Russia

Catfish · 11-25-05, 07:13 AM

Hello Kapitain,
i did not mean to offend you, sorry. Things in Russia are certainly difficult, and you probably need a strong hand to keep control and hopefully lead the nation into better times. However several names on a list to choose from are not alone what makes a democracy, the chosen leaders should not act as dictators then, prohibiting free speech and free enterprise.

There is still this "saga" that Hitler was elected - well, this is not quite the truth. Members of the german parliament were hindered to enter certain votes, they were frightened personally or beaten, or they were simply blackmailed in threatening their families by the SA. Anyone who voted against the party was written down and persecuted. I somehow would not call the final election "democratic".

There is no way in comparing Germany back then and Russia today, and Putin certainly deserves a better evaluation. But hindering firms and business to act freely and arresting their leaders because they grew to a danger for Putin, or so he thought, is not democratic. There stilll is no free press. If someone gets really big enough threatening to be elected, he will get serious problems. And i do not see that Putin does enough against the Russian Mafia, instead he pursues "normal" business leaders and replaces them with his men.
But i do not really know enough of what Putin really has in mind or plans - does anyone?

Greetings,
Catfish

View Poll Results: What is the future of Russia?
Russia is going to become a European democracy.	15	33.33%
Russia is going to become a nationalistic and expansionist.	13	28.89%
Russia is going to brake to pieces, with possible civil war.	5	11.11%
Other?	12	26.67%
Voters: 45. You may not vote on this poll

11-25-05, 07:13 AM	#15
Catfish Dipped Squirrel Operative Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: ..where the ocean meets the sky Posts: 17,773 Downloads: 38 Uploads: 0	Hello Kapitain, i did not mean to offend you, sorry. Things in Russia are certainly difficult, and you probably need a strong hand to keep control and hopefully lead the nation into better times. However several names on a list to choose from are not alone what makes a democracy, the chosen leaders should not act as dictators then, prohibiting free speech and free enterprise. There is still this "saga" that Hitler was elected - well, this is not quite the truth. Members of the german parliament were hindered to enter certain votes, they were frightened personally or beaten, or they were simply blackmailed in threatening their families by the SA. Anyone who voted against the party was written down and persecuted. I somehow would not call the final election "democratic". There is no way in comparing Germany back then and Russia today, and Putin certainly deserves a better evaluation. But hindering firms and business to act freely and arresting their leaders because they grew to a danger for Putin, or so he thought, is not democratic. There stilll is no free press. If someone gets really big enough threatening to be elected, he will get serious problems. And i do not see that Putin does enough against the Russian Mafia, instead he pursues "normal" business leaders and replaces them with his men. But i do not really know enough of what Putin really has in mind or plans - does anyone? Greetings, Catfish