Posted on 01/22/2020 5:29:32 AM PST by Kaslin
The problem Putin has right now is that there is no one on the current Russian political scene, or even on the horizon, that is competent to wield this much power as successfully and as competently as Putin has (a structure that was put in place under Yeltsin, I might add).
Putin realizes that if Russia is to survive and thrive after he is gone, the system must be improved in order to prevent another disaster like Yeltsin (or worse) from taking the reins. The people are depending on him for this, and he is delivering.
[Russia has a lot of features disproving the idea that it is an Empire. Her previous expansion was dictated by the security considerations which aren’t actual in the era of WMD. Last time Russia expanded in 1945 - a year nuclear weapons were developed which proves my point.
As for China it is more complicated but generally speaking it is pretty much contained to its area.]
I generally think that idea of Putin as an autocrat is quite laughable. Russian leaders historically are more speakers and diplomats trying to figure out and act according to public opinion and to balance interests of different opposing groups. Putin is rather good at it and that is a reason of his popularity.
“” “” Both countries have only ever been contained by superior firepower or internal ructions.”” “”
That’s of course an opinion with little factoid to back it.
China rarely existed in larger than its current form over thousands of years. And then not by much.
Do not forget that the collapse of the Soviet system was economically and socially catastrophic...the resulting Russian Federation had some VERY dark days while we in the US were enjoying the boom of the 1990s.
Under Putin's leadership, Russia continues to improve every year. Corruption is way down, inflation is minimal, employment is up, birth rates are up. Economic growth is actually being down-regulated by the central bank via interest rates in order to prevent a bubble caused by excessive rate of growth. The middle class is vibrant and growing. More people have more disposable income than at any time in the last 30 years.
Yet, all we hear about in the media are the grumblings of the malcontents that are pretty much equivalent to our left wing...essentially the millennials who can't seem to get off their asses and make something happen for themselves, so it must be the fault of the system. It just happens that this narrative is convenient for the Russia bashers.
Putin-Hate is the same as "Orange Man Bad". No more, no less. Just BS.
“Do as you are told peasants!”
Hey, that’s the same thing the Progressives are telling us.
“Do as you are told peasants!”
Hey, that’s the same thing the Progressives are telling us.
I generally think you are judging the Russian economy in terms of an expat earning money abroad. I think actual economy is worse than it was 6 or 8 years ago but not by much.
As more the rest you are mostly right.
Putin is a target of an organized disinformation campaign similar to that against Trump but much more aggressive and longer lasting.
The problem is some people believe it. That includes younger people in Russia who don’t remember Communism or Yeltsin era.
Sounds like fun:)
[China rarely existed in larger than its current form over thousands of years. And then not by much.]
Just how big were Chinese revolts? This big:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiping_Rebellion
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_Turban_Rebellion
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li_Zicheng
And estimated 30m people died. Just how strong were the powers on China’s borders? This strong:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transition_from_Ming_to_Qing
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mongol_conquest_of_China
https://books.google.com/books?id=1LUoDAAAQBAJ&pg=PT145&lpg=PT145&dq=tibetan+burn+changan&source=bl&ots=TtC_bjQlKe&sig=ACfU3U2VdT-GDx0jUEYglq3AMh-ebhw6UA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiamd_suZfnAhUE16wKHXL3AMQQ6AEwDHoECAkQAQ#v=onepage&q=tibetan%20burn%20changan&f=false
Just how unruly were Chinese courtiers? This unruly:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sima_Yi
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/An_Lushan
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhao_Gao#Coup_following_Qin_Shi_Huang%27s_death
The above doesn’t even scratch the surface. Similarly, Russia’s empire-building only stopped when it encountered serious external opposition, or it was constrained by internal resources.
That being said, I'm very observant how my native friends are able to live, especially those with good professions, and even that seems to keep getting better. Maybe its just in the Krasnodar Region, but it seems that pretty much anyone who wants a job can get one, including professionals.
One downside right now is that a lot of the smaller bazaars and markets are dying due to competition from the malls and big chain stores. This is hurting a certain (typically older) segment that used to make an excellent living as retail merchants (many doing exactly the same thing for years). Those that can adapt do well, the others are hurting a bit. In a nutshell, capitalism.
