"Managed Capitalism" are the exact words used by Vladimir Putin to justify further control of the Russian economy by a corrupt government.
But the president's [Putin] concerns about democratic principles may miss the larger point. The real threat to Russia's future could lie in the economy. For now, its gross domestic product is booming, it boasts a budget surplus and a windfall from record high oil prices. But it is pursuing a model of corrupt, state-managed capitalism, economists and political analysts say, that is inimical to democracy and could condemn its economy to perpetual third world status.
Someone else had the temerity to call this the post of the day?!
The mind boggles at finding these kinds of statements on a conservative forum?
I think Putin is kind of cool. Cliff notes time, I see him as the Russian version of Teddy Roosevelt where he broke up the oil trust over there so all I could say to Putin, "go, man, go!" However, I do have one caveat, as an American I cannot trust him or Russia 100%, but if I was Russian (some of my ancestors came from there) I would be all for him.