Russia....What It's Like

[Revoltingest]

But isn't that what the framers were aiming for? That government should be limited -- and have to go back to the "masses" on a regular basis to ask for permission to carry on?

Yes.

No secret here but I think that is what the Republican party is trying to weasel its way out of these past few years. Elections don't appear to suit them well.

Both Pubs & Dems try to seize more
power than they're entitled to.

 

[Valjean]

Anybody who thinks that established governments primarily serve their citizenry is deluded. Governments, as all human bureaucratic organizations, eventually take on a life of their own, separate from “the people”, and end up serving themselves first and foremost, especially the imperatives to perpetuate and to increase power. This is Organizational Behavior 101. A given government will serve a citizen when he facilitates the fulfillment of those imperatives, and destroy a citizen when he impedes it. Snowden ran into the arms of Russia because he knew that he was about to be destroyed by his government otherwise.

He didn't run into the arms of Russia. Russia was a stopover, and he became stranded there after the US cancelled his passport.

 

[Zwing]

He didn't run into the arms of Russia. Russia was a stopover, and he became stranded there after the US cancelled his passport.

True. He “embraced” life in Russia out of necessity. That “running into the arms, etc.” was, indeed, quite a hyperbolic turn of phrase, wasn’t it?

 

[Jimmy]

Right now? Led by a man with no wisdom.

 

[RestlessSoul]

It's the country that never really quite got fully off the ground.
The serfs revolted against he Czar.
But they became cogs under Stalin.
The USSR broke up, but they became subjects under Putin.
The population is dwindling due to war, disease, & emigration.

Putin's child snatchers turning kidnapped Ukraine kids into 'Russian zombies'

KIDNAPPED Ukrainian kids are being sent to sinister “re-education camps” by Putin’s evil child snatchers in a bid to turn them into “Russian zombies”, according to a r…

www.the-sun.com

Russia’s population nightmare is going to get even worse

War in Ukraine has aggravated a crisis that long predates the conflict

www.economist.com

Russian troops 'forced to fight with shovels' due to ammo shortage

The head of the Wagner mercenary force that has led the assault renewed his criticism of Moscow’s military leaders over the weekend and warned that Russia’s positions in the area could be in jeopardy if the supply issues weren’t resolved.

www.nbcnews.com

Mobilization Can’t Save Russia’s War

Russian troops are being trained to be cannon fodder.

foreignpolicy.com

I know this will be controversial.
Some loathe Russia.
Others defend Russians as dupes.
Let the discussion commence.

It’s not controversial; what could possibly be controversial about a US citizen fearing and demonising Russia? You’ve been taught to think that way since childhood. But it’s not history, it’s propaganda. Must do better.

 

[Revoltingest]

It’s not controversial; what could possibly be controversial about a US citizen fearing and demonising Russia? You’ve been taught to think that way since childhood. But it’s not history, it’s propaganda. Must do better.

Perhaps you've bought Russian propaganda, eh.

 

[Debater Slayer]

It's the country that never really quite got fully off the ground.
The serfs revolted against he Czar.
But they became cogs under Stalin.
The USSR broke up, but they became subjects under Putin.
The population is dwindling due to war, disease, & emigration.

Putin's child snatchers turning kidnapped Ukraine kids into 'Russian zombies'

KIDNAPPED Ukrainian kids are being sent to sinister “re-education camps” by Putin’s evil child snatchers in a bid to turn them into “Russian zombies”, according to a r…

www.the-sun.com

Russia’s population nightmare is going to get even worse

War in Ukraine has aggravated a crisis that long predates the conflict

www.economist.com

Russian troops 'forced to fight with shovels' due to ammo shortage

The head of the Wagner mercenary force that has led the assault renewed his criticism of Moscow’s military leaders over the weekend and warned that Russia’s positions in the area could be in jeopardy if the supply issues weren’t resolved.

www.nbcnews.com

Mobilization Can’t Save Russia’s War

Russian troops are being trained to be cannon fodder.

foreignpolicy.com

I know this will be controversial.
Some loathe Russia.
Others defend Russians as dupes.
Let the discussion commence.

I neither loathe Russia nor believe that all Russians are dupes. I loathe Putin's regime, see Russia as much older and bigger than Putin and his ilk, and see Russians the same way I see every other population on the planet: as people with various beliefs and opinions rather than a monolith.

It's tragic that so many people are suffering and dying because of Putin's imperialism and dictatorship, be they Ukrainians or anti-war Russians who were forced into the draft. I hope his rule comes to an end soon enough and the bloodshed and war stop.

 

[Revoltingest]

I neither loathe Russia nor believe that all Russians are dupes. I loathe Putin's regime, see Russia as much older and bigger than Putin and his ilk, and see Russians the same way I see every other population on the planet: as people with various beliefs and opinions rather than a monolith.

