Putin says U.S. is "Parasite" on Global Economy

[Feuer Frei!]

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin accused the United States Monday of living beyond its means "like a parasite" on the global economy and said dollar dominance was a threat to the financial markets.
"They are living beyond their means and shifting a part of the weight of their problems to the world economy (http://www.reuters.com/finance/economy)," Putin told the pro-Kremlin youth group Nashi while touring its lakeside summer camp some five hours drive north of Moscow.
"They are living like parasites off the global economy and their monopoly of the dollar," Putin said at the open-air meeting with admiring young Russians in what looked like early campaigning before parliamentary and presidential polls.
US President Barack Obama earlier announced a last-ditch deal (http://www.reuters.com/finance/deals) to cut about $2.4 trillion from the U.S. deficit over a decade, avoid a crushing debt default and stave off the risk that the nation's AAA credit rating would be downgraded.


"Thank god," Putin said, "that they had enough common sense and responsibility to make a balanced decision."
But Putin, who has often criticized the United States' foreign exchange policy, noted that Russia holds a large amount of U.S. bonds (http://www.reuters.com/finance/bonds) and treasuries.
"If over there (in America) there is a systemic malfunction,
this will affect everyone," Putin told the young Russians.
"Countries like Russia and China (http://www.reuters.com/places/china) hold a significant part of their reserves in American securities ... There should be other reserve currencies."
U.S.-Russian ties soured during Putin's 2000-2008 presidency but have warmed significantly since his protégé and successor President Dmitry Medvedev responded to Obama's stated desire for a "reset" in bilateral relations.


SOURCE (http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/01/us-russia-putin-usa-idUSTRE77052R20110801?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews&rpc=71)

[TLAM Strike]

We are the global economy! :rock:

We have a GDP over twice that of China and ten times that of Russia. :03:

I think Vlad is having a Communist Party flashback... :roll:

[Skybird]

We are the global economy! :rock:


The EU's GDP is bigger.

And there is more to assessing an economy than just the GDP. Future perspective, fincial health(or lack of). Import-Export balance, etc. Fact is no other economy is such a big burden to all the rest of the globe, than the American - and by far so.

I already said it in another thread yesterday, Putin this time is right. The dollar must be replaced as global leading currency. The American way is irresponsible and a burden to all others. It is parasistic, yes, and does damage to all others.

Wake up over there. America ise in trouble, it brought itself there all by itself, and it brings all others into trouble as well by it's ways. America is no more a benefit for global economy, but a burden, damaging all others, and only arguing why it must be allowed to suck on the financial blood of others, instead of becoming self-sustaining and straightening it debts. You have taken all the globe as hostage.

[Herr-Berbunch]

It's not just the US that's a parasite though, there are plenty more out there, some have surface already and others are lurking. :nope:

[August]

The dollar must be replaced as global leading currency.

With what? The Ruble? The Yuan? The Euro? The fact remains that the much vilified greenback is still the globes preferred currency choice.

[Tchocky]

It's very very easy for Putin to say this. He's sitting on a mountain of natural resources and very solid political support. Don't pay him any notice. The US is still going to pay it's bills. So the fiscal path they've chosen for the last couple of decades is becoming swiftly unsustainable due to political blindness (both major parties) and blatant idiocy (House Republicans), big deal. The only constant is change, and change is coming.

Nobbling on about the decline and fall of the "American Empire" is not only boring the pants off the world, but also inaccurate and adhering to a worldview that ain't-current-no-more-boyo.

[Feuer Frei!]

It's not just the US that's a parasite though, there are plenty more out there, some have surface already and others are lurking. :nope:
US is the main player though. That's the problem. The other ones have less influence on the Global scale of things.
America, well...we're looking at it aren't we?

[Jimbuna]

If the $ is so bad why does Putin sit on so much in U.S. bonds and treasuries?

[Anthony W.]

Even the Russians said there was a turnaround back towards Soviet foreign affairs policy when Putin got in.

