Posted on 02/06/2014 5:42:34 AM PST by Kaslin
The decedent past of Soviet Russia, it turns out, is not that far behind us. Oh sure, Russians might have Wi-Fi, post-soviet sedans, and Hugo Boss… But it’s not exactly the revolutionized and reformed former communist state we’re supposed to believe. And Sochi, home to this year’s Winter Olympics, is not exactly the Salt Lake City, or the Vancouver, of the Black Sea. As Sochi struggles to make their resort town mildly bearable for visitors, in time for the winter Olympics, the world has been given a glimpse into the lack of progress Mother Russia has made since the fall of the “evil Empire”.
To an extent, the Soviet Union is apparently alive and well. At least in practice. With the eyes of the world on Sochi, it is becoming apparent that the façade of progress has changed little since the days of soviet propaganda efforts during the Cold War. The same tactics of deception and public-relation puffery plague the corruption-clad Kremlin. As reporters poured into the resort community for coverage of the year’s biggest sporting event, the blatant incompetence of good-old-fashioned Russian grandstanding was prevalent. (Heck, even New Jersey would have been a better location judging by the tweets from American reporters… And that analysis is coming from a guy in Colorado.)
In fact, the images and initial reaction to Sochi’s “preparedness” (seriously... it's worse than you think) for the winter games begs the question: How is Russia still considered a Super Power? (Well… I guess nuclear weapons do go a long way.) So far, the images and stories that have been reported would seem to be originating from a third world dictatorship. Given the horror stories thus far, it seems more like North Korea was hosting a national press conference rather than a developed nation preparing for the World’s Games. Water has been declared unsafe for contact (I don’t want to know what happens when you drink it), plumbing is non-existent in some locations, and even basic infrastructure needs have been largely neglected. The problems plaguing reporters would be comical if they weren’t so depressing.
The biggest problem seems to have been a quality that Russia carried over from the era of Soviet rule: Corruption, and good-old-fashioned government incompetence. And while corruption is not exclusive to former communist states (or for that matter, currently communist states), it is largely exclusive to big government and statism. After all, it’s pretty difficult for big business to climb into bed with politicians when they have little power or influence over the nation they govern. Next to black market weaponry and top shelf vodka, corruption seems to be among Russia’s most plentiful commodity.
The Soviet Union – like North Korea, Cuba, and even China today – was notorious for its grandstanding and propagandistic efforts to portray itself as cutting edge. Of course the image of Gorbachev using a dial phone was hilarious to a nation that just discovered the potential of fax machines. And today, the image of Sochi hotel rooms missing light bulbs, doorknobs, and clean water incites a similar response from the West. More than two decades after the collapse of the world’s largest communist government, it’s tradition of centralized power and malicious governance continues with devastatingly incompetent results.
When the Bolsheviks first implemented their revolution in 1917, they portrayed themselves as the savior of the “everyman”. They were dedicated to “freeing the workers” from the slavery of business. And they even promised a life of affluence through communal involvement and paternalistic centralization.
But the truth is, the Bolsheviks were like Guy Fawkes… They only wanted a different brand of elitism and authoritarianism. (Guy Fawkes, by the way, wanted to blow up Parliament as the first step in implementing a Catholic dictatorship upon the good subjects of King James I. Not exactly the V For Vendetta freedom fighter that vagrant vigilantes envision when they veraciously invoke his visage.) The brand of government that emerged from the ashes of communism’s failure had similar intentions. Given Putin’s crackdown on political opponents, and his penchant for rewarding the politically connected, the resurgence of a grandiose communist-era-Kremlin seems to be more important than competent governance.
The abject failure of Sochi to ready itself for the 2014 Olympic Games (despite a $50 billion spending spree) only offers the world a glimpse into the stagnation of Russian evolution since the early 1990’s. Contracts were handed out to firms with personal ties to Putin (almost $7 billion to Arkady Rotenberg, a childhood friend of Putin) and the politically connected. Why? Because big government begets big corruption.
