Comments on: Putin Out to Fix Russian Election http://pjmedia.com/blog/russia_election_pre/ Wed, 15 Feb 2012 09:23:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Maria http://pjmedia.com/blog/russia_election_pre/#comment-17392 Maria Thu, 06 Dec 2007 11:13:47 +0000 http://dev.pajamasmedia.com/blog/putin-out-to-fix-russian-election/#comment-17392 I'm so lost... I didn't know there is so much hostility towards Russia in the minds of Americans. "We-need-weak-Russia"-blah type of thing. Also, where are those paternalistic attitudes coming from? "We need to teach you", "learn from us", etc... First of all, there's no such a thing as a universal formula, democracy is 1)multifaceted and 2) not necessarily the best solution, and to assume that "American values are universal" (as Condoleezza Rice once said) is at best ambitious. Each time I go back to Russia, to my home town I'm most pleased to see how it develops... I guess, what I'm trying to say is that this is what matters most for us Russians at this point. Putin IS popular among the population, and for good reasons. And seriously, it is very possible that we will figure out our own way. To impose a model that successfully worked for someone else is not necessarily a good strategy. Thanks! I’m so lost… I didn’t know there is so much hostility towards Russia in the minds of Americans. “We-need-weak-Russia”-blah type of thing. Also, where are those paternalistic attitudes coming from? “We need to teach you”, “learn from us”, etc… First of all, there’s no such a thing as a universal formula, democracy is 1)multifaceted and 2) not necessarily the best solution, and to assume that “American values are universal” (as Condoleezza Rice once said) is at best ambitious.
Each time I go back to Russia, to my home town I’m most pleased to see how it develops… I guess, what I’m trying to say is that this is what matters most for us Russians at this point. Putin IS popular among the population, and for good reasons. And seriously, it is very possible that we will figure out our own way. To impose a model that successfully worked for someone else is not necessarily a good strategy.
Thanks!

]]> By: Josh http://pjmedia.com/blog/russia_election_pre/#comment-17391 Josh Tue, 04 Dec 2007 22:54:47 +0000 http://dev.pajamasmedia.com/blog/putin-out-to-fix-russian-election/#comment-17391 Natalia, what you (ie Russia) really need is a democracy life-coach. We in the West are willing to help. Russians must stop acting like petulant evil children, and start accepting the fact that they need to learn from us in the West FOR YOUR OWN GOOD and not because we're trying to control you. We want to make your country beter, when are you going to stop "rebelling" and start listening to us? I use the child analogy loosely because in this case, the child has his hand on the nuclear button, and as we all know, sometimes to protect other people's freedoms, if a child behaves too inimically and poses too much of a threat to his neighbors, then he can be tried as an adult. And punished as a adult. Even if that means the ultimate punishment. Ponimaesh? Natalia, what you (ie Russia) really need is a democracy life-coach. We in the West are willing to help. Russians must stop acting like petulant evil children, and start accepting the fact that they need to learn from us in the West FOR YOUR OWN GOOD and not because we’re trying to control you. We want to make your country beter, when are you going to stop “rebelling” and start listening to us? I use the child analogy loosely because in this case, the child has his hand on the nuclear button, and as we all know, sometimes to protect other people’s freedoms, if a child behaves too inimically and poses too much of a threat to his neighbors, then he can be tried as an adult. And punished as a adult. Even if that means the ultimate punishment. Ponimaesh?

]]> By: Candide http://pjmedia.com/blog/russia_election_pre/#comment-17390 Candide Tue, 04 Dec 2007 15:57:18 +0000 http://dev.pajamasmedia.com/blog/putin-out-to-fix-russian-election/#comment-17390 Natalia, You are absolutely right to emphasize the lack of ideology in new Russia. Most people just can't appreciate how important it is. Strong Central Power, Stability and Economic Growth are very good for Russia, just like they are good for the US and any other country. Anybody saying otherwise is either a fool or a liar. So you have solved one part of the equation. Now you need a strong legitimate democratic opposition. There will be no progress without it. So there is a lot of work to be done. Natalia,

You are absolutely right to emphasize the lack of ideology in new Russia. Most people just can’t appreciate how important it is.

