Posted on 08/03/2004 9:03:37 PM PDT by Destro
August 03, 2004
Putin slashes Soviet-era benefits
Moscow, Russia, Aug. 3 (UPI) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin's public approval ratings have plummeted since he began abolishing Soviet-era free services, The Washington Post reports.
Putin has targeted such benefits as free public transportation, free medication and cut-rate vacations for retirees, war veterans and people deemed "socially vulnerable" by the former Soviet Union, which crumbled in 1991.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Smash communism!
Amazing. They're moving further away from socialism, we're moving closer towards it.
Go ahead Boy!
(steely)
In 4 years I will either look back at Putin at being a great leader.
Or he will destroy their constitution and declare himself king...
Until then I hold back on judgment, but I hope he turns out to be a great leader.
The disturbing part is that his public approval is way down. The morons might elect a commie next time..
Or Queen!
How ironic...Hitlery and F'N want to institute the former Soviet government welfare system in the US while a former KGB operative is abolishing it in Russia.
My suspicion is that Russia simply can't continue to afford these Soviet-era freebies. Reagan spent them broke and his policies are still reverberating through the new Russia.
Pootie-Poot is a realist being forced to face another reality.
Russia has a trade surplus. She does not lack money. This is not becaus ethey are "broke" - only that they are getting rid of what does not work.
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