Most of the Russian economy and technology is underground. They have zero trust in banks and government so entire mining operations, factories, farms, etc operate on suitcases of cash and don’t exist on paper. I’ll bet even some military contracts, etc are handled in cash and/or diamonds.
While a good banking system and representative law can allow for greater potential growth, it also creates a government slushfund that promotes vast corruption and vote-buying.
Because of this corruption, we now have 25%-50% of our citizens brainwashed to be America-hating gibsmedats. They will blame America and riot the first second a war shuts down the EBTs and TVs.
You can’t fight a full-blown war when 25% of your citizens are destroying your cities from the inside...
Apparently the main reason for war is to get rid of the potentially rioting class, but we never learned that lesson.
I’d be willing to bet a beer that Russia has much better national pride than we do even if they are not a rich nation from the outside looking in.
What you say about much of the economy running below the radar is most likely correct. Also; Russia is much much older than we are. To judge them by American ways, I almost said values but that wouldn’t be correct, would be a mistake. They have their way and we have ours.
I bet they see us as weak, spoiled, and clueless. In many ways I would have to agree. Our melting pot has weakened our national pride. How can we have a national pride when any given grade school in NYC speak 160 different languages or when such a high percentage of people are on food stamps and other forms of welfare?
Now, with the invasion of not only Hispanics but Islamists, we are diluted even more.