Hello Yaacov. OT. OT. OT. OT.
Strong feelings you got there about Russians. We have to discuss this some time by private message. I think a long line of suppression, Zar's and in the end Communism, can play havoc with lots of people. Looking back in history I am not sure that Russian's got a lot of handouts from their prev. leaders in past centuries. Looks like they had to do hard work to survive under diff. regimes. It is hard to judge people by the big Cities they live in. You are right there. But I am sure that the individual Russian is hardworking if giving the chance to get ahead.
I was not comparing East German people with Russian people. I was trying to show that it is hard for anyone to get out from under, after living under suppression for a long time. East Germany is having the help from West Germany, now that they are united, and like you said, it is still hard to convert their old thinking alltogether and it may not happen until the old Generation is gone.
What exactly are the Russian people to do? They had sev. leaders after the fall of Communism and it actually looks now that it has not fallen all the way. The Russian people are putting their faith in every newly elected leader( 2 so far) but it has not worked. The DUMA still has too many oldtimers who are trying to get back on top. I am trying to put myself into a Russian's place. What could I do under those circumstances? I really don't know. Russia is a vast country and I guess it could start all over like the US did in the beginning and I am sure you know that it was not the greatest beginning. Of course this can't work in these times. I know that motivation is a big force. How can you get motivated when you don't know where to start? How can everyday people be blamed for that? My wife was raised and educated in West Germany and has her relatives still living there and they have no concrete answers.
I think the West has good intentions with helping out with money etc. But you are right. How can it help when that money goes down a never ending black hole? Look at lots of corrupt leaders all over the world and how people live under them. We are looking at Russia. I watched Indonesia on "Deutsche Welle" (This is a German TV program shown over here) yesterday and they are in the same place again like before under Suharto. Students are starting to rise again. Europe is doing fairly well, with all their so-called good DNA, gg. But are they taking care of Europe? No. What are we doing over there? Should the Balkans be our concern? Germany may have been productive through the Centuries but today we can't live in glass houses. I don't know anymore where the answer lies but I am going along with your thoughts that Russia is in big trouble. Hopefully it will not go back to the old system. We survived without Russia before but once the toothpaste is out of the tube, it is hard to get it back in. I think things would be worse this time around.
Anyhow, what is your suggestion short of letting them roll in their own mess? I have never been for handouts if I see no results to make things better but what is the alternative here? Tough choices? What are they really for Russia? Takeover by one of our great companies? Intel, GE or Msft? gg. I personally would say: Don't vote for any Communists, present or past, and maybe things would work out. But if the DUMA now talks about impeachment there would probably be no vote. So now we could be back to Ground Zero. And how many Non-Communists are there in Russia's past 50 years? I think it was almost a must to belong in order to get jobs.
Here we are talking about politics, which of course have to do with the well being of our markets, while my stocks are going down again. gg. I am out of here.
Sonny |
