Posted on 07/01/2020 4:44:02 AM PDT by C19fan
As long as Russia leaves their neighbors alone, I couldn’t care less what system of government they have. Democracy isn’t for everyone, heck I even wonder now if it’s for us.
Since Putin and his cronies have stolen their country blind and isolated it economically and politically, they cannot relinquish power or permit genuine reforms or democratic freedoms. As with the Brezhnev era under the Soviets, Russia will continue to stagnate. Soon after Putin finally passes, there will be a transition. Perhaps Russians will then make another try at democracy.
I used to be annoyed that the Russians still prominently displayed the hammer and sickle at their parades for WWII.
But now, I understand, it is their history, just as the Civil War was ours’. And they intend to preserve their history and celebrate their heroes.
A nation that doesn’t celebrate their heroes, will be ruled by one that does.
Well I would as long as you did a fair bit of research and knew what to expect. I had the advantage of going on a company trip where all the people I traveled with, and most of the people I was working with, spoke English and there were company guides on hand to arrange my housing and necessities.
The first thing you will quickly learn is that outside of the International hotels and restaurants Russia doesn't really cater to Western Tourists in the slightest. Oh, they'll be friendly enough and serve you, but there is virtually no English language translations or guides available. So don't expect it to be like, say France or Germany, where you can walk into a store or restaurant and the signs are bi-lingual and a clerk is readily available who speaks descent English.
Personally, if I went for vacation rather than business, I would go as part of a tour group where the tour company takes care of everything. Something as simple as a foreigner renting a car in Russia can be a multi-day adventure of trying to navigate paperwork written in Russian. Also bring cash as money can be hard to get, because of the financial sanctions most ATM's don't accept non-Russian cards, (though there are a few in some of the major hotels that will)
We were warned about safety, however there was never a time I felt unsafe, there were always plenty of police on the streets, but there had been incidents of tourists being carjacked and robbed. But I doubt it is any more dangerous than any major US city.
Other than that, the people are very friendly, and curious when they find out you're American, very few Americans go to Russia even on business. Again, not many speak English so it's good to have somebody who can translate with you.
Would google translate on your smartphone suffice?
Lol, so you think Putin is leaving his neighbors alone?
I care about Russian government when Putin threatens to nuke Florida.
https://www.businessinsider.com/putin-showed-video-of-nukes-hitting-florida-outraging-trump-2018-7
And Putin does not seem to be that- is he?
I think he just might be, but he is more subtle than most.
How many missiles do we still have aimed at Russia, and why are we deliberately trying to provoke them by flying the gay flag at our Moscow Embassy? How would you like it if Russia flew the BLM Flag at their Washington Embassy?
I was thinking of doing the 72-Hour trip to St. Petersburg from Helsinki, since it doesn’t require a Visa.
LOL, or Russians being portrayed as rich enough to afford having a mini-Giraffe.
And I always heard when asked who their favorite US President is, most said “Reagan”, because they saw him as a true leader.
moovova ~ ...or, George Carlin.
Both truth-tellers with a great sense of humor.
Jello Biafra as well.
An oft repeated but always underappreciated truth.
"Our" media has very, VERY thoroughly poisoned that well.
Collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion!
Russia is doing nothing of the sort. Communism is dead in Russia and there is no effort whatsoever to revive it. The KPRF still exists as a party, but they are a minority joke.
Many Freepers don’t understand that a victory parade with hammer and sickles being flown doesn’t mean that the Communists are back. It simply means that the Russia people helped save the world from Hitler under that flag, and they respect their history.
Good screen name, it suits that post.
What the anti-Putinistas are upset about is that it also performs a one-time reset on the term clock so that Putin can potentially be elected to his two terms under the new rule after he completes his current term.
He still needs to run for president and be successfully re-elected two more times to say in until 2036.
I fully support the amendments and my in-laws in Russia do as well. If I could vote for them, I would.
I had gone on my trip shortly after Obama was elected. Most Russians really did not have an opinion of him one way or the other (and probably couldn't have picked him out of lineup). Lol! I did have one Russian guy say in true astonishment, "Why would a white country ever elect a black man?"
One thing you quickly learn about the Russians, is that what we call "political correctness" simply does not exist. Our first day in Russia, we were introduced to our Russian co-workers in a crowded meeting, the Russian branch manager introduced us by spreading his arms wide and said, "Look at all these beautiful Russian women. I think you will have a great time working with us...unless you are...what you call...a f**ggot." Needless to say you would never hear that from a manager in a packed meeting in the US (or if you did he would an ex-manager in 10 minutes).
Putin successfully decoupled Russia’s destiny from that of oil. Huge accomplishment.
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