Does Putin have a soul?

[idesign]

But I think that he (Kasparov) just believe that Putin is bad.

And since he fought against him he is good.

The Democratic

Party in the US is doing the same thing. Their central message is change from Bush. They do not talk in detail

about what they believe. They will not say "We want to take more of your money in taxes and increase government

control over every life". They say instead "We want to give you "free" healthcare".

If he were a politician and could be able imagine what other

people think, not he only, he would understand that people don’t want abstract free TV and abstract honest

elections. They don’t want to be killed, raped and robbed under nice talking about democracy as in 90s. It

seems that he is not able to understand it.

Even the party officials

of ‘democratic’ parties either have not a clue about it or affect ignorance since it is not useful for

them. Democracy means internal elections in their parties and they want it as a wolf wants a ban on eating meat



Why ‘needs’?

We have already had a second one – Medvedev . By the way, Putin makes some attempts to create a second

party. But people don’t want it – they prefer to have one real party, it more traditional for us

Reading your words helps me understand better what I have been thinking. The weight

and inertia of your history may be impossible to alter. The Russian desire for a strong central leader is a

cultural enigma. With a leader such as Putin or (apparently) Medvedev, you have the security and safety of a Czar

with the beginnings of personal freedom and economic prosperity.

It raises another question: do you think the

"average" Russian cares about politics in a pure sense? Of course everyone thinks about politics if they can see it

effecting their life, but do you care about the structure of government or what its called?

DrSmellThis asked an

interesting question:

"Is it possible to instill public safety and basic human rights while constructing a

democracy in populations where lawlessness and corruption rule?"

I think Putin has answered "yes". While he is

not a real "democrat", he at least is moving away from certain vestiges of the past. What do you think?

BTW,

Colombia is an interesting study in security and democracy. What Uribe has done is nothing short of amazing. They

still have problems with the FARC, but have turned the country around. Medellin's mayor, Fajardo, has done a great

job in that city, former base of the now dead Escobar.

My next question would be: to what extent do Russians

desire a real democracy?

Congratulations on your election Alexey. It was a tense moment waiting for the results.

[Alex157]

The Democratic Party in the US is doing the same thing. Their central message is

change from Bush. They do not talk in detail about what they believe. They will not say "We want to take more of

your money in taxes and increase government control over every life". They say instead "We want to give you "free"

healthcare".

Well,

our world is not perfect, neither the politicians are By the way, my sister lives in France and they really have

first-class medical care there. It is free and in some sense resembles the Soviet one but many times better.



Are you a Republican?

Reading your words

helps me understand better what I have been thinking. The weight and inertia of your history may be impossible to

alter.

I would say that it may be very long process.

The Russian desire for a strong central leader is a cultural

enigma. With a leader such as Putin or (apparently) Medvedev, you have the security and safety of a Czar with the

beginnings of personal freedom and economic prosperity.

And

the main thing is that we have not necessity to think ourselves By the way, our parliament is called Duma as

under the Czars. ‘Duma’ is made from a word ‘dumat’ - to think. Its task was to help the Czar to think. But it is

not a parliament, of course

It raises another question: do you think the "average" Russian

cares about politics in a pure sense? Of course everyone thinks about politics if they can see it effecting their

life, but do you care about the structure of government or what its called?

No, not in the

least degree. Our political ignorance is unlimited.

I think Putin has

answered "yes". While he is not a real "democrat", he at least is moving away from certain vestiges of the past.

What do you think?

I think that he understands well that there is not other way to rule

modern Russians but the way he does. Maybe some time later democracy will be possible. I agree with him.

BTW, Colombia is

an interesting study in security and democracy. What Uribe has done is nothing short of amazing. They still have

problems with the FARC, but have turned the country around. Medellin's mayor, Fajardo, has done a great job in that

city, former base of the now dead Escobar.

Well, many

countries had a strong leader as a transitional step.

My next question would be: to what extent do Russians desire a

real democracy?

Most of Russians don’t want democracy openly

and say that they prefer autocracy, as for others I think that the absolute majority of them haven’t even a notion

what democracy is. Again, I was communicating with our ‘democrats’ - it is something terrible.

Congratulations on your election Alexey. It was a tense moment

waiting for the results.

Thank you, Greg. It was a bit nervous indeed and till the

last moment we didn’t know who might win. But it ended well. They say that in some Northern districts appearance of

electors was even a bit more than 100% because bears came to support their candidate (‘medved’ means ‘bear’ in

Russian and ‘ev’ is equal ‘son’ in Robertson or Johnson).

