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Don't Blame Putin; Blame Russia
Townhall.com ^ | March 20, 2014 | David Harsanyi

Posted on 03/20/2014 9:18:08 AM PDT by Kaslin

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1 posted on 03/20/2014 9:18:09 AM PDT by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin

Most Russians think that despite all their country’s problems - life is far better for them than in the Soviet time.

And centuries of Russian history reveal Russians need, want and fear strong leaders. They back Putin because he is what a Russian leader should be.

Russians don’t elevate metrosexuals to office. They put in tough men to run their vast country, who without their iron hand on it, would fall apart.


2 posted on 03/20/2014 9:24:12 AM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
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To: Kaslin

Russians are serfs with no understanding of freedom and responsibility, always have been and probably always will be.


3 posted on 03/20/2014 9:25:29 AM PDT by Red White and Blue patriot (USA all the way. Love it or Leave it. Ted Cruz 2016)
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To: Kaslin

My Russian teacher told us early and often that the Soviet Union (formerly known as Russia) is was and always will be of the mind set that slavery is good. The stronger the government the more comfortable they felt. The idea of starting out on your own to and unidentified end point was anathema to them as people and a culture.


4 posted on 03/20/2014 9:25:50 AM PDT by Nifster
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To: goldstategop

Just as with the Arab world, it’s a fools errand to think we can change a leopard’s, or in this case a Bear’s, spots.

Russians will never go for a US-style government. It’s not in their DNA.


5 posted on 03/20/2014 9:26:15 AM PDT by dfwgator
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To: Red White and Blue patriot

And is that wrong?


6 posted on 03/20/2014 9:30:14 AM PDT by mulligan (I)
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To: dfwgator

Russians are poor, alcoholic, facing a demographic disaster, but Russia is strong and that’s a point of pride to them, and entire history of the country.


7 posted on 03/20/2014 9:34:05 AM PDT by Revolting cat! (Bad things are wrong! Ice cream is delicious! We reserve the right to serve refuse to anyone!)
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To: Kaslin

While in the US, the media doesn’t even have to be forced to kiss Obama’s azz, they line up to do it voluntarily, and cover for him, and propagandise for him. While in the US, we have widespread election fraud whch no governmental agency is investigating. While in the US, the President uses the power of the IRS to subvert and intimidate his political opponents.

I’d say it’s even worse when it’s done voluntarily, they don’t even have the excuse of being threatened.

That’s how Nazi Germany came into being, by its people voluntarily and enthusiastically supporting Hitler and all his means, and those who didn’t either didn’t take him seriously or knew enough to keep their mouths shut.


8 posted on 03/20/2014 9:37:01 AM PDT by mrsmel (One Who Can See)
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To: Kaslin

Shared responsibility = No responsibility


9 posted on 03/20/2014 9:39:46 AM PDT by Cyber Liberty (H.L. Mencken: "The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for the urge to rule.")
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To: mulligan

It can complicate things when they decide other people are the same way.


10 posted on 03/20/2014 9:43:56 AM PDT by Cyber Liberty (H.L. Mencken: "The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for the urge to rule.")
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To: dfwgator

And a Russian style government was one of the kind our Founders wanted to avoid being established. That bring said I also claim taking the USA to other nations for democracy is only for the fortunes of others. Except for WWII and possibly Korea our latest wars have been of questionable benefit to the people in the USA


11 posted on 03/20/2014 9:47:58 AM PDT by noinfringers2
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To: dfwgator

And a Russian style government was one of the kind our Founders wanted to avoid being established. That bring said I also claim taking the USA to other nations for democracy is only for the fortunes of others. Except for WWII and possibly Korea our latest wars have been of questionable benefit to the people in the USA


12 posted on 03/20/2014 9:47:58 AM PDT by noinfringers2
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To: noinfringers2

All wars are economic in nature, whether the societies participating in them are worthy or not.


13 posted on 03/20/2014 9:54:02 AM PDT by Navy Patriot (Join the Democrats, it's not Fascism when WE do it, and the Constitution and law mean what WE say.)
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To: Kaslin

Yeah, Russians are different from Western Democrats, they’re bad corrupt rather than good corrupt.


14 posted on 03/20/2014 9:57:29 AM PDT by Navy Patriot (Join the Democrats, it's not Fascism when WE do it, and the Constitution and law mean what WE say.)
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To: Kaslin
...Russia's invasion of Ukraine...

The Russian's haven’t invaded Ukraine...Yet.

15 posted on 03/20/2014 9:58:07 AM PDT by McGruff (They say the first casualty of war is truth)
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To: dfwgator; goldstategop
A lot of people assumed in the late 80's and early 90's that the Russians who opposed Communism and celebrated its downfall did so because they were craving western-style democracy and capitalism, complete with a US-style constitution and bill of rights.

In fact, they (apart from a minority of westernized intellectuals) didn't support Communism's downfall because they wanted freedom of speech or freedom of the press. They opposed Communism because its stagnant economy didn't provide them with an acceptable standard of living. An authoritarian or even totalitarian government would have been just fine if only it delivered the economic goods.

You see a similarly naive attitude towards the "Arab spring," where people naively think that those who want to overthrow a Mubarak or an Assad are doing so because they want American-style republican government and capitalism in their countries.

Usually, it's the Left that has silly universalist illusions about the whole world adopting the same form of government and economy. Unfortunately, there are some similarly messianic "conservatives" who think that US political and economic institutions can be exported as easily as Big Macs.

Russia will always have authoritarian governments, just as true western-style secularism won't be sustainable in the Middle East. The only question is what kind of authoritarianism you're going to have.

16 posted on 03/20/2014 10:06:40 AM PDT by ek_hornbeck
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To: Navy Patriot

Exactly. An overtly controlled press is a bad, bad thing. Hypocrisy ads luster to our system of oppression.


17 posted on 03/20/2014 10:07:15 AM PDT by Psalm 144 (My citizenship is not here.)
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To: Navy Patriot

I agree but I would also say that territory is also cause because it is of itself or for economic benefits/wealth.


18 posted on 03/20/2014 10:15:16 AM PDT by noinfringers2
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To: noinfringers2

You are correct, territory, natural resources and potential use, are wealth.


19 posted on 03/20/2014 10:21:20 AM PDT by Navy Patriot (Join the Democrats, it's not Fascism when WE do it, and the Constitution and law mean what WE say.)
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To: Cyber Liberty

Shared responsibility = No responsibility

<><><><

I grew up with that very thought ringing in my ear.

If everyone is responsible, no one is responsible.


20 posted on 03/20/2014 10:23:18 AM PDT by dmz
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