Posted on 12/27/2019 8:06:37 PM PST by RomanSoldier19
Western allies fear that Russia will gain sovereignty over Belarus, a former Soviet satellite state that could help preserve Vladimir Putin’s grip on power and sharpen Kremlin threats against NATO members.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonexaminer.com ...
[What ‘explosive growth’ in the Baltic are you talking about? Estonia is a single semi-decent Baltic state end the rest are basket cases living off EU sibsidies like they were living off Russian sibsidies under USSR. ]
The Baltics have negligible natural resources relative to Russia’s. For both economies to have similar economic profiles once you remove the resource extraction component, Russia’s GDP per capita should be 50% larger than the Baltics’. In reality, however the Baltics have a 50% larger GDP per capita than Russia. Thus, it would appear that Russia’s the economic basket case, the oil ticks of the north, not the Baltics.
Belarus has been the most pro-Russian state since the dissolution of the USSR, hasn’t it?
We have discussed the relation between mineral deposits and actual wealth more than once. I have more than once explained to you that mineral riches doesn’t mean wealth and I don’t remember if you have reasonably objected.
As for GDP figures it makes sense to see it through the PPP.
1 dollar is buying much more in Russia than it is in US. For Europe it is the opposite.
For that reason it is stupid to compare Russian and Western economies nominally.
The main argument of the proponents of the theory that Russian economy has halved since 2014 are basing their opinion on the fact that Russian currency halved to dollar over that period of time.
The reality is that Russia is quite a self-reliant nation and not that much globalized. That basically means that currency fluctuations, even huge ones, doesn’t affect local economy in a negative way. More so, it helps exporters much.
For internal market it is not a factor unless we are talking about imported products.
When it comes to ‘starving peasants’ the math is that a kilo of chicken was priced at 89 rubles in 2013 in average retail chain and now it is 92 rubles. Potatoes were 14 rubles a kilo and now 9 rubles. The same is true for the rest of groceries unless we are talking about the French wines and gourmet cheeses but not everyone were buying it before anyway.
We have a daughter and son in law who are Belarussians. We started bringing her over in 2002 at age 10 through a Christian relief program. She has been married now almost 3 years and we have continued to bring her over and he too twice. They are exceptional people. I don’t think Russia will try and annex Belarus. Other than the scourge of alcoholism, most are good people. They are a moral country, opposed to abortion, homosexuality, and most are Orthodox Christians. Yes they love the west and they have many Trump fans. We would have adopted her years ago if it had been allowed. Now we are holding onto a slim hope of trying to achieve dual citizenship for them, so they do not always have to get a visa and so we can have them inherit. I ask for any Freepers who might have knowledge of how to achieve this to private message me. Our next step might be to talk with an immigration attorney. Not sure.
Belo Russia translates into White Russia. The word belo in most slavic tounges means white.
Well, your link actually an indicator of your intellectual dishonesty because even nominally Latvia and Luthuania at best on par with Russia on per capita basis, given equal conditions. And that’s given Russia is under the economic war with the rest of the world right now and these two has EU paying for everything they can’t afford for themselves and US paying for their defence on top of this.
I have relatives, both would be called “Ukrainians” today.
When they immigrated to the USA in 1910, one listed her nationality as “Austrian” and her language as “Russian”, the other listed “Russian” for both.
Woodrow Wilson really doesn’t have the last word.
The talk of a Union State between Russia and Belarus has sputtered on and off for years.
Russia has a military presence in the country and Belarusians view Russia with affection.
Most Belarusians speak Russian. The country was an orphan when the Soviet Union disappeared.
They’re in the Eurasian Union for political and economic reasons. And they’re dependent on Russia because history put them right next to a powerful neighbor.
The country has no real option for true independence.
Except it is independent. Unlike Ukraine which is a model ‘free nation’ but de-facto a Democrat colony.
I must admit, that exporting American culture has been a harder sell since the mid 1960’s, and particularly in the 21st century.
The world will be a better place without reassembling the U.S.S.R. The question is whether the people of Belarus have the inclination and will to maintain themselves as an independent state.
I am not for a new USSR but I am not for fighting Russia over Ukraine or Belarus either. It is none of our business in my view.
Germany is colluding with pooty poot on a pipeline. If the euros were really concerned they would cut off all trade with russia
So now I have to order parts for my tractor from Russia?
Always a kick to guess how many times he'll say the word, "Soviet" in one of his videos.
I first thought he is a Communist but now think it is a sort of fetish.
The guy has a serious case of midlife crisis but I generally enjoy his videos.
Think of it more as reassmbling the Russian Empire, more than the USSR.
I think there is something fascinating about that era now that it’s been almost 30 years since the end of the Soviet Union. It’s history.
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