[idesign]

Well, our world is not perfect, neither the politicians are

By the way, my sister lives in France and they really have first-class medical care there. It is free and in some

sense resembles the Soviet one but many times better.

Free is

never free. I don't want to pay the tax of a Frenchman.

Are you a Republican?

I am a "medved". I only come out of the forest when there is

a candidate worthy of more than 100% of the vote. I have become weary of the forest.



Seriously, I do not identify with "Republican". I would say Conservative with Libertarian

underwear.

And the main thing is that we have not necessity to

think ourselves

America has become such a place, but for

different reasons.

Your government has imposed rule for centuries, and you have had the "luxury" of life

without the responsibility of political thought.

In America, our history is founded on fiercely independent

thinking and lively debate. However, the progression of socialist programs and ideals in this century has lead to a

rather large bureaucracy of what you might call "program perpetuators". This has led to our current electoral

system in which people try to avoid thinking about it at all costs. So you see, we are the same.

By the way, our parliament is called Duma as

under the Czars. ‘Duma’ is made from a word ‘dumat’ - to think. Its task was to help the

Czar to think. But it is not a parliament, of course

Our

parliament is called "Congress", which means "collection" or "collective". As our system evolved over time, it has

also taken on the meaning "idiot", or "collection of idiots". Its task is to collect and spend money, regulate

bowel movements and approve of itself by salary increases

and periodic controlled elections. It is no longer a parliament of

course...

Our political ignorance is unlimited.

As for us, our

unlimited ignorance is political.

In fact, the more stupid the idea, the better chance it has for political

popularity.

I think that he

understands well that there is not other way to rule modern Russians but the way he does. Maybe some time later

democracy will be possible. I agree with him.

many countries had a

strong leader as a transitional step.



Most of Russians don’t

want democracy openly and say that they prefer autocracy, as for others I think that the absolute majority of them

haven’t even a notion what democracy is. Again, I was communicating with our ‘democrats’ - it is

something terrible.

Its very interesting to

read your comments Alexey. I'm beginning to understand the situation in your country, its been a long time since I

studied Russia.

Like you say, Putin, and his way of governing, is a natural progression in your development. I

hope Medvedev takes you just a little further.

Let me say, for all of us, we are very fortunate to have you as a

member of this forum. Thanks for your interesting conversation.

They say

that in some Northern districts appearance of electors was even a bit more than 100% because bears came to support

their candidate

We have a similar phenomena in our elections. Sometimes dead people and family

pets vote for their favorite candidate.

[idesign]

Alexey, how did you find this

forum? Do you use pheromones? Are you here for the very enlightening political discourse? I'm just

curious.

Allow me a question. If you could move to America and live here as a citizen, would you do it? Why?

What would you expect the differences to be?

[Alex157]

Greg, I was a bit busy (we are formalizing our divorce with Yabloko party ) and

am going to answer your previous post at the weekend.

Alexey, how did you find this forum?

Oh, a great place. Really. I hope that I’ll stay here for long.

Do

you use pheromones?

I don’t even know what it is

Are you here for the very enlightening political

discourse?

I'm

just curious.

Actually, I was looking for a forum for practicing my English.

But it seems that I can find here more.

Allow me a question. If you could move to America and

live here as a citizen, would you do it? Why? What would you expect the differences to be?

Well, it is a difficult question. To

be frank, I would prefer to stay in Europe. I would like to live in Czech republic or something like this. That is,

I would prefer to live in Russia, but sometimes I begin to think that it is impossible to live here.


But I would love to have an American wife for learning English

[idesign]

Greg, I was a bit busy (we are formalizing our divorce with Yabloko

party ) and am going to answer your previous post at the weekend.

No

problem Alexey. Would you care to tell us more about your activities? It would be interesting to hear about. I am

not KGB (can't remember the new name), so you can speak freely.

Oh, a great place. Really. I hope that I’ll stay

here for long.

Your English is too good! My question

"how did you find this forum" can be read two ways, and you answered the more colloquial (and difficult for

foreigners) meaning of the phrase. I could alternatively ask "how did you discover this forum"?

I don’t even know what it is

Pheromones are the main point of this forum. You

might want to read other areas of the forum and find out about the kind of people you're talking to.

