--- Michael Dawson <mdawson at pdx.edu> wrote:
> I'm no expert, so tell me: What's to like?
Let's compare pre-Putin Russia and Russia today.
1999: Russia has just come out of the greatest economic collapse ever experienced by an industrialized country in peacetime. 40% of people live beneath the poverty line. There is almost no middle class. The country is ruled by an evil drunk with a 5% approval rating manipulated by evil asset-stripping oligarchs. Said oligarchs control the TV stations, which they use to bludgeon each other and the government, making for entertaining TV but not much else. The Duma is also controlled by said oligarchs, making it impossible to pass any laws that contradict their interests. The provinces are controlled by regional mafias. Russia has almost no allies and its standing on the world stage is at its nadir. National humiliation is the general mood.
2004: Russia is experiencing its sizth year of economic boom. 20% of the population lives beneath the poverty line. The middle class is sizeable and growing, at least in the large cities. Tatu takes the world! The country is headed by a mildly authoritarian patriotix ex-KGB man with a 75% approval rating. The oligarchs are exiled, in prison, or obsequiously towing the Kremlin's line. National TV networks are controlled by the Kremlin, making for boring TV when Zhirinovsky isn't on. The Duma is mostly controlled by the Kremlin -- lots of laws get passed. Provinces still controlled by mafias, but they try to stay out of the Kremlin's line of sight. Every country, almost, is Russia's ally, and it is back in the first tier of world nations. National pride and regenerattion is the general mood. I have a nice apartment.
Where would you rather live?
===== Nu, zayats, pogodi!
__________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail - You care about security. So do we. http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail