Posted on 03/03/2009 7:46:04 AM PST by BGHater
Steel and chemical factories, once the muscle of Ukraine’s economy, are dismissing thousands of workers. Cities have had days without heat or water because they cannot pay their bills, and Kiev’s subway service is being threatened. Lines are sprouting at banks, the currency is wilting and even a government default seems possible.
Ukraine, once considered a worldwide symbol of an emerging, free-market democracy that had cast off authoritarianism, is teetering. And its predicament poses a real threat for other European economies and former Soviet republics.
The sudden, violent protests that have erupted elsewhere in Eastern Europe seem imminent here now, too. Across Kiev last week, people spoke of rising anger about the crisis and resentment toward a government that they said was more preoccupied with squabbling than with rallying the country.
The sign held by Vasily Kirilyuk, an unemployed plumber camped out with other antigovernment demonstrators here in the past week, summed up the pervasive frustration: “Get rid of them all,” it said.
Mr. Kirilyuk did not hesitate to take that further. “There will be a revolt,” he said. “And people will come because they are just fed up.”
Mr. Kirilyuk, 29, was standing in the same central square where throngs in 2004 carried out the Orange Revolution, a seminal event that brought to power a pro-Western government in Ukraine. He said he was a fervent supporter then of the protesters, but now he and a few dozen others who have set up tents here are demanding that the heroes of that revolution step down.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Vasily is on to something.
Another financial coup???
Vasily’s quote needs to be on all our Tea Party protest signs. I know it captures my sentiment.
yup.
Plumbers seem to be rising to the top of the heap in making political commentary
First Joe, now Vasily
Ukraine, Michigan, California.....
Plumbers seem to be rising to the top of the heap must be obama has cleaned out the pipes and safe at the banks.
***...a collapse in Ukraine could wreck what little investor confidence is left in Eastern Europe, whose formerly robust economies are being badly strained.***
I wonder how Soros is placing his monetary orders? Russia should love him.
embittered by free markets and freedom
many will choose communism again.
This evil being needs to be taken out!
A plumber without a job, what ?
Did people stop pooping in the Ukraine?
Vasily for president !
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