Thoughts: Putin possibly one of the richest people on the world?

[banjomike]

Originally Posted by alphamale

But I thought that there were no rich or poor in socialism?

Uh- Russia is no longer Communist. It is now a functional democracy and has been since the Soviet Union dissolved in 1989. Ever since then, Russia has been aggressively capitalistic. All the old Communist dictums are dead and long buried.

[simetime]

Originally Posted by boxus

Source? And a real source, not some fact void news article.

Even if he is, what does that have to do with anything? Is there some great debate surounding this or something?

If you want to debate him being wealthy and the impact on politics, we cannot leave out the US's own millionaire row sitting in office in DC; and how the American culture links finacial success to political success in elections, which is why you will not see many poor people elected no matter how great of a person they are.

[erasure]

Originally Posted by wall st kid

All politicans are rich?

I think the OP is kind of asking where he got all this money and did he get it thru legit means.

How come Americans were not asking the same question back in the nineties?
Or were they too busy helping to create the new and friendly class of capitalists, that they could care less whether this class was getting its wealth through "legitimate means" or not, Putin including?