I really can't believe some of what I've been reading here today.

[Igel]

84. They project.

Russia's still run by oligarchs.

The '90s oligarchs were party bosses that gained power, plus various other folk (often factory managers that became factory owners). They flaunted their wealth.

That's how they see the US.


Putin's oligarchs are under his thumb. He helps those who help him and he can bring the state to crush those who oppose him. They're still oligarchs, but on a state leash and they don't flaunt their wealth.

An oligarch breaks ranks? In short order he's up on charges, imprisoned by a kangaroo court, and his assets are suddenly state property. Lesson learned by others? Sure.

A lot think it would be neat if Obama could call Koch and say, "This needs to be done. Make it so." They'd also just be glad that nobody could run a serious campaign against their party. (The will to power is strong in some. Even if it is only power by proxy.) The citizenry may hurt, but they're not likely to be hurt bad and others they dislike will be hurt more. It's called negative altruism--I'll take a loss, but it'll be worth it to see you in agony, sucker!


The level of corruption was declining in the last year before Putin was first elected, and quickly grew for former levels and exceeded them. Russians are used to state corruption. You need some sort of strong code of personal honor, not public honor, or a code of public honor so draconian that people would live in terror of being corrupt and exposed. Russians mostly have a code of public honor, and even that's weak when it comes to imposing requirements on their own behavior. Everybody's corrupt--from the nurse at the doctor's office to the taxi driver to the president.