Russia’s epic fail — and the people’s imminent revolt

There are few modern nations more depressing than Russia. Crippling alcoholism, barbaric armed forces rituals, woefully corrupt police, rampant bigotry and homophobia, gun-happy journalist killers. Now we can add to that growing list the steady decline of the so-called “monotowns,” one-company factory cities that came to pass under Soviet rule.

According to a biting Times op-ed yesterday, such towns were conjured out of nothing in remote areas, where 20,000 people would be shipped out to make concrete or toothbrushes for the sole factory and employer, which would be charged with providing all other social services.

So what happens now, when such factories are bankrupt, crumbling, and unused? The people — thinking in classically fatalistic Russian fashion that they have no other options for movement or employment — begin to eat grass, consider protesting and, as the Times suggests, risk being brutally repressed by the government.

Here’s Putin’s response to one factory owner’s decision to close:

Prime Minister Putin traveled by helicopter to Pikalevo. Russian crisis management techniques haven’t changed much since the days when czars threw boyars off the Kremlin walls to be torn, limb from limb, by rebellious hoi polloi below. With national television cameras rolling, Mr. Putin berated the local administration, plant managers and the plant’s owner, Oleg Deripaska, formerly Russia’s richest man, whose BaselCement conglomerate is now almost $30 billion in debt. He then ordered them to sign a pledge to reopen the plant. “I did not see you sign!” Mr. Putin barked at Mr. Deripaska. “Come here and sign!” (“And return the pen!” Mr. Putin snapped afterward.)

And if that isn’t enough to ruin your day, the Times goes on to suggest that there are so many of these failed towns and so many of the people don’t realize they could access the state unemployment system, that a snowballing incidencce of widespread chaos is just a matter of time. Add to that the spread of cheap cell phone video and Twitter, and you just might have something truly revolutionary afoot in the motherland.

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How bizarre! http://trueslant.com/nathandeuel/2009/10/18/russias-epic-fail-and-the-peoples-imminent-revolt/

w1z4rd said:

How bizarre! http://trueslant.com/nathandeuel/2009/10/18/russias-epic-fail-and-the-peoples-imminent-revolt/

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Russia has a history of such government behaviour. They never really had true, full democracy - before Communism the Tsar was one of the biggest Despots - certainly the Tsars were more despotic than the British (constitutional monarchs), the Haupsburgs and even the German Kaiser. Freedom of speech and national identities were most suppressed in the Russian Empire. We all know what happened after the Bolsheviks took over and now things such as this are happening.

I doubt however that the present crisis is worse than the crisis after the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 90s. If they survived that, they'll survive this tiny
(in comparison) hiccup.

the russian you believe to know

Russia had a lot going for it before the revolution, they had brilliant scientists, artists and engineers. This is all evident in the legacy left behind in buildings, their accomplishments and arts. If you visit russia today, you will see a beautiful country, with a sad history, addled by a few men who crippled their country's future, blinded by desperation.

The russians accomplished much, even with a wrongly deployed social system. The cold war did not help their image, as the U.S. with it's huge media reach, made them seem incapable, alcoholic, uneducated and foreign so that no relation could be made with them, when in fact, russian people are passionate, and live with dedication to any field they apply themselves to. Yet we never see any of that in the media, but go to the country, and see what the people there are really like. They hold one of the highest tertiary education rates worldwide, with university education being free.

It is still one of the best travel destinations, so if you ever get the chance, go see it.

Read this for a few facts that will change you perception:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russia

gorgamin said:

Russia had a lot going for it before the revolution, they had brilliant scientists, artists and engineers. This is all evident in the legacy left behind in buildings, their accomplishments and arts. If you visit russia today, you will see a beautiful country, with a sad history, addled by a few men who crippled their country's future, blinded by desperation.

The russians accomplished much, even with a wrongly deployed social system. The cold war did not help their image, as the U.S. with it's huge media reach, made them seem incapable, alcoholic, uneducated and foreign so that no relation could be made with them, when in fact, russian people are passionate, and live with dedication to any field they apply themselves to. Yet we never see any of that in the media, but go to the country, and see what the people there are really like. They hold one of the highest tertiary education rates worldwide, with university education being free.

It is still one of the best travel destinations, so if you ever get the chance, go see it.

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Ordinary Russian people are good people, like ordinary Peruvians and ordinary Irish.

"I am aware of not only the extraordinary work that you've done on behalf of the Russian people in your previous role as prime minis-, uh, as president, but in your current role as prime minister,"


The Obamasiah praising Putin

Alan said:

"I am aware of not only the extraordinary work that you've done on behalf of the Russian people in your previous role as prime minis-, uh, as president, but in your current role as prime minister,"


The Obamasiah praising Putin

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Obviously Obama does not believe that, but Obama also has a rather narcissistic view of himself. The issue is: is that enough to fool the Sov-- er Russian leadership into them thinking he can really outsmart them?

gorgamin said:

Russia had a lot going for it before the revolution, they had brilliant scientists, artists and engineers. This is all evident in the legacy left behind in buildings, their accomplishments and arts. If you visit russia today, you will see a beautiful country, with a sad history, addled by a few men who crippled their country's future, blinded by desperation.

The russians accomplished much, even with a wrongly deployed social system. The cold war did not help their image, as the U.S. with it's huge media reach, made them seem incapable, alcoholic, uneducated and foreign so that no relation could be made with them, when in fact, russian people are passionate, and live with dedication to any field they apply themselves to. Yet we never see any of that in the media, but go to the country, and see what the people there are really like. They hold one of the highest tertiary education rates worldwide, with university education being free.

It is still one of the best travel destinations, so if you ever get the chance, go see it.

Read this for a few facts that will change you perception:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russia

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Hi,

My cousins just got back from there... this is their impression:
1) The people are short
2) The people are depressive and have little sense of humor
3) Everything was over priced (apparently they milk tourists terribly)
4) The guys do have drinking problems
5) The woman are very beautiful (high heels was mentioned... so was them being with funny little men)
6) Shops are dreary
7) Weather is not great

Of course these are generalizations... but thats the honest experience they got from their trip to Russia. They were not brainwashed by Americans to think this... they compared things in Russia to life in South Africa.

South Africans actually tend to see Russians as an over-educated under employed people who have a terrible choice in leaders. The smart Saffies that is.

Yet we never see any of that in the media

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Tell me about it! You dont understand how often I log into Russia Today (nice new site btw), to try get a Russian perspective on... Russia... only to be greeted by pages and pages of poorly crafted Russian Propaganda most orintatated around hating America / NATO and anyone else who doesnt tow the Kremlins line... you should read the stuff on Georgia. Its an abortion bucket and I couldnt imagine a normal respectable media outlet behaving that way... thats from a South African perspective. I would love to get more news about Russia from Russia Today, instead of child like anti-American propaganda (and a big sports and weapons section) which few people care about.

It also helps if your journalists and humanatarian workers stop being killed off A free press is important to a nation. Also.. its the only national media outlet that I have seen that I have seen adverts for escorts on its front web page! Hectic.