[Shalom Israel]

It might be high-octane stuff but the majority of it is pure BS.

All extrapolations are BS. Indeed, Steyn ironically quotes a few that have since been disproven. However, exaggeration doesn't render his observations meaningless: the birth rate is still below replacement level; the muslim problem is still raging; both know-how and capital are still flowing west; etc. Those problems may all be resolved tomorrow, even--but they do exist today.

[GarySpFc]

The improving economy is having a dramatic effect on the number of births. Everywhere you go you see pregnant women, and in far greater numbers than America.

[jb6]

Actually, capital is being built up at a high rate and the out flowing capital has been slowing down. The outflow is by oligarches while real businessmen (many Western) are flowing in. If one observes a 5% yearly industry growth, how can all the capital be out flowing. Judging the state of the nation by the fact that the novia riche diaspora has fled is wrong. It's actually better that these thieves have left. The Kanooks will soon find out what happens when these mafia types settle down (the novia riche, not the hard working engineers, etc). As for IT and such, many have returned to Russia or been returned by their companies. If you haven't noticed, the US is no magnet for engineers anymore.

My former roommate is case in point: Intel moved his entire R&D department to Nizny Novgorad...minus the Americans (about half the people). He stayed at Intel only because he moved to Portland and into a support job. No R&D for you!!

I've also spoken with quite a few Russian-Americans and just plain Americans living in Russia, many went there when IT busted here and have stayed there either working for local, international or their own companies.

A similar thing is happening in India with not just Indians heading that way but also white American engineers. They might only make $6K a year there but its like making $100K here and there are plenty of jobs.

The problem with many analysist is: 1. they live in yester-year and view things from that prism and 2. most talk about things they learn about from other analysts and so on, rather then going first person and finding things out for themselves.

[GarySpFc]

However, exaggeration doesn't render his observations meaningless: the birth rate is still below replacement level; the muslim problem is still raging; both know-how and capital are still flowing west; etc. Those problems may all be resolved tomorrow, even--but they do exist today.

Russia has almost paid off its foreign debt, and still has $185 billion in reserves. Jobs are being created for the educated Russians. You might want to catch up on what is going on there. The building boom is amazing. My Russian mutual fund is up 48% this year.