There are 2 things Putin makes me worry about.

1. He'll use his abs to turn all the women I love into communists.

2. He'll renew the Cold War if anything boils over and causes a global conflict.

[Herr-Berbunch]

2. He'll renew the Cold War if anything boils over and causes a global conflict.

If that's what we need to kick-start our aviation industries... :hmmm:

[Buddahaid]

Well let the parasite call in all it's debts and foreign aid money and forgiven war loans and.........

[Anthony W.]

Well let the parasite call in all it's debts and foreign aid money and forgiven war loans and.........

Then we'll be the ONLY economy.

[August]

If the $ is so bad why does Putin sit on so much in U.S. bonds and treasuries?

Exactly.

[August]

You want to know why Putin is smack talking?

http://www.eur.army.mil/RapidTrident/

[Hottentot]

1. He'll use his abs to turn all the women I love into communists.

Define communist.

2. He'll renew the Cold War if anything boils over and causes a global conflict.Because...?

[flatsixes]

Define communist.

A dope.

Because...?

See definition above.

[Ducimus]

Just as an off the wall, snarky comment...

I can't say i'm a big fan of Globalization.

[Growler]

The EU's GDP is bigger.

And there is more to assessing an economy than just the GDP. Future perspective, fincial health(or lack of). Import-Export balance, etc. Fact is no other economy is such a big burden to all the rest of the globe, than the American - and by far so.

I already said it in another thread yesterday, Putin this time is right. The dollar must be replaced as global leading currency. The American way is irresponsible and a burden to all others. It is parasistic, yes, and does damage to all others.

Wake up over there. America ise in trouble, it brought itself there all by itself, and it brings all others into trouble as well by it's ways. America is no more a benefit for global economy, but a burden, damaging all others, and only arguing why it must be allowed to suck on the financial blood of others, instead of becoming self-sustaining and straightening it debts. You have taken all the globe as hostage.


Hmm... y'know, we MUST be a superpower of all superpowers to make every country in the world tag along with us even as we start our great decline. I mean, seriously - we're in trouble and bringing everyone else with us, obviously against their collective will, and holding them hostage, since, poor things, they clearly had no choice.

And where was all this opposition to America and the dollar say, fifty years ago? Oh, yeah, right, right... there was none. Foreign economies couldn't wait to jump on the dollar train.

Funny how the tunes change.

[Ducimus]

And where was all this opposition to America and the dollar say, fifty years ago? Oh, yeah, right, right... there was none. Foreign economies couldn't wait to jump on the dollar train.

Funny how the tunes change.

Of course tunes will change. The instant peoples will have no further use for use for us, we'll be cast aside and marginalized. It's human nature, and it happens all the time, just not on a national level, though we may see that at some point. I just hope our national pride of past accomplishments of our forebearers doesn't blind us to the future.

[kraznyi_oktjabr]

Hmm... y'know, we MUST be a superpower of all superpowers to make every country in the world tag along with us even as we start our great decline. I mean, seriously - we're in trouble and bringing everyone else with us, obviously against their collective will, and holding them hostage, since, poor things, they clearly had no choice.

And where was all this opposition to America and the dollar say, fifty years ago? Oh, yeah, right, right... there was none. Foreign economies couldn't wait to jump on the dollar train.

Funny how the tunes change.
About dollar train:
1. No Soviets. No need to kiss that thingy in rear end
2. Your country wasn't so much in debt then as its now

[Hottentot]

A dope.

See definition above.

So let me get this straight: Putin will start a global conflict, because he is a communist which makes him a dope.

Cool. And is Putin a communist, because he is a Russian?

[August]

I've yet to see anyone suggest a suitable replacement for the Dollar. It certainly isn't going to be Putin's Ruble...

[nikimcbee]

Define communist.

Because...?

military industrial complex:D.

[Oberon]

I've yet to see anyone suggest a suitable replacement for the Dollar. It certainly isn't going to be Putin's Ruble...

