One has to ask why Western countries are so concerned about democracy in Russia? Are these countries like the benevolent U.S. really worried about the life of the average Russian or are there other geopolitical reasons for their intrusion into Sovereign Russian affairs? Is a strong Russia a threat to the West or anyone else for that matter? The Cold War was one of the most stable periods in World history, why? Because the Soviet Union balanced the power of the West and vise versa. When the USSR collapsed this balance tilted (by a landslide) to the West, causing great instability as we have witnessed for more than a decade. Now because of Putin the Great Russia is independent, powerful and rich. Russia is once again balancing the power of the West and this is a good thing for the average person in the West or East but not for the rich & powerful. So they resort to cheap shots like calling Putin a dictator and whine about the lack of democracy. Let me recall the US elections of 2000, who received more votes? In a true democracy Al Gore would have been president. America is not a democracy; it is (was) a representative Republic. We have the illusion of democracy/will of the people but in reality only a Democrat or Republican has a chance of being president. Both parties represent the same interests so we get more of the same decade after decade and things only get worse, and we lose more and more individual freedom. In conclusion, the West uses democracy as a cover for their real intensions, which is to have unlimited power and resources of which Russia contains ample amounts of both.
Serbia should follow Russia's footstep and become a Balkan dictatorship as well.
(KS Republik, 2 December 2007 17:24)
I wouldn't call it dictatorship, but I certainly wish we had a leader as strong as Putin. When we have such slime in our government such as the LDP I cant believe how we allow such slander in our leadership. I thank god the LDP is in no way ever going to win, but his presence never the less is unsettling.
Putin has done great things for Russia. The economy is booming, people are happy because of it. Their pride is restored and their power and influence is rising. All this thanks to strong leadership. True Russia has vast gas and mineral wealth but that alone does not equal success, you need a strong and smart leader to harness that power and use it to benefit his people.
My congratulation's to the United Russia party and Putin.
While it was clear from the start Putin was the electoral favorite, the issue of election intimidation and possible voting fraud has led to the criticism this election has been given. The questions however that we should be asking are two:
a) Why is Putin so popular?
b)Is there any viable alternative?
Putin is to Russia was Deng Xiaoping was to China - a leader that somehow found a way to reform the economy without liberalizing politics. Many in the West derided Deng for aborting China's assumed path to democracy in 1989, but economic growth and a quadrupling of one's annual income over 20 years has certainly blunted any efforts at dismantling the system that's putting money in one's pocket. In Russia, Putin is seen as a form of stability, especially when juxtaposed with the chaotic years under Yeltsin, which did more harm to Russia than anything Putin did, or could do. Are there vast differences in economic income? Absolutely. Is there room in Russia for an independent middle class? Miniscule. Could Russia democratize further? No doubt. But these are questions that are only really considered once political order is guaranteed.
Secondly, what other alternatives to Putin are there? The Communists? The National-Bolsheviks? Zirinovsky? Many of the so-called Putin opponents are just as corrupt, if not more corrupt. How many members of the "Other Russia" movement are actual believers in democracy? Does Russia have a Havel, a Walesa, a Djindjic? No. Now of course one could say Putin has stifled any attempts at facilitating a democratic movement, but more likely, I'd say the democratic movement has been co-opted into Putin's movement. One does not have to be a democratic in order to oppose an autocratic regime.
So it leaves Russia voters with two choices: Putin, which is stability with limited political rights and civil liberties; or someone else, with no guarantee for stability, and probable limited rights and civil liberties.
The man may be an autocrat, but he is certainly no dictator.
Giving Putin more power risks America having less. Russia is no longer up for grabs like it was under Boris.This may explain why Putin is despised by the USA.
@Joe, If there's a downside to Putin's legacy, it's hard for me to see it. He has raised over 20 million Russians out of grinding poverty, strengthened economic/military alliances in the region and amassed capital reserves of $450 billion.
