Posted on 02/18/2009 4:27:33 PM PST by neverdem
The following text is a transcript of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's speech at the opening ceremony of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
Good afternoon, colleagues, ladies and gentlemen,
--snip--
Excessive intervention in economic activity and blind faith in the state's omnipotence is another possible mistake.
True, the state's increased role in times of crisis is a natural reaction to market setbacks. Instead of streamlining market mechanisms, some are tempted to expand state economic intervention to the greatest possible extent.
The concentration of surplus assets in the hands of the state is a negative aspect of anti-crisis measures in virtually every nation.
In the 20th century, the Soviet Union made the state's role absolute. In the long run, this made the Soviet economy totally uncompetitive. This lesson cost us dearly. I am sure nobody wants to see it repeated.
Nor should we turn a blind eye to the fact that the spirit of free enterprise, including the principle of personal responsibility of businesspeople, investors and shareholders for their decisions, is being eroded in the last few months. There is no reason to believe that we can achieve better results by shifting responsibility onto the state.
And one more point: anti-crisis measures should not escalate into financial populism and a refusal to implement responsible macroeconomic policies. The unjustified swelling of the budgetary deficit and the accumulation of public debts are just as destructive as adventurous stock-jobbing.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
Putin gave the Russians a 7% flat tax.
I hate to say it, but Putin could probably do a better job of running the country than the cretin we got.
Imagine its 25 years ago. Someone tells you the leader of Russia, former KGB, would give that speech. And that the USA would have a marxist kenyan leader.
Strange times.
I never thought I would live to see the day that the head of the KGB would be warning the U.S. about the dangers of socialism and populism. I feel like Charleston Heston in the last scene of the Planet of the Apes, “It’s a mad house, a mad house.”
>> Transcript: “There is no reason to believe that we can achieve better results by shifting responsibility onto the state.”
How things have changed in the last 25 years. This is something I could imagine Reagan saying, but unfortunately not #44.
WEll, like many things, Communism sounds like a good idea before you actually do it.
Putin and his ilk know the real result of Communism and how it destroyed the country. I know people rightly think the KGB were fascist bastards, but I wonder how many of them did it so they had a steady paycheck.
I swear I didn’t read your post prior to adding my #6
He’s probably courting investments.
Putin warns US to eschew socialism
The American Thinker | February 18, 2009 | Clarice Feldman
Posted on 02/18/2009 12:09:57 PM PST by Scanian
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2188538/posts
NOW and wife-beheading: an issue for the states.
Want "Hope and Change"? Buy a Goat
The Stimulus will lead America in the direction of Western New York
Some noteworthy articles about politics, foreign and military affairs, IMHO, FReepmail me if you want on or off my list.
Still, Putin should not speak so soon. He has done his fair share of nationalizing things in Russia, with the Russian government becoming more socialist again. But, for him to be sounding this warning says something...
If he told me the sky was blue, I would take a second look.
Thanks for the ping.
Time will tell if someone else wrote his speech. Sure did not sound like he is very pleased with Bama's stimulus package.
I can't wait to see if he and Hillary kiss and make-up.
That's true enough, but since he gave it in an international forum, and it's carried by the Wall Street Journal without any corrections or retractions, I figure he at least signed off on it.
Thanks for the ping!
Wow, bumping this up. Amazing, throw it into the faces of the US head Stalinist and his minions.
Russia is having some hard times right now. And Putin I think was speaking very cautiously at the same time pointing a finger without naming names. All things considered, Putin did not govern Russia like the words of his speech and I think he knows that. IMO Putin reveals who the nations of this world have 'fed' off and the real fear is 'free' market capitalism may never again flow out of the US.
Below is the link to the WSJ article where Putin warns us and the world not to do what Zer0 and his suicidal rat pack are doing to America and the world.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123317069332125243.html
Christian education in schools
Falt income tax rate
Say what you will about the man but Russia is kind of on the right track. A lot closer to it than we are.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.