[MadMax, the Grinning Reaper]

Pure pro-Putin propaganda. You can say the same things about the economic growth/some income improvements in Red China (but you’d have to ignore the Uighur genocide, cultural genocide in Tibet, threats to start wars with the US and Japan over Taiwan (also threats against the Philippines, Vietnam, possibly Thailand even Malaysia and Australia).

[bagster]

Russia was an ally of America when Trump was President. They were working together to combat the derp state. Both are nationalists and bemoan the dominance of the derps and want nothing to do with it.

There are two Americas. Trump represents one, and Biden represents the other. Putin/Russia is friend to one and enemy to the other. Biden's 'America' is ascendant at the moment, it would appear.

We saw the extent the derps went to to keep Trump and Putin apart as well as their efforts to paint Russia as the true enemy, blaming it for everything from 'dictator' Trump to burnt popcorn.

The true enemy (and derp ally) is China, and they are now America's masters. If this isn't clear by now, then there's something wrong with your brain pan.

[billakay]

It is not actually, the article is pretty much spot on. They make a point that authoritarianism has grown in Russia a bit over the last 20 years, but that quality of life, economic opportunity, and general happiness has grown by leaps and bounds.

I'm saying this as a person who has family who lived in Russia since 1988, and who himself spends a lot of time in Russia and has a home and permanent registration on Russian territory.