What are your thoughts on Russian politics?

Okay now to start this thread I will admit I do like Russia a lot and seriously think this Putin fellow was the right answer to their past croneyism. I love his cheekiness and how he sticks it to the man. And of course he enjoys karaoke!

But, I find myself wondering why I like the idea of him playing yo-yo with the presidency.

What are your thoughts on Putin & Medvedev keeping control over there?

 

Putin is brave man who wants to see Russia attain its previous global super power status. But the problem is that he wants to do that in a short span of time and wants to do it all by himself. Putin had its shot and should go away and pave way for new leaders. The country is full with resources. I think Serbia has more oil resources than Saudi Arabia. Russia is rich in oil,gas, timber, coal and yes their vodka but it as corrupt as any other nation in the emerging world. I would love to see them back on the space race which really propelled the space exploration. Because of the soviet collapse the competition has slowed down and US has some what become complacent. they really need serious contenders for kick starting the space program.

 

Just for variety...

Here's a petition: Putin Must Go. But it's all in Russian. Here it is in the Google translator. A little sketchy, but you can still make out complaints. I guess that I don't have a lot of positive things to say about Putin, but I do enjoy reading about his dog Koni.

 

I've never understood admiration for dictators like Chavez, Castro, or Putin. At least Castro came about his dictatorship by honest means, a military coup. Chavez subverted a functioning democracy for his right to be "President for life". I suppose in Putin's defense, one could say that Russia has been this way since the Czars.

 

I thought his dog's name was Medvedev.

Putin, probably because he made life far better for most Russians, and I have a few Russian friends and watched it all happen. Not so sure on the other guys though, I have nothing against them but don't 'admire' them like I do Putin. You may also note I was questioning my loyalty, as if it was a western leader doing similar I'd likely be absolutely disgusted by a move such as this. Why I am not upset with Putin making this move is my conundrum though I think it's because I haven't seen or heard of anyone that could do better for Russia (likely because he's killed them all off).

I think it's the Bushranger within me and the way he keeps sticking it to the other 'corrupted' men we call leaders around the world.

 

What politics ?

 

I don't think that people in the west give the Russians enough credit.They have only experienced democracy for 22 years.The former KGB was everywhere and bribery,kickbacks,and corruption from the highest levels was rampant.Remember that the old guard is still pulling the strings.The rank and file of the general population really don't understand how true democracy works.If one examines Russia's GNP and how her economy has improved then you know the trends are upwards.The lifestyle and comfort level of the average Russian does not compare to us in the west but it has improved since 1989.
The Russians are a tough hard working people,with such a nucleus from which to build on there is light at the end of the tunnel.Yes the politics in Russia is of the rotten kind....they have learnt from watching us.

 

A good point.

That's exactly what I think too. For a 22yo country it's a lot better place than it used to be and has improved a hundred-fold over what it was. Yes, they still have problems but that is improving daily for more and more of them.

 

Of course! Just like this guy turned the german economy around.

You might want to ask your Russian friends about the racist, nationalist thugs that roam the streets and subways of Russia right now, attacking those who don't fit the "Slavic" norm. The speculation is that Ex-KGB Putin is actually behind the movement.

Anyway, Putin is just more of the same for Russia, and perhaps it is an improvement to the rampant corruption in the collapse of the USSR, though you would be fooling yourself if you think Putin is any less corrupt. Take the time to read up on Gazprom.

When the USSR fell, the state owned everything, including exclusive rights to what would normally be private industries like oil and gas exploration. As you might expect, those in seats of power in the new Russia, immediately started gifting parts of those "state assets" to their friends and family, stripping the state of it's only means of earning since entrepreneurship and taxable private income was non-existent.

Putin comes to power, he immediately nationalizes all the assets that had been handed off by the previous administration, redistributes some of them to his friends, while keeping the crown jewel, Gazprom, as state owned, putting his boy Medvedev in charge of the whole thing prior to making him President. In the meantime, he sets up his own oil and gas exploration companies, holding ownership by proxy so as to keep his ownership off the books. Gazprom funnels billions of dollars to Putin's private coffers in the Cayman Islands and Switzerland on an annual basis, but only so long as he remains in power.