This is "democratie a la russe" as the Frech would say.
It looks like Russia will be a real dictature again in 1-2 years. They are already half way there. I am just happy that the Baltic states and the former Eastern European countries are now solidely in the NATO and will not suffer anymore because of the neo-imperialist Russian bear. Georgia still has to become a NATO member to get out of the "danger zone".
His party is going to win an overwhelming majority of the votes because Putin has done great things for Russia, not because of some dictatorship.
Where under Yeltsin Russia's economy suffered mega hyperinflation, complete economic recession and degraded standards of living, now Russia has grown to where it exports three times as much as it imports, it holds a monopoly over natural resources and the GDP growth stands at roughly 7%-8%.
He may be a hardliner, but he is doing a great job for Russia and the people appreciate him for it. I don't get what Albanians have against him, is it because he doesn't agree to Kosovo independence that you guys keep ragging him? Sure, I can't say I like him much, but I respect him. Far more than Bush and many Western leaders.
How is Czar Putin trying to make a joke of democracy under Putin or on the Russian people. He aims to retain influence after stepping down as president in early 2008 and says a strong mandate from voters will give him that right to be Czar Putin. "If under (late President Boris) Yeltsin there were two ways to get votes -- intimidation and fixing the returns -- now they have thought up at least 15 ways to entrap and betray voters."
While it was clear from the start Putin was the electoral favorite, the issue of election intimidation and possible voting fraud has led to the criticism this election has been given. The questions however that we should be asking are two:
a) Why is Putin so popular?
b)Is there any viable alternative?
Putin is to Russia was Deng Xiaoping was to China - a leader that somehow found a way to reform the economy without liberalizing politics. Many in the West derided Deng for aborting China's assumed path to democracy in 1989, but economic growth and a quadrupling of one's annual income over 20 years has certainly blunted any efforts at dismantling the system that's putting money in one's pocket. In Russia, Putin is seen as a form of stability, especially when juxtaposed with the chaotic years under Yeltsin, which did more harm to Russia than anything Putin did, or could do. Are there vast differences in economic income? Absolutely. Is there room in Russia for an independent middle class? Miniscule. Could Russia democratize further? No doubt. But these are questions that are only really considered once political order is guaranteed.
Secondly, what other alternatives to Putin are there? The Communists? The National-Bolsheviks? Zirinovsky? Many of the so-called Putin opponents are just as corrupt, if not more corrupt. How many members of the "Other Russia" movement are actual believers in democracy? Does Russia have a Havel, a Walesa, a Djindjic? No. Now of course one could say Putin has stifled any attempts at facilitating a democratic movement, but more likely, I'd say the democratic movement has been co-opted into Putin's movement. One does not have to be a democratic in order to oppose an autocratic regime.
So it leaves Russia voters with two choices: Putin, which is stability with limited political rights and civil liberties; or someone else, with no guarantee for stability, and probable limited rights and civil liberties.
The man may be an autocrat, but he is certainly no dictator.
One has to ask why Western countries are so concerned about democracy in Russia? Are these countries like the benevolent U.S. really worried about the life of the average Russian or are there other geopolitical reasons for their intrusion into Sovereign Russian affairs? Is a strong Russia a threat to the West or anyone else for that matter? The Cold War was one of the most stable periods in World history, why? Because the Soviet Union balanced the power of the West and vise versa. When the USSR collapsed this balance tilted (by a landslide) to the West, causing great instability as we have witnessed for more than a decade. Now because of Putin the Great Russia is independent, powerful and rich. Russia is once again balancing the power of the West and this is a good thing for the average person in the West or East but not for the rich & powerful. So they resort to cheap shots like calling Putin a dictator and whine about the lack of democracy. Let me recall the US elections of 2000, who received more votes? In a true democracy Al Gore would have been president. America is not a democracy; it is (was) a representative Republic. We have the illusion of democracy/will of the people but in reality only a Democrat or Republican has a chance of being president. Both parties represent the same interests so we get more of the same decade after decade and things only get worse, and we lose more and more individual freedom. In conclusion, the West uses democracy as a cover for their real intensions, which is to have unlimited power and resources of which Russia contains ample amounts of both.
