Ex-Communist Spy Chief Says Europeans Have a “Dependency Mentality”

Townhall.com ^ | June 17, 2013 | Daniel J. Mitchell

[Kaslin]

Although he implemented a flat tax in Russia, I don’t think of Vladimir Putin as a supporter of free markets.

Heck, he was head of the KGB during the communist era, and he presides over a country that is more known for cronyism rather than competitive markets.

So if he criticizes European nations for having excessive welfare states, it’s like being called ugly by a frog.

Here are some of the amusing details from Euractiv.com.

He’s no Milton Friedman, but he’s right about the welfare state

Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking ahead of the G8 Summit in Northern Ireland on 17-18 June, said his country would not follow the mistakes of Europe that led to the eurozone crisis. In a wide-ranging interview he blamed the EU’s “mentality” for endangering the economy and the “moral basics of society”. …Asked if Europe’s welfare state model can be competitive today, Putin said Europe is living beyond its means, losing control of the economic situation and that Europe’s structural distortions were “unacceptable” to Russia. “Many European countries are witnessing a rise of [the] dependency mentality when not working is often much more beneficial than working. This type of mentality endangers not only the economy but also the moral basics of the society. It is not a secret that many citizens of less developed countries come to Europe intentionally to live on social welfare,” Putin said.

It’s hard to disagree with anything Putin says in that passage.

Seems like he understands that Europe made a big mistake by having too many people in the wagon and too few people pulling the wagon.

[Robert DeLong]

He could have added America to that statement as well. I wonder why he didn’t? Perhaps it’s because he doesn’t want Americans to realize this fact.

[2banana]

Sounds likes the democrat game plan.

The 47% vote!

[BitWielder1]

The old communist understands capitalism better than we do.
The communist nations of the world, including China, are heavily dependent on capitalist nations to do business with. Without us, they would fail.
As much as they decry and blame everything on capitalism, they are very well aware what would happen if they were to lose their sugar daddies USA and Europe.

[Red Badger]

[PGR88]

What does Putin really think? Does anyone really know?

He is an ex-communist, or at least ex Statist. He’s probably very much a Russian nationalist. He also seems to greatly support the Orthodox Church and its role in being a unifying force for the country, but what about their work outside of Gov’t control? Same with economics - he is a statist / nationalist, but does he understand that economic growth and progress also require individual rights and freedom?

[GOPJ]

... like being called ugly by a frog...

LOL - great phrase..

[RayChuang88]

But yet, Putin is pretty much accurate outside of Germany. Here's why Germany is still doing well: German tax laws encourage companies to keep as much of their operations in Germany as possible. Why do you think companies like BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen Group, Siemens, Allianz, and several others still have most of their operations in Germany?

[GBA]

Marxist communism/socialism killed Russia, stamping out Christianity there, to create the Soviet beast.

I've been entertaining myself by studying prophecy. According to one (Vassula Ryden's, iirc) perspective discussing the failures to heed the Fatima warnings, God reignited His pilot light there and brought back His Church, like a phoenix rising from the ashes. The evil of the marxist Soviets was overwhelmed and Russia re-born with His Church.

I have been looking for evidence of this one way or the other and am seeing much to verify it.

This is an interesting time to be alive, to be sure, with so many illusions biding for our attention and loyalty. In the end, there can be only one.

[cunning_fish]

>>>progress also require individual rights and freedom?<<<

I hate to say this but Russians had more personal freedom than people in the West by late 1980s before the iron curtain finally fell.

They don’t have even an idea of political correctness, government is as far away as possible from family and the ways to bring up kids. A ‘no swimming’ sign is simply unbelievable there, until just recently they didn’t even enforce wearing a seat belts. It was a personal issue if you want to get killed or not. Not a slight chance for obese people or cancer patients to sue a penny from food makers or tobacco company. Personal responsibility for yourself and your family presumed.

As for political freedoms it is a bit different but here we are.

[SC_Pete]

This is the oligarchs saying, “Stay out of my pocket.”

[Oatka]

he criticizes European nations for having excessive welfare states

He's right. It started after WWII when we picked up the tab for defending Europe. As they recovered, and had all that extra cash, they created the welfare systems they are saddled with now. Margaret Thacter's "running out of other peoples' money" apples here.

[Verginius Rufus]

When you have a Super Bowl ring, it’s easy to look down on other people as your inferiors.

[pluvmantelo]

Putin was NOT head of KGB during the communist era. Mr. Mitchell needs to write less and fact check more.