Posted on 06/08/2006 8:16:42 AM PDT by G. Stolyarov II
"You can never be optimistic about anything in our country because if you're optimistic, it will turn out badly." This is typical of the average Russian on the street.
Also typical is "There is no alternative to (Putin). Stability is important for business."
The Russians love their president...or at least they approve of him.
Russia took a dive in the early 90s when the Soviet Union collapsed. It got worse during the Yeltsin-ear crisis in 1998, when the government temporarily suspended debt repayments and devalued the ruble by 30%.
But, the economy recovered - quicker than anyone expected.
Give credit to the incredible resiliency of these remarkable people...at least that's the way my friends there can be characterized.
Egyptian themed bowling alleys (do they bowl in Egpyt?), Scottish pubs, McPeak fast-food restaurants, sushi bars, and German cash and carry hypermarkets are now part of the landscape of Russian towns.
Will these boom times last?
Russia has saved up $55 billion and Moscow is running a surplus equal to 7% of GDP.
Imagine that, someone, a country at that, saving up for the hard times...and it's Russia.
What do you think?
Will the good times last?
Russia's low birth rate seems to doom their future. Putin's attempt to address the problem is like a band aid. Nice financial management and (flat) tax policy but it won't mitigate this problem.
Also who knows what the fellow after Putin will be like. You build a future on institutions not the judgement of one man.
Also Russia's accomodation of Hamas and Iran are shortsighted and suicidal. Maybe they like tweaking the west, but in the long run they are sowing seeds of their own destruction via islamists. They should be cooperating as allies against islamist terrorism not placating it. It's as if they learned nothing from Beslan. They could wake up and change course, but I don't see it yet.
Interesting and valid points; thank you for your comments.
The most important thing Putin did was to provide stable leadership during a time of great chaos.
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