Why be like us?

[bluebox]

I am a 25 year old american. I produce and direct theater. I was led to this site by my growing fear that the rest of the world is treading down the american path. I am of the first genmeration of Americans to live in a worl dwhere we are the only superpower. I am watching Russia, and to a lesser extent China, turn towards our style of economy and Government. It must be understood that America's power is absolutly built upon a foundation of death and destruction. We dominate our continent cause we killed everyone else. Russia will never build an economy like ours if it does not create the means of production through unfair labor practices. Why did Russia decide to enter the free market economy? Please advise. The youth of America wants to know where we stand.

Greetings Bluebox,
You need not to worry. Russia will most likely adopt a EUROPEAN style of FREE ENTERPRISE system with proper social programs.
Good Luck.

[bluebox]

Thank you for your reply Ungaro
But I have the same fears in regard to Europe. Is the EU really so much more socially responsible? The free market with a friendly smile is after all still the free market. What aspects the "European approach" are more humane?

Greetings bluebox,
I give you just a few differences between Europe and USA.
1.In Europe people not dependent on credit.
They have a much higher rate of savings.
2.In Europe people are not subjects of the economy. They have retained their right for
vacation, paid holidays. They spend quality
time with their children instead of having
two or three jobs and no vacations just to pay the bills. Mothers with young children seldom work outside the home.
3.In general, European values are based on
humane values instead of religious superstition. Crime, drug abuse, gun violance is much more under control. Europeans do not use food as an aprhodisiac.
They seem to be a much happier society.
4.Schools are run by professionals and not
by frostrated housewifes and under employed
business executives. I am talking about School Boards. Their children are being educated and not entertained like in the USA.

I could go on and on. Basically the USA has placed Capital above the rank of Labor. Labor must work to produce the goods and is brainwashed into spending all it's income and borrowing capacity to keep the economy going. It seems EVIL to me.
Good Luck.

[udarnik]

Now, the issue of where Russia is going can be (and, indeed, is) richly discussed, but I still feel that Russia tends to take a curious path. The generally used expression is "When does Russia turn into a normal society" - and it will not, given the history of this massive. The result will be something altogether alien to our ways. The thing is, that in some respects, Russia is coming along quite well. People can no longer afford to drive to their dachas 200 miles away in the weekends, since fuel has become more expensive - but this does not mean that the concept has changed. I have been to a huge number of street markets, where the people having the stands there spend just as much time haggling with the neighbouring stands over some curious goods, because they are able to sell this somewhere else... I often think that in some aspects, Russians have an ability for enduring hardships and really getting along - "nakhodchivost" - that I, as a Dane, would be unable to muster.
The trick is that the Russian have an immense distrust in the public institutions, and that means that a tremendous amount of money and products are transferred without the state having a clue. Taxes are still a curious concept in Mother Russia. I am currently working on a project on the state's ability to make sanctions against people who do not, for instance, pay their taxes - and from the material emerges a picture of relatively minor connections with the state compared to the majority of the Western world countries.
Here in Denmark, we very often hear about the state wanting to regulate pensions, given the savings of elderly people - on the other hand, we give extra money to people on Social Welfare, if they have a dog... this kind of intimate connection between state and individual is not even remotely present in the Russian society. This seems very important to me.
About the Russian system of learning, though, I should like to add that most Russians on VUZy, the institutes of Higher Learning, have a very passive way of learning and are not trained there to form their own opinions in the way that we are in Western Europe - here in Denmark, anyway. This means that sometimes Russians can seem quite unknowing - this is not the case! They usually have a larger knowledge of plain facts, I mean - by us it is not unusual that people can not find Vietnam on a map or say when was the Russian revolution - and this kind of knowledge the Russians have. Given this and the very high level of education in Russia, I think that there is a basis for development in interesting directions very far from the traditional approaches. They are, after all, kulturnye.

[bluebox]

I wish to thank both of you for your thoughtfull responses. It is interesting that Europe has great trust and respect for the ability of the government to provide social safety nets, Helth care, welfare, ect... while Russia and USA would seem to share a distrust of Big Government. Ubfortunatly in many cases this distrust of the government leads to a deep trust in the free market system, with its invisble hand (which as far as I can tell is giving most of us the finger). Many americans prefer private heath care, and even werlfare and prisons. Russia must be very careful not to place its faith in its corparations alone.
Also on the subject of education, I think many europeans are frustrated by the fact that American students don't learn much world history, or foreign languages. Understand that the american education system is based on creating effective workers and not great intellectuals (except for the private quaker and catholic schools) Always remember that America is about nothing but money. This may be uncouth and frustrating to those who love art and philosophy, but when it comes to money, we are very good at what we do.

Greetings bluebox,
Govrenment is a fickle topic. When do you have enough? When do you have too much? I would like to refer you to a study conducted by the Catholic Bishops of the USA. The study was about the Us Economy and as such
the Government keeps popping up on every page. The Title is: Economic Justice for All:
Catholic Social Teaching and the US Economy.
It was published: November 27, 1986. It was published in: ORIGINS, The National Catholic News Service. It is 45 pages long. It makes
great reading. Just incase you might not want to read 45 pages, I tell you what it said about government: " In a democracy, government is a means by which we can act together to protect what is important to us and to promote our common values." Of all the things that I have seen written about the function of government, I think this is the best. The whole report is written in a very thought provoking fashion. Unfortunately
President Reagan and his Cronies made sure that it was not publicized much. It would have interfered with the gread that he was such champion of. Remember,- Dribble Down
Economy?
Good Luck.