Cattle? :hmmm:

[Growler]

About dollar train:
1. No Soviets. No need to kiss that thingy in rear end
2. Your country wasn't so much in debt then as its now

None of this changes the fact that the whole "global economy" is a consequence of poor decision making and poor planning on the parts of leaders the world over, who elected to hitch their wagons to the dollar.

You don't blame the lead wagon for the breakdown if no one else in the caravan is bothering to watch where they're going, either.

[flatsixes]

So let me get this straight: Putin will start a global conflict, because he is a communist which makes him a dope.

Cool. And is Putin a communist, because he is a Russian?

Close, but backwards. Communists are dopes. Putin is a Communist. Ergo, Putin is a dope. Dopes start global conflicts. Putin is a dope. Ergo, Putin starts global conflicts. See? It's easy. :yeah:

[Oberon]

"Whoever does not miss the Soviet Union has no heart. Whoever wants it back has no brain."

[TLAM Strike]

"Whoever does not miss the Soviet Union has no heart. Whoever wants it back has no brain."
Damn how I miss it. Think about all the cool stuff the US would have if the Soviets were still around; the Navy would have a stealth bomber, there would be dozens of Seawolf class submarines and we would have frickin' lasers in space. :damn:

[Oberon]

Damn how I miss it. Think about all the cool stuff the US would have if the Soviets were still around; the Navy would have a stealth bomber, there would be dozens of Seawolf class submarines and we would have frickin' lasers in space. :damn:

We'd still have Upholders :yep:

[frau kaleun]

Cattle? :hmmm:

No, no, no. He said suitable replacement. So... cow patties?

[CaptainMattJ.]

HAHAHAHA!

Who decided to invest in the United states. Who decided to jump on the train of growth and success? The world did. And now, as we desperately try to fix the brakes as the bridge is out ahead, everybody wants off.

They used us for our wealth. THEY are in fact the parasites. You didn't HAVE to do anything. you made a choice and now its going to bite you in the ass.

Why is America going down? Frankly i think its because the population of IDIOTS has actually grown into a nice chunk of the population. More and more undereducated morons are reproducing. Whether that be the idiot who decides to drop out of high school, or the gang members,or the OH-MY-GOSH Teenager with a brain the size of a golf ball, or That 10 kid family Mrs Ramirez has going who she can barely afford to feed.


i mean, just look at the people on the street the reporters question. Everyday time they question people off the street, half of them are completely oblivious to damn near everything happening around them, much less whats happening to the country. And people like them, completely oblivious with half a brain, are still given the right to vote on issues they know nothing about, and often mimic those they see on television, like nut-job Bill O'reilly.

OR, those who do care about whats going to help them keep a job in the economy are ultra-loyalists to whatever party they're in. They think in terns of "Under no circumstances can the other side get what they want".

[Jimbuna]

We'd still have Upholders :yep:

As well as an army, navy and air force :hmmm:

[nikimcbee]

So Putin has figured we're spending too much.:hmmm: Will he run for prez here?

[nikimcbee]

As well as an army, navy and air force :hmmm:

Are you refering to the "Blarney Army?"

[Jimbuna]

Are you refering to the "Blarney Army?"

Your memory does you no favours...twas the Barmey Army :DL

http://www.thecricketblog.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/barmyarmy_ap.jpg

[MH]

Putin....the best thing that happened to Russia since Stalin.:D

[kraznyi_oktjabr]

HAHAHAHA!

Who decided to invest in the United states. Who decided to jump on the train of growth and success? The world did. And now, as we desperately try to fix the brakes as the bridge is out ahead, everybody wants off.

They used us for our wealth. THEY are in fact the parasites. You didn't HAVE to do anything. you made a choice and now its going to bite you in the ass.

And with whose money that "wealth" have come from? Your government have chosen that its better to loan from others to fund their action while letting people to enjoy their practically (for some) TAXFREE income.

