[lbo-talk] Russia's economy

[Chris Doss]

Oh yeah, one other point I meant to make:
--- James Heartfield <Heartfield at blueyonder.co.uk>
wrote:
> 
> "As socialists we are not supposed to like a
> politically authoritarian, 
> kleptocratic, wildly inegalitarian capitalist system
> that substitutes 
> arbitrary force force for reliable rule of law and
> accords working people 
> some goodies but no power."
> 
> Well, ok, but let's not the wish be father to the
> thought. If this 
> dictatorial government is growing the economy it
> seems silly to criticise it 
> for not doing so when what you actually want to do
> is criticise it for 
> oppressing the people. 
> 

See, you might have a problem here. Russians do not
feel oppressed by the federal government. They feel
oppressed by the stuff they actually encounter in
their lives, which is corrupt police, courts, and
regional governments and crime (the latter often
linked to the former). A point I have made again and
again, but which has apparently not sunk in, is that
Russians, especially in the provinces, suffer from the
WEAKNESS of the federal center, not its overweaning
strength. Accordingly, they favor its being
strengthened and the regional powers being weakened,
which is why most people supported the abolition of
direct elections of governors. Why? BECAUSE THERE WERE
NO ACTUAL ELECTIONS OF GOVERNORS. The President of
Tatarstan was "reelected" with something like 98% of
the vote. Kalmykia is much the same.

Lyubo, bratsy, lyubo, lyubo, bratsy, zhit!

ËÞÁÎ, ÁÐÀÒÖÛ, ËÞÁÎ, ËÞÁÎ, ÁÐÀÒÖÛ, ÆÈÒÜ!

 
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