Strong Central Power, Stability and Economic Growth are very good for Russia, just like they are good for the US and any other country. Anybody saying otherwise is either a fool or a liar.

So you have solved one part of the equation. Now you need a strong legitimate democratic opposition. There will be no progress without it. So there is a lot of work to be done.

]]> By: chuck, http://pjmedia.com/blog/russia_election_pre/#comment-17389 chuck, Tue, 04 Dec 2007 15:41:15 +0000 http://dev.pajamasmedia.com/blog/putin-out-to-fix-russian-election/#comment-17389 Natalia, Do you get to see much of the USA or only NY? Just curious. Natalia,

Do you get to see much of the USA or only NY? Just curious.

]]> By: Natalia http://pjmedia.com/blog/russia_election_pre/#comment-17388 Natalia Tue, 04 Dec 2007 10:15:40 +0000 http://dev.pajamasmedia.com/blog/putin-out-to-fix-russian-election/#comment-17388 Russians choose not ideology (we don't have any now) or Tsar Putin, but Stability and Economical growth. Some of you: you are thinking old fashion. NY is a sleepy town in comparisson to Moscow now. The best time to go is from may. And I suggest russian style hotel National with Kremlin view. It wiil be fun eating breakfast will blinis and caviar and have this view. Russians choose not ideology (we don’t have any now) or Tsar Putin, but Stability and Economical growth. Some of you: you are thinking old fashion.
NY is a sleepy town in comparisson to Moscow now. The best time to go is from may. And I suggest russian style hotel National with Kremlin view. It wiil be fun eating breakfast will blinis and caviar and have this view.

]]> By: chuck http://pjmedia.com/blog/russia_election_pre/#comment-17387 chuck Mon, 03 Dec 2007 23:38:25 +0000 http://dev.pajamasmedia.com/blog/putin-out-to-fix-russian-election/#comment-17387 Natalia, I don't understand your kind of government, but it seems to suit you Russians and that's good enough for me. The USA has been very foolish and wasteful of its good fortune. Dark days ahead, I'm afraid. But, Natalia, even though Russia is on the mend, it is still weak and fragile. It will take decades to rebuild your population. But don't be sure you will have decades, not with China and Islam for next door neighbors. Don't make the mistake the USA did, and alienate your natural allies, which, despite everything, Russsia and the US are. You need us. We need you. Hopefully, your President? Prime Minister? NarKom? Czar? Putin will have the wisdom to see this. Lastly, I'd love to visit Russia sometime, but it's best to wait until tempers cool and our poor dollar recovers. Natalia,

I don’t understand your kind of government, but it seems to suit you Russians and that’s good enough for me.

The USA has been very foolish and wasteful of its good fortune. Dark days ahead, I’m afraid.

But, Natalia, even though Russia is on the mend, it is still weak and fragile. It will take decades to rebuild your population. But don’t be sure you will have decades, not with China and Islam for next door neighbors. Don’t make the mistake the USA did, and alienate your natural allies, which, despite everything, Russsia and the US are. You need us. We need you. Hopefully, your President? Prime Minister? NarKom? Czar? Putin will have the wisdom to see this.

Lastly, I’d love to visit Russia sometime, but it’s best to wait until tempers cool and our poor dollar recovers.

]]> By: Chatty Kathy with the Salt Water Taffy http://pjmedia.com/blog/russia_election_pre/#comment-17386 Chatty Kathy with the Salt Water Taffy Mon, 03 Dec 2007 17:10:50 +0000 http://dev.pajamasmedia.com/blog/putin-out-to-fix-russian-election/#comment-17386 Can anyone deny that Putin would be the hot Russian lit professor at a liberal arts campus near u? Can anyone deny that Putin would be the hot Russian lit professor at a liberal arts campus near u?

]]> By: Natalia http://pjmedia.com/blog/russia_election_pre/#comment-17385 Natalia Mon, 03 Dec 2007 09:20:23 +0000 http://dev.pajamasmedia.com/blog/putin-out-to-fix-russian-election/#comment-17385 Wellcome to "pajamas univers"! Busy destroying potential enemies and ..creating a lot of new! For yous information: Russia is the member og G8. The result of USA pressure on Iran was iranian revolution. People in Russia don¬¥t want the revolution igen - they want peace and evolution. Use semiotic analyse, if you anderstand, what I mean. By the way, congratulation for bringing "democracy" to Irak. Wellcome to “pajamas univers”!
Busy destroying potential enemies and ..creating a lot of new!
For yous information: Russia is the member og G8. The result of USA pressure on Iran was iranian revolution. People in Russia don´t want the revolution igen Рthey want peace and evolution.
Use semiotic analyse, if you anderstand, what I mean.
By the way, congratulation for bringing “democracy” to Irak.

]]> By: Josh http://pjmedia.com/blog/russia_election_pre/#comment-17384 Josh Mon, 03 Dec 2007 06:33:59 +0000 http://dev.pajamasmedia.com/blog/putin-out-to-fix-russian-election/#comment-17384 I'll tell you what country is really behind another. Venezuela voted down Chavez's referendum, while Russians voted in favor of Putin's neo-Soviet party. What this proves is that Russians are 20 years behind Venezuela. We Americans should pat ourselves on our backs for our referendum victory in Venezuela, the vote reflects our tireless efforts to promote democracy there. Now we should turn all of our attention to Russia, the source of much evil, to make sure that the people there are also made to understand that if they do not choose the path of democracy, that they will pay dearly for it. I’ll tell you what country is really behind another. Venezuela voted down Chavez’s referendum, while Russians voted in favor of Putin’s neo-Soviet party. What this proves is that Russians are 20 years behind Venezuela. We Americans should pat ourselves on our backs for our referendum victory in Venezuela, the vote reflects our tireless efforts to promote democracy there. Now we should turn all of our attention to Russia, the source of much evil, to make sure that the people there are also made to understand that if they do not choose the path of democracy, that they will pay dearly for it.

]]> By: Candide http://pjmedia.com/blog/russia_election_pre/#comment-17383 Candide Mon, 03 Dec 2007 04:43:54 +0000 http://dev.pajamasmedia.com/blog/putin-out-to-fix-russian-election/#comment-17383 Natalia, Stop dreaming and get back to reality. I've visited Russia last year. There are significant improvements, especially in comparison with Soviet times. However, there are still many problems: criminality, corruption, dysfunctional body politic. There is nothing particularly interesting about Russian 'process of developing democratic institutions'. Russia is going through the same steps as Spain, Portugal and Chile went before. That's where Russia is politically: twenty years behind Chile. And I hope they will be able to follow the example. This is not all bad. Spain, Portugal and Chile did develop into prosperous democratic states eventually. I hope with all my heart that 10 years from now Russia will be able to join them and other developed nations. But there is lots of hard political work ahead. And knowing Russian history, it's very easy to feel apprehensive about the chances of Russia making it. Again, I hope I'm wrong. Also, please stop saying 'vi are much better educated, than americans'. That is just silly. Natalia,

Stop dreaming and get back to reality.

I’ve visited Russia last year. There are significant improvements, especially in comparison with Soviet times. However, there are still many problems: criminality, corruption, dysfunctional body politic.

There is nothing particularly interesting about Russian ‘process of developing democratic institutions’. Russia is going through the same steps as Spain, Portugal and Chile went before. That’s where Russia is politically: twenty years behind Chile. And I hope they will be able to follow the example.

This is not all bad. Spain, Portugal and Chile did develop into prosperous democratic states eventually. I hope with all my heart that 10 years from now Russia will be able to join them and other developed nations. But there is lots of hard political work ahead. And knowing Russian history, it’s very easy to feel apprehensive about the chances of Russia making it. Again, I hope I’m wrong.

Also, please stop saying ‘vi are much better educated, than americans’. That is just silly.

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