Why is America going down? Frankly i think its because the population of IDIOTS has actually grown into a nice chunk of the population. More and more undereducated morons are reproducing. Whether that be the idiot who decides to drop out of high school, or the gang members,or the OH-MY-GOSH Teenager with a brain the size of a golf ball, or That 10 kid family Mrs Ramirez has going who she can barely afford to feed.


i mean, just look at the people on the street the reporters question. Everyday time they question people off the street, half of them are completely oblivious to damn near everything happening around them, much less whats happening to the country. And people like them, completely oblivious with half a brain, are still given the right to vote on issues they know nothing about, and often mimic those they see on television, like nut-job Bill O'reilly.I agree with that except that I thought name was Bill O'rally. :hmmm:


:D

OR, those who do care about whats going to help them keep a job in the economy are ultra-loyalists to whatever party they're in. They think in terns of "Under no circumstances can the other side get what they want".And this is feature in current U.S. politics which frustrates in this side of pond.

[August]

And this is feature in current U.S. politics which frustrates in this side of pond.

If you don't like it feel free to cash in all your US investments and put your money in Russia. I'm sure it will be much safer in Putins hands than ours...

[Jimbuna]

If you don't like it feel free to cash in all your US investments and put your money in Russia. I'm sure it will be much safer in Putins hands than ours...

Yeah...right :DL

[kraznyi_oktjabr]

If you don't like it feel free to cash in all your US investments and put your money in Russia. I'm sure it will be much safer in Putins hands than ours...
Thank you for you recommendation but I would rather invest that money to somewhere within EU like France or Germany. Not perfect choices but better than U.S. in my opinion. However I do not happen to be Minister of Finance or Primeminister so my possibilities to change anything are not very high.

Meanwhile I think it would be good for all of us to listen some instructional music.
Wenn getanzt wird, will ich führen,
auch wenn ihr euch alleine dreht,
lasst euch ein wenig kontrollieren,
Ich zeige euch wie's richtig geht.
Wir bilden einen lieben Reigen,
die Freiheit spielt auf allen Geigen,
Musik kommt aus dem Weißen Haus,
Und vor Paris steht Mickey Maus.Everybody join in (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8y4vIzEkd6s)! Lyrics are available here (http://german.about.com/library/blmus_rammst04.htm) if you need them.

[Takeda Shingen]

I agree. The United States must end it's parasitic ways and wasteful use of resources. I would start be ending the billions upon billions of dollars spent on foreign aid to places like Africa, the Middle East, Israel, Greece, Lithuania, Ireland, Poland, Portugal, Serbia and, oh say, Russia.

[Ducimus]

Why is America going down? Frankly i think its because the population of IDIOTS has actually grown into a nice chunk of the population. More and more undereducated morons are reproducing. Whether that be the idiot who decides to drop out of high school, or the gang members,or the OH-MY-GOSH Teenager with a brain the size of a golf ball, or That 10 kid family Mrs Ramirez has going who she can barely afford to feed.


i mean, just look at the people on the street the reporters question. Everyday time they question people off the street, half of them are completely oblivious to damn near everything happening around them, much less whats happening to the country. And people like them, completely oblivious with half a brain, are still given the right to vote on issues they know nothing about, and often mimic those they see on television, like nut-job Bill O'reilly.


Watch this, and weep.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzJc7ou1-p8

[Jimbuna]

I agree. The United States must end it's parasitic ways and wasteful use of resources. I would start be ending the billions upon billions of dollars spent on foreign aid to places like Africa, the Middle East, Israel, Greece, Lithuania, Ireland, Poland, Portugal, Serbia and, oh say, Russia.

On a much smaller proportionate scale I would ask that the UK follow suit :yep:

[Buddahaid]

Watch this, and weep.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzJc7ou1-p8

The fruit of public education taken for granted and why Asia will rule the planet. However, I am sure that many of those people are quite educated in other areas that interest them. I don't see how they could have passed high school though. :shucks:

[darius359au]

I've yet to see anyone suggest a suitable replacement for the Dollar. It certainly isn't going to be Putin's Ruble...

