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The US went through a phase like that, when a few people controlled key resources and services, like the railroads. The government pushed through anti-trust legislation to break it all up. It was able to overcome the vested interests of the time. Now the problem has morphed into a different form, but still--just because some people are benefitting from greed and control of resources doesn't necessarily mean something can't be done about it.
See Ruth - the BIG difference between the US in this respect and Russia, is that INTERNAL US problems were internal, which means that money only changed hands, but remained in the country and kept on working for the country. The matter of how to change the ways of running the internal operations (through anti-trust legislation for example or what's not) was exactly that - an internal matter.
But in Russia a part of the government/upper class was always involved/connected to EXTERNAL forces, and this particular part was selling out Russian national interests, with Russian money being channeled elsewhere, hence Russian internal matters were never really internal in the same manner as it was in the US.
The only time these kind of arrangements stopped was during Soviet times; Stalin's times to be more precise. But the beginning of Soviet era was commemorated with precisely that - a clear break-up with the whole Western financial system - that's what Lenin made sure to do first, to refuse paying tzarist debts, in order to untangle Russia from strangulating financial relations that she had with the West, ( with the help of the part of the older ruling class of course.)
The whole design of the nineties on behalf of Clintons (IMF and all) was to return things to the way they were 80 years ago, and yet again - with the help of people in the new Russian government/upper crust of the society.
See, the whole concept of "Western democracy" is closely related to money and "middle class." Without money Russia can't have "middle class" and hence it can't have any democracy.
“Our analysis has found that mysterious circumstances represent the number one overall killer of Russians, affecting men as young as 20 and as old as 80,” said study co-author Dr. Simon Gerber, adding that the findings linked several behavioral factors—most notably working in high-ranking positions within the fields of journalism, national government, or the petroleum industry—to an increased risk of someday succumbing to the deadly epidemic.
Gerber went on to say that if not properly addressed, the issue could soon become a global health crisis, given similarly high mortality rates attributed to suspicious circumstances in China, Iran, and North Korea.
“Our analysis has found that mysterious circumstances represent the number one overall killer of Russians, affecting men as young as 20 and as old as 80,” said study co-author Dr. Simon Gerber, adding that the findings linked several behavioral factors—most notably working in high-ranking positions within the fields of journalism, national government, or the petroleum industry—to an increased risk of someday succumbing to the deadly epidemic.
Gerber went on to say that if not properly addressed, the issue could soon become a global health crisis, given similarly high mortality rates attributed to suspicious circumstances in China, Iran, and North Korea.
And apparently moving out of the country and changing lifestyle still does not reduce the risk.
I'm not buying this, Maksim. This sounds like a great excuse to justify strongmen taking over and throwing democracy out the window. And a good excuse for a large part of the populace to passively shrug, and say, "Oh well."
Why shouldn't Russia have a true democracy?
I try to be realistic. Russia has too many problems to have a democracy.
And, by the way, recent protests are not democracy. This is an attempt to overthrow the legitimate authority.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth
And I didn't say "Russia is hopeless". I ASKED if it was.
Yes, of course, sorry.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth
I would like to believe it's not hopeless. Hope is essential to life.
The happiness of life is not in democracy. There are more important values (family, quality of life, etc.)
It really should.
Why it can't have a democracy really becomes a question of why exactly different opinions in Russia can't be represented (and protected) on governmental level.
What opinions? The opposition has several radio stations and a lot of Internet resources.
Look at facebook. It teems with liberals and opposition.
I try to be realistic. Russia has too many problems to have a democracy.
And, by the way, recent protests are not democracy. This is an attempt to overthrow the legitimate authority.
Yes, of course, sorry.
The happiness of life is not in democracy. There are more important values (family, quality of life, etc.)
No, protests are expressing positions. That's not "an attempt to overthrow the legitimate authority"
That's like saying standing up and announcing "I don't want eggs for breakfast" is an attempt to overthrow the poultry industry.
No, protests are expressing positions. That's not "an attempt to overthrow the legitimate authority"
That's like saying standing up and announcing "I don't want eggs for breakfast" is an attempt to overthrow the poultry industry.
Ludicrous.
No. This is exactly the "attempt" of a coup on the pretext of fighting corruption.
Organizers dream to trade national interests of Russia.
In fact, they do not care what happens next, they will go to London.
I try to be realistic. Russia has too many problems to have a democracy.
Maxim, I would be VERY INTERESTED to hear your opinion on this subject - what do you see as specific Russian problems, that preclude Russia from having the Western style democracy?
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