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I’d say we are almost equal to Russia now. I’m originally from the USSR and this is terrifying.

-We have more social freedom but they have more economic freedom. The tax rate in Russia is a flat 13% and practically no regulations for most industries. You’ll never find a billion dollar construction project delayed because of a snail in Russia.

-Government corruption is sky high in both nations but the Russian government is a much smaller beast with not much room to grow. You see, Russians are much better adapted to deal with corruption and have seen government as an enemy for almost 100 years. Most Americans still believe government is good and will feed the beast until it eats them.

-They have violent organized criminals. We have violent feral criminals.

-Huge mafia influence and “business” violence are the biggest problems in Russia. The only real law is the barrel of a gun. There are plenty of raw resources and capable workers but nobody wants to invest if the competition will literally put a gun to their head. I believe Russia will be the #1 nation, per capita, if the rule of law prevails.

Very good post, thank you for the profound insight!

I received this from a friend a few minutes ago - it seems pretty relevant to this discussion Cheers!
Putin’s Speech on Feb. 04, 2013

Fat chance, but this is one time our elected leaders should pay attention to the advice of Vladimir Putin....how scary is that?

On February 4th, 2013, Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, addressed the Duma, (Russian Parliament), and gave a speech about the tensions with minorities in Russia:

“In Russia live Russians. Any minority, from anywhere, if it wants to live in Russia, to work and eat in Russia, should speak Russian, and should respect the Russian laws. If they prefer Sharia Law, then we advise them to go to those places where that’s the state law. Russia does not need minorities. Minorities need Russia, and we will not grant them special privileges, or try to change our laws to fit their desires, no matter how loud they yell ‘discrimination’. We better learn from the suicides of America, England, Holland and France, if we are to survive as a nation. The Russian customs and traditions are not compatible with the lack of culture or the primitive ways of most minorities. When this honourable legislative body thinks of creating new laws, it should have in mind the national interest first, observing that the minorities are not Russians.

The politicians in the Duma gave Putin a standing ovation for five minutes.

I’d say we are almost equal to Russia now. I’m originally from the USSR and this is terrifying.

I remember when I was a junior in high school in 1983 when the Soviets shot down Korean KAL-007. I remember one discussion we had, I asked for "shats and giggles," "what if the USA became the USSR and the USSR became the US? What if we (the US) ever became the Evil Empire?" Looks like I might see the answer to my question.

I remember back then, 1982/85, my German teacher told us that "if we are not careful, we could lose our freedoms." He told us the story of how the Communist countries are and even showed us slides of his 1979 trip he took the class over to Germany. One excursion was into East Germany and he told me that the people were so aloof and unsettles over there like they were in constant fear.

I last talked to him in the early 1990's and he was optimistic then with the fall of Communism but I think he would not be a happy camper now with both his and my concerns seem to be coming to pass right now. I know what he would say but I wish I could still talk to him now, he passed away from cancer in 1993.

I find it ironic that you fled communism but now we are becoming more that way. B-( I like the saying from the old comic, Pogo Possum, "We have met the enemy, he is us." (1971)

Question: What did Genghis Khan (Чингисхан), Tamerlane, Hitler, Stalin, and Attila the Hun have in common?

Answer: None of those guys ever shut down a major agricultural region for the sake of a fish or a lizard...

I’d say we are almost equal to Russia now.

LOL--If you like Russia, why not Mexico? It's closer. And practically light-years ahead of it.