Russia

CCIP · 11-26-05, 01:03 PM

$600 a month... ouch. Although it's far better than a teacher

As far as the fleet - I really don't think Putin is on the wrong track here; but there's really a big problem with distribution of money to all government-supported professions in general and that's what worries me.

Russia is NOT poor. There's very encouraging economic indicators from there in the last few years - Putin has at least not dropped the ball when the oil prices started going up, and Russia has made a lot of money from this. Industrial production seems to have increased, and from the looks of it - all is good.

But the problem is that the benefits of this are going to, at best, 10% of the population; much of the money that's made goes abroad in various schemes. Meanwhile 90% of the populace is worse off.

And, of course, shockingly enough - despite the apparent economic uplift - it was only a few months ago that Putin had approved measures to cut pensions and benefits. That's what my tooth is, since I do have old relatives in Russia who've been seriously affected by this.

Sorry if I seem a bit bitter about this whole Russia thing. It is all pretty personal to me - if it weren't for the circumstances that the current government is perpetuating, I would still be there.

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

11-26-05, 01:03 PM	#21
CCIP Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Waterloo, Canada Posts: 8,700 Downloads: 29 Uploads: 2	$600 a month... ouch. Although it's far better than a teacher As far as the fleet - I really don't think Putin is on the wrong track here; but there's really a big problem with distribution of money to all government-supported professions in general and that's what worries me. Russia is NOT poor. There's very encouraging economic indicators from there in the last few years - Putin has at least not dropped the ball when the oil prices started going up, and Russia has made a lot of money from this. Industrial production seems to have increased, and from the looks of it - all is good. But the problem is that the benefits of this are going to, at best, 10% of the population; much of the money that's made goes abroad in various schemes. Meanwhile 90% of the populace is worse off. And, of course, shockingly enough - despite the apparent economic uplift - it was only a few months ago that Putin had approved measures to cut pensions and benefits. That's what my tooth is, since I do have old relatives in Russia who've been seriously affected by this. Sorry if I seem a bit bitter about this whole Russia thing. It is all pretty personal to me - if it weren't for the circumstances that the current government is perpetuating, I would still be there. __________________ There are only forty people in the world and five of them are hamburgers. -Don Van Vliet (aka Captain Beefheart)