His party is going to win an overwhelming majority of the votes because Putin has done great things for Russia, not because of some dictatorship.
Where under Yeltsin Russia's economy suffered mega hyperinflation, complete economic recession and degraded standards of living, now Russia has grown to where it exports three times as much as it imports, it holds a monopoly over natural resources and the GDP growth stands at roughly 7%-8%.
He may be a hardliner, but he is doing a great job for Russia and the people appreciate him for it. I don't get what Albanians have against him, is it because he doesn't agree to Kosovo independence that you guys keep ragging him? Sure, I can't say I like him much, but I respect him. Far more than Bush and many Western leaders.
Giving Putin more power risks America having less. Russia is no longer up for grabs like it was under Boris.This may explain why Putin is despised by the USA.
@Joe, If there's a downside to Putin's legacy, it's hard for me to see it. He has raised over 20 million Russians out of grinding poverty, strengthened economic/military alliances in the region and amassed capital reserves of $450 billion.
How is Czar Putin trying to make a joke of democracy under Putin or on the Russian people. He aims to retain influence after stepping down as president in early 2008 and says a strong mandate from voters will give him that right to be Czar Putin. "If under (late President Boris) Yeltsin there were two ways to get votes -- intimidation and fixing the returns -- now they have thought up at least 15 ways to entrap and betray voters."
Serbia should follow Russia's footstep and become a Balkan dictatorship as well.
(KS Republik, 2 December 2007 17:24)
I wouldn't call it dictatorship, but I certainly wish we had a leader as strong as Putin. When we have such slime in our government such as the LDP I cant believe how we allow such slander in our leadership. I thank god the LDP is in no way ever going to win, but his presence never the less is unsettling.
Putin has done great things for Russia. The economy is booming, people are happy because of it. Their pride is restored and their power and influence is rising. All this thanks to strong leadership. True Russia has vast gas and mineral wealth but that alone does not equal success, you need a strong and smart leader to harness that power and use it to benefit his people.
My congratulation's to the United Russia party and Putin.
This is "democratie a la russe" as the Frech would say.
It looks like Russia will be a real dictature again in 1-2 years. They are already half way there. I am just happy that the Baltic states and the former Eastern European countries are now solidely in the NATO and will not suffer anymore because of the neo-imperialist Russian bear. Georgia still has to become a NATO member to get out of the "danger zone".
This is "democratie a la russe" as the Frech would say.
It looks like Russia will be a real dictature again in 1-2 years. They are already half way there. I am just happy that the Baltic states and the former Eastern European countries are now solidely in the NATO and will not suffer anymore because of the neo-imperialist Russian bear. Georgia still has to become a NATO member to get out of the "danger zone".
How is Czar Putin trying to make a joke of democracy under Putin or on the Russian people. He aims to retain influence after stepping down as president in early 2008 and says a strong mandate from voters will give him that right to be Czar Putin. "If under (late President Boris) Yeltsin there were two ways to get votes -- intimidation and fixing the returns -- now they have thought up at least 15 ways to entrap and betray voters."
His party is going to win an overwhelming majority of the votes because Putin has done great things for Russia, not because of some dictatorship.
Where under Yeltsin Russia's economy suffered mega hyperinflation, complete economic recession and degraded standards of living, now Russia has grown to where it exports three times as much as it imports, it holds a monopoly over natural resources and the GDP growth stands at roughly 7%-8%.
He may be a hardliner, but he is doing a great job for Russia and the people appreciate him for it. I don't get what Albanians have against him, is it because he doesn't agree to Kosovo independence that you guys keep ragging him? Sure, I can't say I like him much, but I respect him. Far more than Bush and many Western leaders.
