23 May 22
The fall of the Soviet Union 20 years ago happened because ordinary Russian citizens rose up and said "No more!" They faced down the tanks, troops and other dangers and contrary to the cynics, achieved at least some form of democratically elected government and a free society - and they can do it again.
It's unfortunate that so many innocent people must suffer because of one man's bad judgement, but the west can only do so much to bring about the end to this war. The Russian people as a whole can insist on a leader who will represent their wishes, restore some power to the Duma, and shore up their crumbling economy. It's up to them now...
The USSR fell much more so because of radical political shifts and conflicts within Russia itself, rather than from the Soviet States rebelling:
https://history.state.gov/milestones/1989-1992/collapse-soviet-union#:~:text=Gorbachev's%20decision%20to%20allow%20elections,collapse%20of%20the%20Soviet%20Union.
@mchill saidSo kudos to a tiny bit more than half the American people for deciding not to go down that path of least resistance.
The fall of the Soviet Union 20 years ago happened because ordinary Russian citizens rose up and said "No more!" They faced down the tanks, troops and other dangers and contrary to the cynics, achieved at least some form of democratically elected government and a free society - and they can do it again.
It's unfortunate that so many innocent people must suffer because of o ...[text shortened]... wishes, restore some power to the Duma, and shore up their crumbling economy. It's up to them now...
Truly, though, eternal vigilance IS the price of freedom. Make voting easier, not harder, so that people will never again say, "I don't feel like going all the way down there to vote."
23 May 22
@suzianne saidYes indeed. Alexander Hamilton said: “People get the government they deserve.” Let us hope we deserve a democracy as outlined in the Constitution. I don't want to think about what the alternative might look like.
So kudos to a tiny bit more than half the American people for deciding not to go down that path of least resistance.
Truly, though, eternal vigilance IS the price of freedom. Make voting easier, not harder, so that people will never again say, "I don't feel like going all the way down there to vote."
- Joined
- 27 Sep 06
- Moves
- 251103
23 May 22
@mchill saidThe old U.S.S.R, like us, had more
The fall of the Soviet Union 20 years ago happened because ordinary Russian citizens rose up and said "No more!" They faced down the tanks, troops and other dangers and contrary to the cynics, achieved at least some form of democratically elected government and a free society - and they can do it again.
It's unfortunate that so many innocent people must suffer because of o ...[text shortened]... wishes, restore some power to the Duma, and shore up their crumbling economy. It's up to them now...
worry about the enemy without
than, the more sinister enemy within.
- Joined
- 27 Sep 06
- Moves
- 251103
23 May 22
@mchill saidYour analysis is partially true,
The fall of the Soviet Union 20 years ago happened because ordinary Russian citizens rose up and said "No more!" They faced down the tanks, troops and other dangers and contrary to the cynics, achieved at least some form of democratically elected government and a free society - and they can do it again.
It's unfortunate that so many innocent people must suffer because of o ...[text shortened]... wishes, restore some power to the Duma, and shore up their crumbling economy. It's up to them now...
Gorbachev, a Kremlin Liberal, was the leader.....
Don't forget that Hitler ultimately, blamed
The German People for the maelstrom
that he, himself released. Hitler's mind set was,
that The German People didn't sacrifice enough
and deserved what they got...Putin's may be the same.
23 May 22
@mchill saidHate to disappoint you but:
The fall of the Soviet Union 20 years ago happened because ordinary Russian citizens rose up and said "No more!" They faced down the tanks, troops and other dangers and contrary to the cynics, achieved at least some form of democratically elected government and a free society - and they can do it again.
It's unfortunate that so many innocent people must suffer because of o ...[text shortened]... wishes, restore some power to the Duma, and shore up their crumbling economy. It's up to them now...
" Polls released this week by Russia’s most respected independent pollster, Levada, put Russian President Vladimir Putin's approval rating at 83%, up from 69% in January.
81% said they supported the war, citing the "need to protect Russian speakers as its primary justification," per the Times."
https://www.axios.com/2022/04/02/russians-putin-approval-rating-ukraine
It's a fairly common phenomenon that the government in power's popularity increases in the early stages of a war.
23 May 22
1 edit
@no1marauder saidI'm sure this is true. I'm also sure the bulk of these Russian citizens (many of them older) will begin to change their minds when their economy deteriorates to the point where many are going hungry. In addition, these same people were much younger during the Soviet era and were better able to endure hardships that came their way. Give it another 6 months and let's see how they feel about their "dear leader"
Hate to disappoint you but:
" Polls released this week by Russia’s most respected independent pollster, Levada, put Russian President Vladimir Putin's approval rating at 83%, up from 69% in January.
81% said they supported the war, citing the "need to protect Russian speakers as its primary justification," per the Times."
https://www.axios.com/2022/04/02/russians ...[text shortened]... common phenomenon that the government in power's popularity increases in the early stages of a war.
- Joined
- 27 Sep 06
- Moves
- 251103
23 May 22
@jimm619 saidYeah, he has always been popular but, I think,
Your analysis is partially true,
Gorbachev, a Kremlin Liberal, was the leader.....
Don't forget that Hitler ultimately, blamed
The German People for the maelstrom
that he, himself released. Hitler's mind set was,
that The German People didn't sacrifice enough
and deserved what they got...Putin's may be the same.
his popularity will wane as these sanctions come home to roost.
23 May 22
@mchill saidIF the war continues for another six months and is in something like a stalemate, that will almost certainly be true.
I'm sure this is true. I'm also sure the bulk of these Russian citizens (many of them older) will begin to change their minds when their economy deteriorates to the point where many are going hungry. In addition, these same people were much younger during the Soviet era and were better able to endure hardships that came their way. Give it another 6 months and let's see how they feel about their "dear leader"
23 May 22
@jimm619 saidAmerica also had a man in the White House for 4 years with a similar attribute.
Your analysis is partially true,
Gorbachev, a Kremlin Liberal, was the leader.....
Don't forget that Hitler ultimately, blamed
The German People for the maelstrom
that he, himself released. Hitler's mind set was,
that The German People didn't sacrifice enough
and deserved what they got...Putin's may be the same.
Blame someone else !
And keep the revolving doors greased !
Not to name someone in particular. Don't want to upset some people, after all. 😛
23 May 22
@mchill said20 years ago?
The fall of the Soviet Union 20 years ago happened because ordinary Russian citizens rose up and said "No more!" They faced down the tanks, troops and other dangers and contrary to the cynics, achieved at least some form of democratically elected government and a free society - and they can do it again.
It's unfortunate that so many innocent people must suffer because of o ...[text shortened]... wishes, restore some power to the Duma, and shore up their crumbling economy. It's up to them now...
26 May 22
@mchill saidRumors of Russia's crumbling economy are greatly exaggerated.
The fall of the Soviet Union 20 years ago happened because ordinary Russian citizens rose up and said "No more!" They faced down the tanks, troops and other dangers and contrary to the cynics, achieved at least some form of democratically elected government and a free society - and they can do it again.
It's unfortunate that so many innocent people must suffer because of o ...[text shortened]... wishes, restore some power to the Duma, and shore up their crumbling economy. It's up to them now...
https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/how-sanctions-have-increased-russias-oil-and-gas-revenue