Well, it is a difficult question. To be frank, I

would prefer to stay in Europe. I would like to live in Czech republic or something like this. That is, I would

prefer to live in Russia, but sometimes I begin to think that it is impossible to live here.
But I would love to have an American wife for learning English

Its difficult for

many (maybe most) Americans to understand how easy it is to live here relative to other countries. We complain and

criticize a lot, for some good reasons, but not all of them are good.

Our system is a 200 year old experiment,

and today has no resemblance to its beginning. Honestly, I think we do not have the capacity to change the

direction. However, there is nothing preventing me from living any life I choose and am able to make. Its becoming

more difficult though.

I am curious about your reason for saying "sometimes I begin to think it is impossible to

live here (Russia)". Is it for reasons relating to daily life? Lack of opportunity?

If you answer with a very

long reply you will have good English practice, and we will have the benefit of very interesting reading. When

your divorce is complete, of course.

An American wife will teach you much more than English. But I am not

complaining, quite the opposite.

[DrSmellThis]

Alexey,

how did you find this forum? Do you use pheromones? Are you here for the very enlightening political discourse?

I'm just curious.

Allow me a question. If you could move to America and live here as a citizen, would you do

it? Why? What would you expect the differences to be?

I'm fond of this post. These are the kinds of

questions we should be asking, even if they might seem a bit naive or ethnocentric.

In my experience, people

from abroad generally have a very nuanced view of America. It's not just a black and white situation of either

"haters" (from terrible places, like FRANCE ) who buy into propaganda; versus "poor lost souls" and "tired,

huddled masses" who yearn for the peace, freedoms and comforts of our "superior" lifestyle. Believing this really

would be naive and ethnocentric.

For every five Cuban soccer players seeking asylum, there are countless others

who have very good reasons for preferring other places.

What attracts me most to the US is that I am comfortable

and familiar with the culture, and my family and friends are here. As it turns out, I think I'd feel isolated

elsewhere. Otherwise, I'd look at about fifteen other countries for various reasons.

[Mtnjim]

...Otherwise, I'd look at about fifteen other countries for various

reasons.

Given a choice, Spain or France for me. I liked those places when I lived there before.

[belgareth]

Otherwise, I'd look at about fifteen other countries for various

reasons.

Retirement isn't all that far off for me. Maybe a place with a nice sandy white beach where I can

bring in a sailboat? Someplace with low taxes and a low cost of living and blue water close by...

[idesign]

I'm

fond of this post. These are the kinds of questions we should be asking, even if they might seem a bit naive or

ethnocentric.

In my experience, people from abroad generally have a very nuanced view of America. It's not just

a black and white situation of either "haters" (from terrible places, like FRANCE ) who buy into propaganda;

versus "poor lost souls" and "tired, huddled masses" who yearn for the peace, freedoms and comforts of our

"superior" lifestyle. Believing this really would be naive and ethnocentric.

For every five Cuban soccer players

seeking asylum, there are countless others who have very good reasons for preferring other places.

What attracts

me most to the US is that I am comfortable and familiar with the culture, and my family and friends are here. As it

turns out, I think I'd feel isolated elsewhere. Otherwise, I'd look at about fifteen other countries for various

reasons.

I like naive, to a point. Did you ever read or see "Being There"? The character Chance was

ultimately naive, and had a simplicity in his approach to life and people that was completely honest, and likable.

Of course that's an extreme.

Ethnocentricity is unfortunate, like, ummmm, lack of education.

I think you're

right about the world's view of America. I think if you eliminate political and geographic boundaries, and just

think of "people" around the world, the opinions about the US will pretty much line up with opinions among

Americans. That's to say, some will be hyper-critical, and some blindly adoring, with most in the middle

somewhere.

I don't think the world hates the US, nor do I think we need to worry about "restoring America's

respect", as some politicians are fond of saying.

Bel, Doc and Jim, I'm with you guys. I'm thinking of a place

where the mountains are less than an hour from the beach. I think I'd have to come back for lengthy periods

though.

[DrSmellThis]

Idesign, Imeant it all as a

compliment. "Seeming" naive or ethnocentric is different from being that. If I ask someone their opinion of my

behavior to learn something about myself, it might seem self-centered on the surface. But it's not really. And what

seems naive can really be open minded.

Portland, Oregon is surrounded by huge mountains, ocean, rainforest,

and desert, all within a 90 minute drive or less; in addition to being a great city, in terms of lifestyle, music,

and culture. There is nowhere in the world quite like it, judging from the many comments of international travelers

I've heard over the years. And it's right here in the good ole US of freakin A. There's ethnocentric for ya'.

On the other hand, if you hate rain you are SOL here.