If a new leader were to take his place, he would more than likely do exactly the same thing, stripping the previous leader(Putin) of as much of his ill gotten gains as possible and pocketing them. If this new leader were anything at all like Putin, he would probably have Putin jailed, as Putin has done with some of the previous owners of these companies.

Yet another lesson on the evils of Communism and Socialism. It inevitably leads to a useless population, corruption, and a dictator who takes the lion's share of the wealth while the people are happy just not to be starving. It will take a generation for Russia to truly change and North Korea hasn't even started down the path.

 

Whilst i don't believe that is quite true (my quote above), the evidence shows he's as broke as all of us.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#Personal_wealth

And, make no mistake, I do believe he's as corrupt as most politicians are, slightly more than some and slightly less than others, it's just he does it with so much grace and style.

As you correctly stated the place was taken from the USSR and assets were already divided up just before he got there, Every single citizen (the population) was given payments of something like $1.30 each (in cheques most couldn't cash mind you) for selling the assets that were sold off to their friends. Putin came in after them and cleaned out the old mob, sending a few to jail and likely killing off a few of them too.

Liking him to Hitler, well, what can I say to that apart from I don't think so, but yes, a great way to turn others, who have no idea about him right off him I guess. You may also note these days there is no more SS in the Russian streets than we have cops or secret agents on ours but you can make his regime sound much scarier by putting 'they have bigger guns too' in your post. You can dish out as much evidence against him as I can pull out against our leaders because he's definately no worse imo.

We're not hearing of strange disappearances or riots in the streets. Everything they do, rightly or wrongly, they do it openly, not behind people's back, and I can't see a problem with that. You don't hear about their Guantanamo because they don't have one.

Unlike America or even Australia, Russia has a leader that is actually improving the lot for Russians in every turn, without resorting to wars to do it, and that, imo, is what a leader is supposed to do. I can get over his graft (not that I like it) seeing the population benefit too. He's not just there for himself imo. I just can't argue with that.

 

Here's a good summation I liked, from a Fox person as well.

The genius of Vladi­mir Putin
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-genius-of-vladimir-putin/2011/09/26/gIQAcSXF0K_story.html

I don't agree Russia's in it's last Autumn but the rest seems fair enough comments to me.

 

How naive.

Every time power changes in Russia there is a purging of the people at the top who have been robbing the people. This is the glory of Communist dictatorships.

And this is based on your oh so perfect track record of backing your outrageous claims by saying, "I know I'm a nutter"? For the record, I wasn't trying to liken him to Hitler. You tried to glorify him for making improvements in the economy and I pointed out Hitler made improvements to the economy. Glorifying a "President for life" dictator that is robbing his people just because he is better than the last guy is just ignorant.

Thanks! I just spit my coffee all over my keyboard. I'm sending you the bill. Jackass!!

 

Here's Koni:

Is Putin on the left or right?

He's not just a normal dictator! He's a great dictator!! Of course, being ever kind and benevolent he will allow citizens to express their grievances, so long as they are alone in their home, and have the blinds closed. Otherwise, he will probably have to kill or imprison them.

 

LoL, well that would be payback, I've lost a few coffees to you.

 

I'm still amazed to see how misinformed Bushranger is . Just out of curiosity , have you ever met and spoken to a Russian that lived there for the past 30 years ?

 

@Blogmaster: I found this and thought of your blog. Might be something for you?

Comment from here: http://reddingnewsreview.com/newspages/2011newspages/obama_tried_to_save_troy_davis_11_10000095.html

FTR: I went to put it in the death penalty thread but seems its been closed.

OT: All hail King Vlad!

 

I'm still amazed to see how illiterate ApocalypseXL is, from above, post #5

 

Useful Idiot is really the only thing that aptly describes your love fest for Putin. Look up the phrase if you are not familiar with it.

 

Look at your post where you agreed with SoiltSteve . Kind of says it all , besides i don't buy you're Russian friends story , not to long ago you said that you had kids . You where old when you're in fact 20ish and the lost goes on and on and on ..

 

Ha, that just confirms to me you're an absolute fool once again. Others who watched my video will know that too now if they didn't already.

FTR: I don't lie.