Posted on 09/15/2004 5:27:13 AM PDT by OESY
...It should be clear by now that the Russian leader will use any pretext to steadily restore one man -- or single party -- rule in Russia. Opposition politicians, businessmen and journalists hounded into silence, or worse, have learned this the hard way....
Assuming (safely) that Mr. Putin gets his way, Russia would do away with freely elected regional governors, the last bastion of power beyond the Kremlin's direct control. Regional assemblies, now in the hands of parties allied with Mr. Putin, will pick governors with Kremlin guidance. Mr. Putin also proposes to cancel the direct vote for half the Duma, and select all legislators from party lists. Since pro-Kremlin parties dominate parliament, while pro-democracy groups sink under the weight of state pressure, the impact of this proposed change is self-evident.
Many Russians may support the president, thinking only a powerful leader can ensure "stability." The statism of Soviet and czarist Russia, alas, didn't die with the collapse of communism....
Yet again, Mr. Putin blamed corrupt and ineffective policemen and "spies" for Beslan without assuming any personal responsibility....
If anything, Russia's police seem more interested in tycoons than terrorists....
The new political changes won't make Russia safer, but Mr. Putin and friends will be....
Western officials, including in the U.S., tell us that open criticism of Russia will backfire....
Russia also needs to understand that any military intervention in the independent nations of the Caucasus, notably Georgia, would carry unbearable costs. The West's interests go beyond ensuring a steady supply of oil or the illusion of stability. Those interests include a Russia that is building the foundations of democracy to become a peaceful and reliable partner of Europe and the U.S. Right now, Russia is heading in the opposite direction.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
Problem is, any criticism from us, the butcher of Serbs, the Cold War enemy, would be seen as a preference for a weak Russia where old people starve and pretty women are sold.
Hope Putin is smarter than that..
Russia's only hope is a strong push toward capitalism, and trade.. you need freedom for that..
Benevolent Dictatorships are always short-lived.. and never remain benevolent.
Putin ain't stupid!
"Russia's only hope is a strong push toward capitalism, and trade.. you need freedom for that.. "
Yeah, just like China, and pre World War Germany and Japan.
Perhaps you might want to have a think about what you wrote before you press post next time.
Personaaly I think many Communist finally realized Communism didn't work and switched their believes to Fascism and the power that goes with it.
Power is power.
No doubt the old communists are gone, but I am not sure we can rightfully call Putin a fascist.
Fascism is really an expression of extreme nationalism in which there are those who belong and those who don't.
Italian Fascism was built on the premise that Italians were superior and deserved to once again rule an empire as did their Roman ancestors. Whereas non-italians were considered lesser, within Italy itself there were no real attempts to ostracize an "other" i.e. Jews.
In Germany, Germanness was defined more rigidly (and eventuall exported to Italy) and the rise of facsism - national socialism was predicated on virulent anti-semitism.
I am not really sure Russia looks quite like a facist state. There does not appear to be an overt or really even latent hostility to the world (obviously they hate the terrorists, but we all do).
They might just be good, old fashioned monarchists. Putin is consolidating his power, but not in an ideological manner. He may simply not be a democrat. This does not make him a fascist though.
To me it looks like the makings of a new monarchy.
The problem is that without the dressings and mystique of a monarch, the problem of succession may very well produce an ideological dictatorship.
It is of course only a "problem" if we adopt under the current policy of policing the world. All sorts of unsavory moral compromises (such as forming an alliance from a dictator in Russia) result when we go down that road (which we have in spades!)
Given the right conditions, you might get a strong economy for a while.. but only temporarily...
A strong and flourishing economy will eventually fail under an oppressive regime..
I stand by my comment...
and refuse to comment on your rudeness.. ;oP
Russians are not nazies or facists, this is seen by the many blond asians who walk around or the many half eniut/half russians in Alaska. Russians have never had an issue of mixing blood lines and absorbing peoples. Russians are cultural chovanists...and if this is wrong then we here in America are way wrong because we are the preeminent cultural chovinists...aka: Hollyweird, MTV, McDonalds, etc...again, it is the survival of the fitest culture, why France is the sickman of Europe.
Because of family financial realities..and past Communist limitations on housing,
Most Russian newlyweds live in the house of the Mother-in law.
Mother in law humor is up there in the Russian Dave Lettermen top 10.
some examples;
- My mother-in-law was bitten by a dog yesterday.
- How is she now ?
- She's fine. But, the dog died.
A man was standing on the corner of an intersection watching a funeral procession pass by, when suddenly he was struck by an unusual sight: behind the hearse followed a man leading a goat on a rope, who in turn was closely trailed by a line of young men. Approaching the man with a goat, the bystander inquired:
- Excuse me, sir. Can you tell me who has died, and why this strange following?
- Well, you see, the man answered, "the person in the hearse is my mother-in-law. Yesterday, while picking vegetables in our garden, she was struck from the behind by this goat and killed instantly."
- Really! the bystander said eagerly. "Think I might borrow him for a day or so?"
- Sure, responded the man, "but you'll have to go to the back like everyone else".
Off topic to be sure....but a kodak of the real Russia.
stunted and feeble to initiate change.
Yup.....Mother Russia : )
You are standing by a comment of which the first part was blatantly false and on which you failed to provide any argument or historical example for the second? And, you also appear to not be able to handle the less than gentle approach taken here at FR.
Seems to me you need to spend some time on the kiddie slopes at another website. Perhaps your local newspaper has something. You can try your hand discussing high school football and then try and graduate to the PTA.
Doesn't Arnold have a special phrase . . . hmm what was it . . somethingman?
Monarchy vs Fascism.
Flip a coin one of us is going to be right.
Hmmm.. I think it was...
" I am signing a ban on .50 cal sniper rifles and I support the Assault Weapons Ban.. " ? ? ?
Maybe arnold is really "anti-gun man" ? ?
from post#5.. Yeah, just like China, and pre World War Germany and Japan.
That is your "argument" and historical example?
You better go back and take a look at the economic and political history of China..
China isn't exactly freedom's poster child today, but it's a Hell of a lot better than it was.
Many of the social, economic and political reforms are presently resulting in a robust economy.. it is also resulting in social and political upheaval.. a yearning for freedom to go along with a government controlled prosperity..
China may be able to keep the economy going for a while yet, 10, maybe 20 years, but eventually, the populace is going to get fed up with not being able to enjoy the fruit of their labors..
Then China will have to either change, or start a war, or do something similar to divert national attention from their lack of liberty..
Pre WW2 Germany's economy was based on rampant nationalism, not reality.. It was in debt up to it ears, and would have gone bankrupt if not for the war itself..
There was absolutely NOTHING to back up german currency after the war.. It was worth less than toilet paper..
It was the Marshall Plan that revived the german economy.. based on rights, and freedom.
Let's see.. what was the other one? Oh, Yeah.. Japan..
Throughout WW2, Japan used SLAVE LABOR everywhere it went.. very little cost.. why? They couldn't afford anything else..
After their Unconditional Surrender, the Marshall Plan was implemented there, as well.. Democracy.. Freedom.. Rights..
The Japanese took to democracy and representation so well, one district elected a former prostitute to represent them in the parliament.. FREEDOM.. RIGHTS.. PROSPERITY..
I stand by what I said..
Until Putin (and Russia) gets their act together, and starts pushing for real capitalism, and trade, they will go nowhere..
Nationalising the Oil industry is not the answer..
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