Does Putin have a soul?

[Alex157]

Agree with Rbt on the name Alex, but some women have that

nickname, diminutive for Alexandra or Alexis.

It seems that

it is equal to the situation with the male name Alex in Russia. Here it is a half-jocular nickname for Alexander or

Alexey.

I've always appreciated the Russian custom of making

the middle name a patronymic. Alexandrovna is both lovely and respectful.

There was an Englishman in

the Soviet Union who taught English. And his new Russian name became Richard Richardovich Dixon.

Alex, I've made

some assumptions, please correct me when I'm wrong.

I mostly agree with you, Idesign, but I think that many in the West

underestimate what happened in 90s in Russia.
Yes, the US is a very

liberal country. However, I know one thing about the US for sure. A friend of my father is a pensioner and he hadn’t

worked a day in the US. But he has an apartment, medical care which in the SU had top communist bosses only and the

like. During our capitalist reforms the old folks became just dirt under feet. As well as invalids and anybody who

was not able to build capitalism with the nails and teeth.
Also whole

cites began to be controlled by gangsters. Posts of mayors or governors were just bought by them. So Putin in some

sense just returned the country to more or less normal conditions. And since the citizens didn’t want to do anything

everything was done by the Kremlin.
And I wouldn’t say that Putin is

trying to control me.

There

was a soviet joke. A guy comes to the office in a rumpled shirt and answers the boss to his question. I got up in

the morning and switched on the TV set. It was a translation of the 24th meeting of the Communist party of the

Soviet Union. Then I switched on radio. It was a translation of the 24th meeting of the Communist party of the

Soviet Union. I didn’t even try to switch on an electric iron.



There is nothing like this now. I read and write in the Net everything I

want. Nobody blocks sites, moreover the government tries to computerize all the country. For $3-4 a month I can get

70 channels including the CNN and Euronews through the telephone connection. Euronews are even broadcasted by an

open standard channel with a translation in Russian. Nobody says me what I should watch – the CNN or Russian

channels. The only thing Putin wants in return is that I wouldn’t interfere in his affairs too


He is building capitalism and doesn’t want me hamper him. And it is OK

by the majority of people since all his opponents proved that they cannot suggest anything better. On the contrary,

everybody knows that they would just make things worse.

[idesign]

There was an Englishman in the Soviet Union who taught

English. And his new Russian name became Richard Richardovich Dixon.

Dangerously close to an American politician. Using

nicknames he would be "Tricky Dick Dickovich Nixon".

I mostly agree with you, Idesign, but I think that many in the

West underestimate what happened in 90s in Russia.
Yes, the US is a very

liberal country. However, I know one thing about the US for sure. A friend of my father is a pensioner and he

hadn’t worked a day in the US. But he has an apartment, medical care which in the SU had top communist bosses

only and the like. During our capitalist reforms the old folks became just dirt under feet. As well as invalids and

anybody who was not able to build capitalism with the nails and teeth.


Also whole cites began to be controlled by gangsters. Posts of mayors or

governors were just bought by them. So Putin in some sense just returned the country to more or less normal

conditions. And since the citizens didn’t want to do anything everything was done by the Kremlin.


And I wouldn’t say that Putin is trying to control me.

Understood. The parallels with the US are limited I know.

Putin has a very different set of circumstances. Since there is no democratic tradition in Russia he must play his

role as benevolent dictator. Interesting that you said "back to normal", it is reminiscent of Czarist Russia no?



The oligarchy/mafia scheme was inevitable, as they were the only ones in place to fill the power/economic void

left by a dead Soviet system. On the other hand, the Soviets had a cabal of powerful people who ran everything

(aparatchiks), and many of them are the same characters operating in a different system. At least the

Communist/totalitarian control is gone, along with the Glorious Meeting of the 24th Komsomol/Comintern/Commitetye

Sovietskiye.

The ones caught in the middle are the ones who had their life and spirit sucked out of them by the

Soviet system, one might even say soul. All incentive was drained from a huge segment of population which is

capable of turning Russia into a greater nation than it already is. Who knows how many generations it will take

before the mentality of the "collective" leaves the minds of your people.

There was a soviet joke. A guy comes to the office in a rumpled

shirt and answers the boss to his question. I got up in the morning and switched on the TV set. It was a translation

of the 24th meeting of the Communist party of the Soviet Union. Then I switched on radio. It was a translation of

the 24th meeting of the Communist party of the Soviet Union. I didn’t even try to switch on an electric iron.

Very funny! It reminds me of myself when I turn on the TV and

hear most of the mainstream media gibberish which passes as "news". Fortunately for both of us, we have many

alternatives to the old

monopoly.

Nobody says me what I should watch – the CNN or Russian channels. The only thing Putin wants in return

is that I wouldn’t interfere in his affairs too
He is building

capitalism and doesn’t want me hamper him. And it is OK by the majority of people since all his opponents

proved that they cannot suggest anything better. On the contrary, everybody knows that they would just make things

worse.

By these comments I know that you are Russian! Welcome moi droog, we must drink

together some day. Your pragmatic optimism is a trait which many can learn from.

I'm genuinely curious Alex,

how long and how far do you think Putin can rule this way? Where do you think the nature of politics is going? Do

you think Russia needs a "Czar" like Putin or someone equally strong?

Good discussion, thank you.
Greg