Assassination of Putin

[art211106]

There are many problems in Russia today. And for the most part, corruption flurrishes because there is no one on the "top of the food chain" to make things right. The problems in Russia are not just because of the communist-democratic transition, but because officials are draining the country of its wealth and then running away to US or some other western european country. The way to end corruption is to elect someone who will do his/her job well and will do their best.

[Dr_Woland]

hi art211106

It's an interesting view which I rather agree with. What's your view of Putin? Do you think he is capable of restoring law and order at top levels, and removing corruption? After all, he's a trained Special Agent with connections in the highest level of the Investigation forces, plus also a qualified Lawyer.

Although I don't agree with his methods, it seems there is a high chance that he will make some good progress with that... and certainly, many Russians have told me that this was a big reason for voting for him.

What's your assessment?

Dr W.

[Ronald_Barbour]

Dr. Woland: It would seem that Comrade Putin is trying to re-invent the wheel! The concept of a strong centralized government ruling Russia from Moscow is finished, KAPUTT! Yet Comrade Putin is giving it another go...When will the Russians adopt a federal system of de-centralized rule as is the case with the USA and other countries like Germany...Even a third world country like the Philippines will shortly give it a try. Also, the rule of law, private property rights, and capitalism might be helpful for Russia too.

[Dr_Woland]

Hello Ronald

>> Dr. Woland: It would seem that Comrade Putin is trying to re-invent the wheel! The concept of a strong centralized government ruling Russia from Moscow is finished, KAPUTT! <<

That's odd, because you believe that a strong centralised Govt in Washington is very desirable? You said so elsewhere, going so far as to close your message with a quip about "Pax Americana" which I hope was a joke (if not, then you sound like someone stuck in a timewarp in the Cold War - which I suspect you are, see below).

>> When will the Russians adopt a federal system of de-centralized rule as is the case with the USA <<

Such a system is already in place. Have you heard ANYTHING about the power of the Regional Governors in Russia, did just a smidgeon of this news filter into the USA?

I'm sure the Russians will be looking at the way politics operates in the USA, and will adopt some of the best examples of good practice... so Putin's successor will be announced after a delay of several months, dependent on the postal votes of some Russians who already emigrated to Israel <g> Just like the USA President, right?

>> Also, the rule of law, private property rights, and capitalism might be helpful for Russia too.<<

Thanks for cut-pasting this out of the NRA's on-line publications for us all. Now may I ask you to lend us the use of any braincells you can spare for a moment?

OK, so I write that Putin's a qualified lawyer with a career in the KGB, the primary law-enforcement operation in the country, and you write "the rule of law.."
Hello, planet Earth to Ron, who do you think is supposed to enforce the rule of law in Russia? Were you maybe thinking that the FBI would do it, or Mossad, or should we just leave it to the Mafia?

You write "private property" - are you aware that Putin has actually enacted legislation allowing farmers to buy their own land for the first time ever? And this is real and happening NOW?

Capitalism? Where do I start with you? You know N O T H I N G , but you think you have all the answers, stuck in your smug little world of "Pax America", where reality is an unwanted diversion.

So come on, then, since you have ALL the answers.... you tell us who YOU want to be President of Russia, and put forward a coherent plan for what he ought to be doing - economics, law, foreign policy, military, social policy, education, and health.

And prove me wrong when I suggest that you're a bigoted Good Ole Boy who doesn't know the first thing about which you're speaking, but thinks that because you're AMERICAN, your uninformed knee-jerk gut reaction is worth three times any damn foreigner's facts and figures.

Quiet, now, folks - a self-proclaimed "expert" is about to tell us everything he knows about Russia today... for all of you who have ten seconds to spare, that is.

Dr W.

[Ronald_Barbour]

Dear Dr. Woland: I wish I had all the answers-then, with the help of the Internet, which was invented by our next President Algore, I would rule the world from my spare bedroom!!! However, I do not, being a modest "Good Ole Boy"...In regards to "Conquest" - I suppose it depends on the definition of the word -- I can remember years ago when the Beatles were said to have conquered music worldwide. If Russia has indeed adopted the reforms that you say it has, then it has enacted political institutions that are parallel to what already have long existed in this country. If you can't beat them, join them! Right, Dr. Woland?

[Dr_Woland]

Thank you for your good-humoured reply. I apologise for the somewhat over-frank phraseology (above), but having the incorrect cliches of yesteryear repeated as "fact" gets a bit wearing sometimes :-(

I am certainly no lover of Putin - if I had a vote in Russia (which I don't) I would have voted for "Homeland" (Luzhkov/Primakov). Actually, the best and most able candidate (in my biased view!) didn't stand, but I think we will see him do so in the future - Sergey Shoigu, the Emergencies Minister. However, Putin has an unimpeachable record for honesty - if there was any dirt on him at all, the media would have found it by now (because they've been looking as hard as possible!). Restoring the rule of law, and firing corrupt officials, has the best chance under Putin, of anyone.

However, compliance with the law is easier to encourage if the law appears to be fair and reasonable in the first place. Here too, Putin is a trained lawyer (his "official" profession) and he is making inroads on reforming laws which are currently inadequate, poorly-framed, or discriminatory. There is hope in this area as well.

I would encourage you not to make sweeping statements based on faulty presumptions - there is lots of impartial information, from US-based sources if you wish, which will give you a clearer picture of today's Russia, than the one which informed the posting which riled me so much! :-)

Dr W.