Don't Blame Putin; Blame Russia

Townhall.com ^ | March 20, 2014 | David Harsanyi

[1rudeboy]

The Russians haven’t invaded Ukraine...Yet.

[Zionist Conspirator]

Excellent article.

Though I don't understand why any conservative would defend "Pussy Riot," especially considering what they did. If someone over here had done that in a Protestant or Catholic church American conservatives would be screaming for their heads.

[Red White and Blue patriot]

You are on a site called Free Republic and you have to ask that?

[Red White and Blue patriot]

You are on a site called Free Republic and you have to ask that?

[kronos77]

Yet Western World thinks that freedom is when one is free to take penis in his rectum.

[wetphoenix]

I’m a strong believer in that an economy and a ways certain societies generally engage in to make for a living are the most important in their choice of form of government as well as overall attitude towards freedoms.
It is not in DNA or something.

[wetphoenix]

~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.~

This opinion is an opposite extreme to a neocon ‘nation-building’ blunder. And probably as wrong as an idea that you can bring a democracy via military operation.

[ek_hornbeck]

This opinion is an opposite extreme to a neocon ‘nation-building’ blunder. And probably as wrong as an idea that you can bring a democracy via military operation.

For better or for worse, this opposite extreme is supported by history and by facts. When Muslim countries experiment with secularism, what you get is a small, secular ruling class that rules over the pious masses by force. Remove that force with "democracy" and their societies revert back to form. Turkey had the longest run with their experiment with western-style secular government, now they're turning back.

Russia's experiment with western-style economic and political liberties barely lasted a decade. I wouldn't say that authoritarianism in "in their genes" (since there isn't that much genetic difference between someone from Russia or some other eastern European country), but it's certainly in their culture.

I'll also add that I don't think that authoritarian governments are necessarily a bad thing in other cultures, as the only thing that can maintain order. What's good for Americans (economic and political liberty) is not necessarily best, or even workable, for other societies, or vice-versa. The US Constitution isn't made for export any more than the writings of Confucius.

[wetphoenix]

You are so right on many points and there are numerous reasons why different societies were leaning to one form or government or another throughout history but here and now in 21th century with all sorts of ideas circling the globe freely it is all about money.
A society of individuals capable to make average $20,000 annual income are generally interested in freedoms.
Those are too lazy and stupid to be there, aren’t. I came to such a conclusion observing situation in Latin America and Eastern Europe. Do some research and you would agree.
For that very reason it is useless to force democracy on 3rd world savages and Ukraine is doomed to circle a bowl between anarchy and tyranny for decades to come.

[grania]

A society of individuals capable to make average $20,000 annual income are generally interested in freedoms

In a more general, broad sense, I'd agree with the thought you are expressing. I would amend it to say "A society of individuals capable and willing to make a living wage are generally interested in freedoms.

And with that thought in mind, I would submit that the failure to stop the invasion of the US and benefits that enable idleness are rapidly turning the US into a country generally not interested in freedoms

[wetphoenix]

~In a more general, broad sense, I’d agree with the thought you are expressing. I would amend it to say “A society of individuals capable and willing to make a living wage are generally interested in freedoms.~

Thank you for your corrections.
It was exactly what I have tried to say.

~And with that thought in mind, I would submit that the failure to stop the invasion of the US and benefits that enable idleness are rapidly turning the US into a country generally not interested in freedoms~

Bingo. And here are both a problem and solution. At least we are now agree on how to reverse this rot.

[ek_hornbeck]

Perhaps I should have qualified statements like “Russia will always be authoritarian” or “Muslim societies will always have theocratic tendencies” to “will always be ... within our lifetimes.” But I think we’re on the same page on the general point.

[wetphoenix]

BTW, for that very reason economic sanctions and visa restrictions make exactly opposite to declared effect. It keeps people of targeted nations united behind their tyrants, isolated and for that reason vulnerable for their government propaganda, also poor and more interested in handouts than freedoms.

[ek_hornbeck]

BTW, for that very reason economic sanctions and visa restrictions make exactly opposite to declared effect. It keeps people of targeted nations united behind their tyrants, isolated and for that reason vulnerable for their government propaganda, also poor and more interested in handouts than freedoms.

Anyone who thinks sanctions are an effective strategy for deposing tyrants should only look to Castro's Cuba. Half a century's worth of US sanctions sure got rid of Castro and Communism there!

Thanks to US sanctions, Castro could always claim that his people didn't have food and other basic goods and services because of the sanctions rather than on account of his regime's incompetence and corruption.