Australian Dollars may be your best bet $1.10 US to 1 Aussie last I looked:up: :D,then again probably be easier to leave the US as the main one so we can just keep on buying stuff cheap in the interwebs:D:haha:

[jumpy]

hmm, the argument (is it really? or is everyone just passing the buck - hahaha, my little joke - like usual?) over who's country is parasitic on the world economy is missing the point?

Surely a better explanation is that the current global financial mess is a product of greedy people making their greed even greater in places that allow them to do so?
It is not just the US that does this, but most of the developed nations of the world. Any time someone in the UK states a case for stricter financial regulation of banks and markets (ostensibly to protect the ordinary bloke in the street with a low to middle income from having his savings and earnings and assets raped by the consequences of financial meltdown and the inevitable government cuts and taxation in an attempt to mitigate this) there's a whole lot of bleating about how all the financiers will take their prospective imaginary cash some place else where there's less regulation of the markets so we cannot possibly let that happen or we would loose out by not having some of their greed rubbing off on our economy...

I don't know how else to explain the way the credit crunch/housing crash and all of that stuff that happened in the US a few years ago had such a massive knock on effect on the economies of the rest of the worlds developed nations.

Everyone has been so busy patting each-other on the back, congratulating themselves on how frightfully clever they've all been by creating money out of thin air that no-one stopped to think if it was actually a good idea or not.
And because everything is linked in a global financial house of cards it only takes one to flutter in the breeze for the whole lot to come crashing down.

I don' think the US is any more or less parasitical in this respect, all developed nations share the burden and responsibility for it, and therefore the blame too. It just so happens that the US has one of the larger economies in comparison to some other countries - what difference this makes in any real terms when everyone is in on the game is rather beside the point.

The developed nations of the world have put all of their financial eggs in one basket (globalisation). This is fine when everything is running smoothly, but it's a damn stupid idea when it goes wrong.

[Hottentot]

Close, but backwards. Communists are dopes. Putin is a Communist. Ergo, Putin is a dope. Dopes start global conflicts. Putin is a dope. Ergo, Putin starts global conflicts. See? It's easy. :yeah:

And pray tell what makes Putin a communist.

(We really need a "tongue in cheek" smiley, methinks)

[kraznyi_oktjabr]

And pray tell what makes Putin a communist.

(We really need a "tongue in cheek" smiley, methinks)
I would also appreciate that little information. In my opinion Putin is so capitalist that he makes American "fiscal conservatives" look like ardent followers of Marx (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Marx) and Lenin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Lenin).

[August]

And pray tell what makes Putin a communist.

(We really need a "tongue in cheek" smiley, methinks)

I thought being a member of the Communist party was a job requirement in order to work at the KGB.

[yubba]

Inside every communist is a capitalist dying to get out.:haha:

[Fish]

I would start be ending the billions upon billions of dollars spent on foreign aid to places like Africa, the Middle East, Israel, Greece, Lithuania, Ireland, Poland, Portugal, Serbia and, oh say, Russia.


Only Greece spend less:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:2006_ODA_GNI.png

[Herr-Berbunch]

We'd still have Upholders :yep:

I've got some cUpholders in my car, and I believe you can purchase others that can be sited in various other places to keep your drink from falling over...


Watch this, and weep.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzJc7ou1-p8

You have my greatest respect for moving out of that place! Well done. :yep:

[Hottentot]

I thought being a member of the Communist party was a job requirement in order to work at the KGB.

How is the weather in 1991?

[Hawk66]

The EU's GDP is bigger.

I already said it in another thread yesterday, Putin this time is right. The dollar must be replaced as global leading currency.