I am fully aware of the Chinese history. A lot of countries has similar things in their past and don’t qualify as global empires. China was always incapable to convert its economic power into a military power and they weren’t good at diplomacy. That disqualify them as an Empire.
As for Russia her expansion was only natural. There is no need in this anymore since the concept of defensive perimeter is mostly dated.
[I am fully aware of the Chinese history. A lot of countries has similar things in their past and don’t qualify as global empires. China was always incapable to convert its economic power into a military power and they weren’t good at diplomacy. That disqualify them as an Empire.
As for Russia her expansion was only natural. There is no need in this anymore since the concept of defensive perimeter is mostly dated.]
What makes you think so? Really?
this is neoliberal propaganda
Easy tell right away - you ever hear GHWB referred to as “former CIA Director”?
[What makes you think so? Really?]
“” “” You are right in that I must not use my personal position as a point of reference. If I counted my USD income, I would be in the top several percent of the distribution.”” “”
I think you are exaggerating but it is very close to truth. You’d be at top 20% with slightly above average US income now.
My personal impression related to a Ural region before all that sanction wars that the reasonable minimal income was roughly $1300 per month. There were people making less than that but these were practically bums. Just a little determination and they’d make more. Hard working people were making two to three times the minimum above. In small business anywhere in between that minimum and six times that much. There is no difference between blue and white collars unless managing positions. A hard working plumber would make more than an office clerk, often by much.
The jobs are actually easily available. You are getting offer for blue collar jobs immediately on arrival. Head hunters are running after new arrivals at airports and train stations.
The wages info is useless without a typical structure of expenditures and in that sense Russia is super comfortable for the American. For many reasons you don’t really need that money flow there to stay afloat.
For that reason a Russian hair dresser or waitress making $900 plus tips could not only live comfortable but also to have two European vacations a year and also own a Hummer H3 on top of that.
That was actually a higher living standard 10 years ago comparing to a German with twice and more the income.
In current situation the prices in rubles has about doubled and nominal wages in dollars halved.
Imported stuff and foreign vacations are twice the price and many people are passing on it.
As for a consumer prices these are changing upwards but I don’t see in as other than regular inflation or seasonal fluctuations. Essentially food was on par with regular Western prices and now half of that.
The difference are fine wines and exotic foods. These are double in price too but the market was small anyway.
As for consumer goods there is an influx of all things Chinese. To bring things into perspective there was no such thing as a Chinese HDTV in Russia before 2014 and now they are selling for about the price Sony was selling before.
The consumer gets worse stuff but generally for the same price in rubles one spent before or for half the dollar price.
Motor vehicles are the most problematic stuff. These are high dollar stuff.
The companies without Russian assembly plants and most American makers doubled their prices and near immediately succumbed.
The rest increased the prices over years and these aren’t really affordable anymore. People who used to drive Mercedes are opting for Camry and Camry drivers are opting for Lada.
For Lada it is a gift. They were near bankrupt before and now the top sellers.
As for a job market people aren’t spending that lavishly so retail and banking are in worse shape. People are shifting to online shopping instead of going to malls. Less people are eating out and it is not good for the restaurant industry. I have no idea what landscape designers or dietary consultants are doing now. I bet they aren’t doing fine.
All in all the money flow issue I was talking about allows most Russians to save thousands of dollars even with nominal incomes of $600 a month there. They would be fine and won’t starve for now.
Asian expansion was an answer to Mongol invasion and it wasn’t over with their defeat because djungar tribes remained. Moving towards the Pacific solved to problem up to the very recent ascent of China.
Southern expansion deprived Iran and Turkey of bases to attack Russia.
As for the West there wasn’t that much of expansion. The attacks were mostly by the Western powers against Russia.
Are you saying you don’t believe he’s had anyone murdered?
I thought there were those cases with the radiation injections and some news people shot.
i could be completely wrong.
i never said i hated him. in fact i said specifically that i respected him.
but i don’t trust him.
it’s hard to shake off that KGB stuff and at the end of the day he still says the fall of the USSR was the worse event of the 20th century.
NOW i’ll curse you if you send back a winning argument :)
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