Does Putin have a soul?

[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.

[idesign]

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.

I used to sign my posts with my name, Greg, but fell out of the habit. I thought of having Bruce

change my forum name but I guess its too late now. Anyway, call me Greg.

No worries Doc, I knew what you were

getting at. This writing/reading thing is like soooo overrated. Good thing we have emoticons to help out along

the way.

Perhaps we should establish a blanket agreement like Bel and I had in a previous thread. Something

like "I promise to not be a jerk".

I spent 2 weeks in and around Port Orchard, WA for a job and loved

it, except the rain. Not much culture there either, but we took the ferry to Seattle and had a great time. Drove

up to Port Angeles and the Olympic Range. Amazing place. Sequim is quite the lavender growing area (in a weird

rain shadow), and every shop was full of it, very cool.

There's too much to love about our country to not be

ethnocentric to the point of loving it above others. I think that must be a pretty universal sentiment, even for

people who live in difficult places.

[DrSmellThis]

Glad you had a chance to enjoy

the Pacific Northwest.

Lavender, rock rose (labdanum), and rosemary grow all over the place here, as do roses

and lots of evergreens. You can pretty much walk around with some grain alcohol and pick yourself an aftershave for

free, if you know when to pick stuff. Plus, every neighborhood is filled with fragrant gardens.

Sorry to

digress, but I've been on an "I love Portland" kick lately.