Posted on 05/19/2005 8:16:38 AM PDT by Lukasz
Under the condition of getting a permit. Call the Russian embassy if you want documentation.
And usually getting a permit for ordinary citizens is almost impossible. As I wrote “limited ” read “forbidden”.
"jb6" You are better and better, now you are not only admitting that there is such trend in Kremlin but you are also supporting centralization of power.
Not true again. I've been hunting along the upper Moscow River with ordinary citizens.
That's why at Beslan all the relatives ran out with SKSs and its visible in all the photos.
One example of centralization is appointment of governors, which were previously elected locally. In this Putin's reform is extreme, and popular election of local goverment is a democratic norm.
On the media, Putin effectively hid behind the joint-stock ownership of the two TV channels that remain not directly controlled by the government. The government in Russia has plenty of means to clamp down on the opposition without directly owning anything. The Russians continually complain that vocal critics of the government are methodically silenced. To point out, like Putin does, that there are thousands of independent and small media outlets and that two national TV channels out of three the government owns jointly with the private sector, is not to refute that the opposition in Russia is getting less and less access. For example ,in the recent elections, was the opposition able to buy media time on national TV?
I think, any mechanical conglomeration of opposition forces is doomed to fail. Even if the opposition leaders bring themselves to it, -- and they won't, -- Putin would immediately exploit the lack of ideological coherence. "The fact that you cooperate with the oil magnates shows your betrayal of marxism" he'd say to communists, and similarly to any other faction.
In elections for a single office, such as presidency, broad coalitions are completely absurd. All these factions would have to agree on a single candidate. Let's say they comprimise in favor of Mr.X and against Mr.Y. What would make each Y's voter accept the compromise and vote for the ideological opponent X? Would communists vote for a pro-West capitalist?
Pretty funny since he calls Yushchenko a socialist dictator for removing power from the petty little gangsters who run their own little feifdoms in Ukraine. He just doesn't have a problem with it when Czar Putin does it.
The gun control regime you describe is no different from what was in place under the communists, except may be in some minor details.
Was opposition advertising comparable to the goverment advertising in the same media?
"Garry is cruising for a "tragic auto accident"...but I hope he can prevail."
Here is someone who has been given much by his country. He loves his country and loves freedom as we do. We associate a love of freedom with having freedom only because that is our experience---not because it is the only logical way to acquire a love of freedom.
Everyone loves freedom, generally. Of course, Garry realizes he is risking his life. (On the other hand, it is quite possible he won't be killed as well. Putin has to weigh the negatives of a murder that would be so publicized. Personally, I'm betting Garry may become "quite ill." I think the "auto accident" is getting a little obvious for such a high profile take-out.)
He is one of the smartest guys on the planet, not an idiot. Obviously, he plots his moves carefully. This is a new game for him, but his first move looks good to me.
Really? Well first, those governors aren't automatically set in but have to pass muster of the local legislature. You do realize nations like Italy appoint their governors, right? So does France. Even the Mayor of London was elected for the FIRST time in 2000. There are many forms of administration, not just our model. Different nations require different arrangements, its really not a one shoe fits all world.
The government in Russia has plenty of means to clamp down on the opposition without directly owning anything.
Is that why the pensioners were able to demonstrate and get concessions from the government? Is that why the opposition communists and even the Socialist Bolshaviks (Nazis) hold protest marches? The simple fact is, what is considered Western parties have no public support. They had an 8 year run and did only one thing well: RAPE. They stole anything and everything not nailed down. When Parliment protested, Yeltsin with direct Clinton backing openned fire on Parliment and butchered 500+ people. The parties that supported Yeltsin were the very parties that were voted out in 2004. You do realize that Carvell and Co were responsable for getting Yeltsin back in in 1995, right?
Pure BS. Which of Putin's opponents have died? He has a popularity of 70+% this is as silly as Al Sharpton's alligations against Bush. Neither has a chance in hell of winning. The only thing Gary is good at is collecting speaking and interview fees for bashing his own nation overseas. When Americans go to Europe to bash America do you approve? Kasparov does nothing to sell his views in the country he plans to rule, all he does is look down his nose at people. He can't even get 2% of the vote.
So I guess you support Bobby Fischer too, after all, he's smarter then Kasparov. Lets elect Fischer to the White House!
I've got news for you, this is a more liberal regime then England, Australia, France, Germany and most of our democratic allies. Try owning a gun in Japan.
Oh and I dearly hope you have never driven with a gun in your car within 1,000 meters of a school, kindergarten, university or daycare because you are then a felon. Isn't freedom grand?
Hay, but you must be proud how your hero Yushchenko sets commodity prices, hikes taxes, hikes rail tariffs (only 50%), forbids homeschooling, creates youth reeducation centers and rides the EU leg like a dog in heat. You must be so proud of your socialist hero. Or will you now attempt to tell me that all these are conservative values?
That's more then many areas in the US will allow.
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