[Old Teufel Hunden]

"What is it you think Putin is doing to ordinary Russians that qualifies as being “beaten”?"

It's just a metaphor to say that under Putin they are not as bad off as the Russia of the 90's but still pretty bad off by our standards. Most Russians are very poor by western standards and do not travel that much outside the country. They don't know any better than what they have in their country. I daresay if they came to America and saw the abundance that is here, from grocery stores to shopping malls they would be amazed.

[billakay]

It's just a metaphor to say that under Putin they are not as bad off as the Russia of the 90's but still pretty bad off by our standards. Most Russians are very poor by western standards and do not travel that much outside the country. They don't know any better than what they have in their country. I daresay if they came to America and saw the abundance that is here, from grocery stores to shopping malls they would be amazed.

Have you ever been to Russia? Your comments sound like they are describing the Soviet era. MANY Russians travel "za gransita" (over the border), and I daresay that YOU would probably be amazed at the abundance and variety that is available here, in grocery stores and shopping malls.

Other than a few niche items (peanut butter is a great example, they don't know how to properly make it here), I can buy literally almost anything here that I can buy in the USA, and on the food side, the quality tends to be MUCH better.