General Questions about Russia

[DavesTandT]

I'm an American who's been studying the Russian language for about three years now. I had some questions about the Russian people and government:

1) Is it true that Russian gangsters run most of the country? I read that 1/3 of the Duma is in the Mafia's pocket.

2) Do Russians still hate Americans? If so, why? I don't think the US has done anything overtly antagonistic to Russia as a whole.

3) Does anyone think that Russia will ever pull itself out of the hole it's in and become a democratic & capitalistic nation, like England, America, etc.?

[davlet]

Originally posted by DavesTandT
I'm an American who's been studying the Russian language for about three years now. I had some questions about the Russian people and government:

I'm a Russian who left there 5 years ago (I now live in Canada).

1) Is it true that Russian gangsters run most of the country?

Yes. Actually it's not only Mafia per se, but the corrupt government officers (like police, judges) -- they break the law themselves all the time doing things like extortion(sp?), taking bribes, etc.

I read that 1/3 of the Duma is in the Mafia's pocket.

The thing is it's hard to say where Mafia ends and government begins. I'd say most (90%) of those in Duma are/were involved in some sort of illegal activities. I truly believe that 90% is a reasonable estimate. As for those with connections to organized crime, "Mafia", 1/3 sounds as good an estimate as any. I can't say for sure. I assume they're all f*cking crooks.

2) Do Russians still hate Americans?

Generally no. Generally Russians *never* hated Americans, even in the USSR times. The official Soviet propaganda version of the Americans was that many of them are hard-working honest but misguided and oppressed by the rich and powerful elite. But not really evil.

If so, why? I don't think the US has done anything overtly antagonistic to Russia as a whole.

No it didn't. But it hasn't done anything overtly sympathetic either (you might say it did in economic aid and such, but that had zero or even negative effect on our lives -- at least it is frequently perceived that way. I don't know economics so I can't evaluate that opinion.)

3) Does anyone think that Russia will ever pull itself out of the hole it's in and become a democratic & capitalistic nation, like England, America, etc.?

Well we all hope for it naturally. Some people are very enthusiastic, especially the psychos like communists and ultra-nationalists. They all have plans of bringing Russia up to speed in only a few years. They can go kill themselves as far as I am concerned (politically I'm a lefty-liberal). Realistically I wouldn't hold my breath for any spectacular changes for good in Russia in the near future.

Hope this helps,
D.P.

[valkiry]

Originally posted by DavesTandT
I'm an American who's been studying the Russian language for about three years now. I had some questions about the Russian people and government:

1) Is it true that Russian gangsters run most of the country? I read that 1/3 of the Duma is in the Mafia's pocket.

2) Do Russians still hate Americans? If so, why? I don't think the US has done anything overtly antagonistic to Russia as a whole.

3) Does anyone think that Russia will ever pull itself out of the hole it's in and become a democratic & capitalistic nation, like England, America, etc.?

1)yes, more or less. About a more radical oppinion that 90% is involeved in illegal activities... well... probably every more or less active resident in Russia is/was involeved It is first of all concerned taxes. Who paied taxes? I know that Putin´s goverment try to do something with it. But still inspite of all russians dont use to pay taxes. Still there is too many things concerning privat business that depend on a bureaucracy and it gives rise to a situation then bribes are a kind of normal. In this situation it is hard to expect that Duma is consist of an angels. But another problem is that due to the low level of a political culture of the most of population the really creaminal people could be easily elected. If they have enough money to pay to PR professionals they easily put on an image of angels and very often people do elect them.
2) Russian never hated americans! Even those of them who do think that all the evil in the world came from US (it is some paranoical communists and nationalists), even them think that simple americans do nothing with it and blame only US goverment. I dont think that US and Russia are antogonists. Simply all the countries have thier economical interests. Russia now is forced out from the market. That tiny market region that it still has is selling weapon. But where could it sell it? India (maybe), Iran, Iraq... It is not because russians or russian goverment love so much Saddam, just economics. And i think you could understand that if US would say "ok, we will pay you if you wouldnt produce a weapon", then US acts as a even more dangerous enemy of russians. Simply because this money would come to bureaucracy, it is hard to control that this money would help to people, more likely they will be stolen. If nothing is produced that means that there is no job... So Russia really could be dangerous untill its industy is distroyed, people dont have job and it cant export anything except oil (or weapon).
3)I hope that Russia pull itself from a hole. But first of all russians should do it themself. Probably US and other countries could help to this process. But if they simply would give a credits that would be stolen by bureaucracy it would not be a help, in contrary it could do nothing but harm. Most of enterprises in Russia deal with any kind of service like skin-care salons, saunas, very expansive hotels etc. If nobody produce nothing then who are there clients? The people that steal the foriegn aid money or those who export the oil (none of those who really work in the North or in Siberia to exploit it, but few officials that really even dont need to have a good brain to do thier job). At least it is nice that there is some kinds of privat enterprises that give job for people. Last my visit in Russia I was glad to see that there are many russian goods also. At least russians prefer to buy food that produced in russia now. But still there is no high technology. It is a very sad fact because I cant go back to russia untill there is no job for me .

