[Gay State Conservative]

The large majority of the Russian people have been,historically,willing to live like savages.And over history Russia's rulers have been more than willing to rule like savages.

Vlad Putin is no different than the rest...*except* that today most of Europe keenly depends on Russia's hydrocarbon exports.

[annalex]

live like savages [...] rule like savages.

That is not true entirely. There were two periods when it was true: when Russia was occupied by the Golden Orde (13-15 centuries) and by the Soviet Power in various stages of mimicry (1917-now). But it is not true of Imperial Russia which had local government since ~1860, rapidly growing capitalist economy (since about the same time if not earlier), well developed legal system with property rights and trial by jury, rapidly growing levels of education, and full integration into the European culture. The Soviet period is, of course horrible and it had a horrible effect on the Russian national psyche. It cannot be said to be the same people as prior to 1917.

But, anyway, what is your point? That we should ignore them, shoot them off, or what?