And may I ask what leading currency you propose? Euro? Then I would say you are kidding...the EU economy as a whole is by no means stronger than the US economy...especially if you look in the future (which region is more attractive for high-skilled Asia people and so on).

We in Germany might think so...that's also the reason why we think we can spend dozens of billions of Euros to get rid of our nuclear plants and do not take care about the real problems, which we will face very soon.

And coming back to Mr. Putin: If he's in such good mood, I would say he should take care about his old cold war submarines, which now the West seems to be responsible to get rid of (at least they have to pay the bill, which means actually billions of Euros)...Why is a country paid for getting rid of old nuclear submarine plants if they have the money to develop and buy new SSNs?

[Tribesman]

How is the weather in 1991?
Weather is easy
Red Sky at night, shepherds .......errrr .......are all communists too so is the sky...well not the Sky as he is just must mixed up, but the sky is and it is proven that when its red sky in the morning communists are coming...or going if they were on the night shift but it's still a warning.

But seriously Putin, a communist:har::har::har::har::har::har::har::har:: har::har::har::har::har::har::har:
Did you hear the one about Yeltsin leading the Temperance union?:03:

[August]

How is the weather in 1991?

Once a dirty rotten commie always a dirty rotten commie.

[Dowly]

So, August, tell me how you REALLY feel? :hmmm:

[Tribesman]

So, August, tell me how you REALLY feel?
Confused obviously:rotfl2:

[Hottentot]

Once a dirty rotten commie always a dirty rotten commie.

You explained Putin is a communist, because he worked in KGB, in which being a member of the party was apparently requirement. Therefore joining a party makes one a communist.

KGB, as well as the party he belonged to, ceased to exist in 1991. Therefore Putin couldn't work in KGB anymore after that and couldn't belong to a party that didn't exist. These days we can for sure say that he doesn't belong to the Communist Party of Russia, which has actually been a major rival of the party he belongs to.

Therefore, if one becomes a communist by being part of the party, doesn't one cease to be a communist when one is no longer a member of the party? Putin's policies and the aforementioned rivalry between the parties would support that..

[flatsixes]

And pray tell what makes Putin a communist.

Well... Putin was in the Communist Party for about 20 years (before it became, um... "unfashionable"). But I think that former Soviet head honcho Gorbachev's fairly recent take on Putin (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/27/world/europe/27russia.html?scp=3&sq=Gorbachev&st=cse) is a bit more insightful than my own:

“He thinks that democracy stands in his way,” Mr. Gorbachev said.

“I am afraid that they have been saddled with this idea that this unmanageable country needs authoritarianism,” Mr. Gorbachev said, referring to Mr. Putin and his close ally, President Dmitri A. Medvedev. “They think they cannot do without it.”

In an interview, Mr. Gorbachev even described Mr. Putin’s governing party, United Russia, as a “a bad copy of the Soviet Communist Party.” Mr. Gorbachev said party officials were concerned entirely with clinging to power and did not want Russians to take part in civic life.

Of course, the source of that quote is the New York Times, which has a few socialist/capitalist identity issues itself. Even so, running a "bad copy of the Soviet Communist Party" twenty years (this month!) after that original was consigned to the ash heap of history tells me that Mr. Putin still pines for the good old days that were Joe Stalin.

Of course, I don't expect Vlad to be milking some cow on a Siberian collective any time soon, but then no real communists ever did that kind of work either.

(We really need a "tongue in cheek" smiley, methinks)

There's something that we can agree about!:woot:

[Hottentot]

Well... Putin was in the Communist Party for about 20 years (before it became, um... "unfashionable"). Sounds like political opportunism to me. Which is not something I would find beyond Putin.

Of course, the source of that quote is the New York Times, which has a few socialist/capitalist identity issues itself. Even so, running a "bad copy of the Soviet Communist Party" twenty years (this month!) after that original was consigned to the ash heap of history tells me that Mr. Putin still pines for the good old days that were Joe Stalin.

