union of the peoples of the USSR), Lithuanian SSR poster, 1946 →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/tsrs-tautu-broliskoji-sajunga-lithuanian-ssr-1946/)

## Using the same techniques

- [Punch, 'The Jamaica Question' (Tenniel), 23 December 1865](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/punch-jamaica-question-1865/) (United Kingdom · Dec 23, 1865 · Name-calling, Semantic hijacking). Content note: Full-page period caricature of a Black Jamaican man, a white planter and a clergyman, made in the context of the 1865 Morant Bay killings.
- [Re-construction, or 'a white man's government'](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/reconstruction-white-mans-government-currier-ives-1868/) (United States · 1868 · Semantic hijacking). Content note: 1868 pro-Grant print with a racial slur and dialect in its printed speech.
- [True democracy is safe! (Puck)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/puck-true-democracy-is-safe-palmer-1896/) (United States · Sep 30, 1896 · Semantic hijacking)
- [Mr. John Dillon, M.P., on recruiting in Ireland. Join an Irish regiment to-day](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/john-dillon-on-recruiting-in-ireland-1915/) (United Kingdom · 1915 · Testimonial, Semantic hijacking)
- [Auch die Geduld hat ein Ende (Even Patience Has an End), German-language leaflet for German soldiers](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/allied-leaflet-auch-die-geduld-hat-ein-ende-1918/) (Transnational · 1918 · Scapegoating, Semantic hijacking)
- ['Zeitaku wa teki da!' (Luxury Is the Enemy!) street sign, Tokyo](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/luxury-is-the-enemy-sign-1940/) (Empire of Japan · Aug 1, 1940 · Semantic hijacking, Identity fusion)
- [Männer und Frauen der Untersteiermark! (leaflet for enrolment in the Styrian Homeland League)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/maenner-und-frauen-der-untersteiermark-1941/) (Nazi Germany · 1941 · Semantic hijacking, Scapegoating, Name-calling). Content note: Occupation proclamation with threats against 'elements hostile to the people'
- [V = Duitschland wint voor Europa op alle fronten (V = Germany wins for Europe on all fronts)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/v-duitschland-wint-voor-europa-1941/) (Nazi Germany · 1941 · Semantic hijacking)