[DavesTandT]

It's a damn shame to see Russia the way it is now. I'm no communist (I am probably a borderline anticommunist), but I'd almost say that Russia was better off back in the days of the USSR. At least there was order.

I think Russia has the potential to rival even America as a superpower; it just needs to tap that potential. Look at the Mafia there! If those men turned to legitimate enterprises, who knows what Russia could do!

If Russia could just organize itself, I'm sure American business enterprises and corporations would flock there in droves. Oh well, wishful thinking.

[moskvichka]

I am russian and i know BETTER what is going on in my country.
you claim that all parlament is mafia????? and russia is a hole???????
well, may be you Daves think that bears walking along Red Squere?
Russia made a great progress in economics - level of living is MUCH higher than in USSR, and in USSR there werent ANY ORDER, because if it had existed, USSR wouldnt have collapsed. I know about it much more than you - i was born there.

Russia has already organized itself - our government and president make reforms - we go to prosperity. YES we have problems, but who doesnt have them?

and Russia will never be like America or England (if it happens, i will leave Russia) just because we are different - much different.

ÑËÀÂÀ ÂÅËÈÊÎÌÓ ÏÓÒÈÍÓ È ÂÑÅÌ ÅÃÎ ÍÀ×ÈÍÀÍÈßÌ!!!!

[valkiry]

Originally posted by moskvichka
I am russian and i know BETTER what is going on in my country.
you claim that all parlament is mafia????? and russia is a hole???????

Sorry! Who said here that Russia is a hole and about bears on Red Squere?
I just had explained you about all that stuf with parlament. I see that there is a lot of scandal stories how criminals was sucsessfully elected due to good PR work. Didnt you? Didnt you hear the stories that there is regions where there is no any opposit press? Well... I dont think that everybody who is elected in US or in Europe is an angel. I see the danger that actually even in US and Europe it is possible to form public oppinion and give white for black and vice versus. But we, russian, should be more cautious.

Originally posted by moskvichka

well, may be you Daves think that bears walking along Red Squere?
Russia made a great progress in economics - level of living is MUCH higher than in USSR, and in USSR there werent ANY ORDER, because if it had existed, USSR wouldnt have collapsed. I know about it much more than you - i was born there.

Yes, I also think that we live better then in USSR now. Communist economy collapsed that why we had all that problems in the beggining of 90th. But where do you see that great progress? What do we export? Oil, weapon, that´s all. Where are the high technologies? I am a physicist. Could I find well payed job in physics? I dont want to run a massage salon! Sorry. Well... my friends in Moscow write database, salary about $1000 per month. It is nice. But, do you know the proceedure how could they be fired. Untill the last day they dont know anything about it. In the day they should be fired a security meet them in the entrance lead to thier place to collect personal things. My friend from England said that people that work in such a conditions there have hundreds times more salary! Well... I am happy that Russia had done that changes. I am happy that now we have more freedom. But I cant be happy with its economy.

Originally posted by moskvichka


Russia has already organized itself - our government and president make reforms - we go to prosperity. YES we have problems, but who doesnt have them?

and Russia will never be like America or England (if it happens, i will leave Russia) just because we are different - much different.

ÑËÀÂÀ ÂÅËÈÊÎÌÓ ÏÓÒÈÍÓ È ÂÑÅÌ ÅÃÎ ÍÀ×ÈÍÀÍÈßÌ!!!!

Russia organized itself? Have you been outside Moscow. Do you know if people have job there? Do you know that there are towns in Russia that had only one kind of industry and now it doesnt work, people dont have job and even dont have money to leave the town??? If Russia would be like America or England.... Have you ever been there? If we would have industry and will produce high technology as America, is it bad? What do you mean? Where would you leave then? To arabian emirats that also lives only due to thier oil? If you dont like American music or american movies, nobody would force you to look them, actually even in US you have a choice. What do you mean by we are much different? I think we, russian, have a lot in common with scandinavian, german, english and... americans That "much difference" you mentioned is actually an unclear shade that nobody could even determine.

[valkiry]

Originally posted by DavesTandT
It's a damn shame to see Russia the way it is now. I'm no communist (I am probably a borderline anticommunist), but I'd almost say that Russia was better off back in the days of the USSR. At least there was order.

I think Russia has the potential to rival even America as a superpower; it just needs to tap that potential. Look at the Mafia there! If those men turned to legitimate enterprises, who knows what Russia could do!

If Russia could just organize itself, I'm sure American business enterprises and corporations would flock there in droves. Oh well, wishful thinking.

Thanks, that you think and worry about Russia, and thanks you have hope that Russia will organize itself. We hope too. I think that Russian goverment do a lot to turn to legitimate enterprises those who involeved in illegal business now.
As to communist system and communist economy in USSR it was just a matter of time when it would collapsed. I cant say there was more order. It was a crasy system. Could you imagine that you have to wait several years to buy a car? Cause there is no cars. Could you image that you come to a shop and there is a long line for meat? Nobody ask what kind of meat, just meat. Could you imagine you have to get a permission to go abroad? No, we dont want back! That economy simply didnt work, it could be supported only by totalitar system, repressions etc. Then totalitar system starts to be a little softer (in Brezhnev´s time) it collapsed.