In fact, the abysmal (and quite frankly embarrassing) display in Russia is merely the end result of leftism, and collectivism. More to the point, this is the failing of central planning and governmental monopoly. While the Soviet Union might have died decades ago, the impression that 70 years of communism wrought upon the Russian people has yet to be undone. KGB strongman, Vladimir Putin, is a throwback to the power hungry statists of Soviet politics – and it shows.
While Moscow, and a few key cities, have managed to produce great wealth (ironically through their pursuit of capitalistic commerce) much of Russia continues to lag behind. Mother Russia, to the generations that grew up in a post-Stalin world, will always be viewed as a paternalistic government. And when governments fails to achieve on their nannyistic promises, third-rate PR gimmicks (like doorknobs glued onto hotel doors) are all that are left. There may be no more Iron Curtain, but we are still peering into the world that it left behind.
The games will still be fun to watch, despite the glimpse into Russia’s traditionally despotic form of cronyism. But I’m glad I’m doing so from the comfort of my living room in America, and not in the communist-era-relic of Sochi. Maybe Vladimir Putin should have asked for Republican Mitt Romney’s help in saving Sochi before the Games began… It would probably have cost much less, and local hotels might actually have little things like running water, light bulbs, and lobbies.
bttt
If Sebelius and HHS ran the Olympics this is what they’d look like. This is us in 30 years - we have some infrastructure to burn through first.
About two sentences into this story I got caught up in thinking about slender red haired Ukrainian women... I think Olympic coverage should include this.
ridiculous
why on earth did the Committee agree to this charade
And instead of moving away from this, we’re rushing headlong towards it. Can you imagine our current government fighting World War II or doing a lunar landing successfully?
Corruption is so rampant in Russia, it’s what has security people worried..... ie: a policeman/security person who is slipped a months wages to look the other way as a would-be suicide bomber walks thru their area.
Several American Olympians on TV this AM....they’re loving it over there.
Same reason why they allowed 2008 Summer Games in Communist China....same Communist China that blocked internet coverage and media during their Olympics.
How about Michelle's friend who got the computer contract for healthcare.
I believe all these digs toweard Putin and Russia in general are propogated by Obama.
NBC: Visitors to Sochi Olympics Can Expect to Be Hacked
Immediately opening a computer, iPad or smart phone, malware is downloaded that will capture everything on your device, emails, photos, passwords, etc.
For the same reason the Olympics are going to Rio in two years. It was their 'turn'.
That and a butt load of Russian organized crime cash, if stories be true.
I'm sure they're told by the U.S. Olympic team what they can say and what they can't. But a lot of the stories tell a different tale. Water you can't drink or even wash up in. Some guy on Twitter saying he would trade three lightbulbs for a door handle - serious offer. A picture this morning of one of those single-serving containers of honey, with the bee still in it. I don't think people have to fear for their safety from terrorist attack. Just from drinking the water and eating the food.
Indeed, Detroit it is. Democrats still make corrupt excuses for it.
For the answer to that, you have to think like a liberal. Think UN mentality. Sochi is a place where we can help revitalize a city. And it's only fair that Russia gets their turn for the Winter Olympics. Besides, this is an opportunity to show just how great socialism/communism can be. Besides, it will be right on the heels of that spectacular show that China put on to show the world how much better countries like China and Russia are than that horrible capitalistic empire of America is.
They gave Obama a Nobel Peace Prize in anticipation of how great he "would" become. This goes along the same lines for why they decided (7 years ago) to award the games to Sochi Russia. The decision on who should get to host the games really doesn't have anything to do with the Olympics.
Being tame does not mean being good.
Russia is actualy efficient in that it does not mind a wild and evil people which are now crying for dictatorship to tame them while evil.
All the State aparatus needs is its security apartus to insulate from this, acting like some kind of Brahmin Temple. The rest, like Sochi, make for good silly capitalist Olympic philantropy, with the destitute helping bring in donations from tourists like the pimped cripples of Lahore whose cut is taken by bandits.
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