I find differences in how countries' histories
have molded them into what they've become.

It's tragic that so many people are suffering and dying because of Putin's imperialism and dictatorship, be they Ukrainians or anti-war Russians who were forced into the draft. I hope his rule comes to an end soon enough and the bloodshed and war stop.

I agree.
Anti-war Russians are great people.

 

[Debater Slayer]

Both the USSR and Putin turned out to be trash.

Why do so many Italians have such horrible taste and judgement?

Really? How sad. The Italians, who taught the French how to cook, who taught the world about art, inventiveness, gave us Dante...and they adore Russia and Putin? Ignorance, stangnancy and submission?

Yes, I find that really sad.

Exactly! Given how much taste, judgement, talent and acumen they once had. I can only suppose the supremacy of the Papal States, guided by religion, helped pave the way to intellectual torpor.

I would strongly suggest not taking specific opinions here as representative of all or even most Italians. Anyone could claim that their personal views reflect on an entire nation or a large part of it, but we all know that a lot of people project inaccurately.

I've known Italians outside this forum, and they're some of the friendliest and most peaceful people I've met. Nothing I have seen whether in any credible sources (e.g., reliable opinion surveys) or even through personal anecdotes leads me to believe that most Italians love Putin, celebrate fascism, or dislike people of other ethnicities.

 

[Debater Slayer]

I find differences in how countries' histories
have molded them into what they've become.

Of course. Not even countries that share borders have the exact same history. There are a lot of stochastic processes and events involved in shaping history, but we all have the same human nature beneath all of these other factors.

 

[Revoltingest]

I would strongly suggest not taking specific opinions here as representative of all or even most Italians. Anyone could claim that their personal views reflect on an entire nation or a large part of it, but we all know that a lot of people project inaccurately.

I've known Italians outside this forum, and they're some of the friendliest and most peaceful people I've met. Nothing I have seen whether in any credible sources (e.g., reliable opinion surveys) or even through personal anecdotes leads me to believe that most Italians love Putin, celebrate fascism, or dislike people of other ethnicities.

To some extent, it's game to respond to outrageous claims about Italy.
Also, there's an underlying assumption of "if what you say is true".
We sometimes state it, but it would become perfunctory if said every time.

 

[Revoltingest]

Of course. Not even countries that share borders have the exact same history. There are a lot of stochastic processes and events involved in shaping history, but we all have the same human nature beneath all of these other factors.

I just considered why Russia is what it is,
ie, a people accustomed to being ruled
by an iron fist.

 

[Debater Slayer]

I just considered why Russia is what it is,
ie, a people accustomed to being ruled
by an iron fist.

In any country, each generation may be quite different from the last in one way or another. This is because X who grew up in Stalinist Russia may be accustomed to dictatorship, but Y, who is X's child, hasn't even lived long enough to be accustomed to anything.

We can't possibly inherit memories or first-hand experiences, after all.

 

[Debater Slayer]

To some extent, it's game to respond to outrageous claims about Italy.
Also, there's an underlying assumption of "if what you say is true".
We sometimes state it, but it would become perfunctory if said every time.

Yeah, that underlying assumption is why I keep refusing to post any criticism of Italy based on specific posts. I simply don't give the depiction enough weight or lend it enough credence to do so.

 

[Revoltingest]

In any country, each generation may be quite different from the last in one way or another. This is because X who grew up in Stalinist Russia may be accustomed to dictatorship, but Y, who is X's child, hasn't even lived long enough to be accustomed to anything.

We can't possibly inherit memories or first-hand experiences, after all.

Many things span multiple generations.
- Russians under authoritarian governments.
- USA's gun ownership.
- Scots eating haggis.

 

[Stevicus]

Perhaps you've bought Russian propaganda, eh.

 

[Revoltingest]

Yeah, that underlying assumption is why I keep refusing to post any criticism of Italy based on specific posts. I simply don't give the depiction enough weight or lend it enough credence to do so.

Well, you're no fun.
That we all know.

 

[Revoltingest]

View attachment 75618

When I think of "treason", a different person comes to mind.

 

[Debater Slayer]

Many things span multiple generations.
- Russians under authoritarian governments.
- USA's gun ownership.
- Scots eating haggis.

Of course, some things are intergenerational, such as religion and cultural traditions. However, I would say that traditions and beliefs that span multiple generations are different from being accustomed to a political status quo, since one would have to live under the latter in order to be accustomed to it. This is not the case with traditions and beliefs that are passed down through inculcation.

This is not to say that people can't teach their children to accept a certain political landscape and to not even try to change it (usually due to safety concerns), though.

 

[Stevicus]

When I think of "treason", a different person comes to mind.