Giving Putin more power risks America having less. Russia is no longer up for grabs like it was under Boris.This may explain why Putin is despised by the USA.
@Joe, If there's a downside to Putin's legacy, it's hard for me to see it. He has raised over 20 million Russians out of grinding poverty, strengthened economic/military alliances in the region and amassed capital reserves of $450 billion.
While it was clear from the start Putin was the electoral favorite, the issue of election intimidation and possible voting fraud has led to the criticism this election has been given. The questions however that we should be asking are two:
a) Why is Putin so popular?
b)Is there any viable alternative?
Putin is to Russia was Deng Xiaoping was to China - a leader that somehow found a way to reform the economy without liberalizing politics. Many in the West derided Deng for aborting China's assumed path to democracy in 1989, but economic growth and a quadrupling of one's annual income over 20 years has certainly blunted any efforts at dismantling the system that's putting money in one's pocket. In Russia, Putin is seen as a form of stability, especially when juxtaposed with the chaotic years under Yeltsin, which did more harm to Russia than anything Putin did, or could do. Are there vast differences in economic income? Absolutely. Is there room in Russia for an independent middle class? Miniscule. Could Russia democratize further? No doubt. But these are questions that are only really considered once political order is guaranteed.
Secondly, what other alternatives to Putin are there? The Communists? The National-Bolsheviks? Zirinovsky? Many of the so-called Putin opponents are just as corrupt, if not more corrupt. How many members of the "Other Russia" movement are actual believers in democracy? Does Russia have a Havel, a Walesa, a Djindjic? No. Now of course one could say Putin has stifled any attempts at facilitating a democratic movement, but more likely, I'd say the democratic movement has been co-opted into Putin's movement. One does not have to be a democratic in order to oppose an autocratic regime.
So it leaves Russia voters with two choices: Putin, which is stability with limited political rights and civil liberties; or someone else, with no guarantee for stability, and probable limited rights and civil liberties.
The man may be an autocrat, but he is certainly no dictator.
Serbia should follow Russia's footstep and become a Balkan dictatorship as well.
(KS Republik, 2 December 2007 17:24)
I wouldn't call it dictatorship, but I certainly wish we had a leader as strong as Putin. When we have such slime in our government such as the LDP I cant believe how we allow such slander in our leadership. I thank god the LDP is in no way ever going to win, but his presence never the less is unsettling.
Putin has done great things for Russia. The economy is booming, people are happy because of it. Their pride is restored and their power and influence is rising. All this thanks to strong leadership. True Russia has vast gas and mineral wealth but that alone does not equal success, you need a strong and smart leader to harness that power and use it to benefit his people.
My congratulation's to the United Russia party and Putin.
One has to ask why Western countries are so concerned about democracy in Russia? Are these countries like the benevolent U.S. really worried about the life of the average Russian or are there other geopolitical reasons for their intrusion into Sovereign Russian affairs? Is a strong Russia a threat to the West or anyone else for that matter? The Cold War was one of the most stable periods in World history, why? Because the Soviet Union balanced the power of the West and vise versa. When the USSR collapsed this balance tilted (by a landslide) to the West, causing great instability as we have witnessed for more than a decade. Now because of Putin the Great Russia is independent, powerful and rich. Russia is once again balancing the power of the West and this is a good thing for the average person in the West or East but not for the rich & powerful. So they resort to cheap shots like calling Putin a dictator and whine about the lack of democracy. Let me recall the US elections of 2000, who received more votes? In a true democracy Al Gore would have been president. America is not a democracy; it is (was) a representative Republic. We have the illusion of democracy/will of the people but in reality only a Democrat or Republican has a chance of being president. Both parties represent the same interests so we get more of the same decade after decade and things only get worse, and we lose more and more individual freedom. In conclusion, the West uses democracy as a cover for their real intensions, which is to have unlimited power and resources of which Russia contains ample amounts of both.
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