[lbo-talk] Re: CHAVEZ THANKS PUTIN FOR VENEZUELA SUPPORT

[Michael Dawson]

That's all great (except for the usual Russian reference of which I can't
make heads or tails -- who or what is Tatu?), but the question I ask is more
about the character of Putin's politics.  What is the basis for the economic
growth?  Is Putin really attacking the pirates?  What is the state doing to
protect the population?  Is the stability likely to last, and why?  Why and
how much should we of the left be cheering Putin?


> -----Original Message-----
> From: lbo-talk-bounces at lbo-talk.org [mailto:lbo-talk-bounces at lbo-talk.org]
> On Behalf Of Chris Doss
> Sent: Monday, November 29, 2004 8:38 AM
> To: lbo-talk at lbo-talk.org
> Subject: RE: [lbo-talk] Re: CHAVEZ THANKS PUTIN FOR VENEZUELA SUPPORT
> 
> 
> --- 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!
> 
> 
> 
> 
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