Of course, I don't expect Vlad to be milking some cow on a Siberian collective any time soon, but then no real communists ever did that kind of work either.

And here we come to the crux of the issue. It's especially nice that you brought up Stalin, as I have done research on Soviet Union in 1930s and had to just scratch my head in how many ways Stalin went against the principles he so much swore to uphold. Nationalism in a socialist country? Really?

I have similar historical interest in communism as I have in any major ideology, as long as it's relevant to my studies. And when I see people just throwing one liners about communism, I see no better than what I read the Soviet hardliners saying about the West over 80 years ago.

Hate any ideology you wish. I have no problem with that. But just spouting the magic words and hoping people nod in agreement is quickly going to bite back. This is one of those cases: nothing in Putin's policies implies that his ideology would be communistic. That doesn't make him, nor the communism good. It just means that: Putin can be called many things, but hardly a communist.

[flatsixes]

Sounds like political opportunism to me. Which is not something I would find beyond Putin.



And here we come to the crux of the issue. It's especially nice that you brought up Stalin, as I have done research on Soviet Union in 1930s and had to just scratch my head in how many ways Stalin went against the principles he so much swore to uphold. Nationalism in a socialist country? Really?

I have similar historical interest in communism as I have in any major ideology, as long as it's relevant to my studies. And when I see people just throwing one liners about communism, I see no better than what I read the Soviet hardliners saying about the West over 80 years ago.

Hate any ideology you wish. I have no problem with that. But just spouting the magic words and hoping people nod in agreement is quickly going to bite back. This is one of those cases: nothing in Putin's policies implies that his ideology would be communistic. That doesn't make him, nor the communism good. It just means that: Putin can be called many things, but hardly a communist.

Who said I hated communism? I said it was for dopes. And as we all know, dopes can be useful (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Useful_idiot) - especially to opportunists.

Now, as much as I'd really like to continue this conversation at length (honestly!), being a capitalist, I have to work. There's a least a dozen widows and orphans that I need to evict before nightfall. So, please, carry on without me. I'll check back later.

Thanks!

[Tribesman]

Well... Putin was in the Communist Party for about 20 years
Little Kim was in the democratic party for life, doesn't mean he was ever democratic at all.

But I think that former Soviet head honcho
Don't you think you should quote someone who would back up your claim instead?

Even so, running a "bad copy of the Soviet Communist Party"
Exactly...but you don't get it.

Mr. Putin still pines for the good old days that were Joe Stalin.


Stalin:har::har::har::har::har: any glimmers of understanding yet.
Whtaever next? Mugabe the peaceful christian patriot and champion of democracy

[Hottentot]

Who said I hated communism?

No one. I meant it in plural.

Now, as much as I'd really like to continue this conversation at length (honestly!), being a capitalist, I have to work.

I'm sorry. Being a Finn, I came from work three hours ago.

There's a least a dozen widows and orphans that I need to evict before nightfall. So, please, carry on without me. I'll check back later.

When you do, search for the posts by a guy named "redsocialist" and see how I replied to him here on General Topics (on multiple occasions) few months ago. After that, please put your silly label stamp away, or at least put the correct pattern in it.

Thanks!

You're quite welcome.

[sidslotm]

Unfortunatly the whole of the western world is living beond it's means.

England has gone from a nation that made or built everything it was able to make, to a nation that imports every little paper clip or car that it needs, that's in my life time.

Generation after generations have been taught living on credit is good. Result, millions and millions of people from the cradle to the grave are in dept for one thing or the other for the duration of their lives.

Freedom is not a word, it's a condition that's won by sacrifice.

[Jimbuna]

Not entirely correct I'm afraid....there's a sizeable Nissan car manufacturing plant about 4 miles from me.

Not British owned granted, but an exporter mainly would you believe.

[Takeda Shingen]

Only Greece spend less:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:2006_ODA_GNI.png

Excellent, then our efforts will not be missed. Sounds like a win-win; let's make it happen. :up: