Wretched wrote: They could create cities of glass, maglev rail networks, monuments to art, cities on Mars. If they could get the Putins, Stalins, Yagodas, Yezovs, Berias out of the way.

Ah, but the Russians love their strong men, its as much a part of their character as Vodka. You will not in our lives separate the Russian and his leader. How many pine for Stalin, and see some of him in Putin?

You could say the Russians are great academicians, with an inexpclicable desire for authoritarian rule. No wonder they are so popular with college professors.

But Wretchard is wrong about the glass cities on Mars. The Russians won’t build any, because with current demographic trends, there won’t be any Russians left by the time Mars is terraformed. Which is also why the Chinese man who buys the Italian villa won’t employ any Ivans.