4 ms·

Theoretically, even the most egoistic government who's only purpose is to get more for themselves must realize that in order to preserve it's welfare it must ma

Theoretically, even the most egoistic government who's only purpose is to get more for themselves must realize that in order to preserve it's welfare it must make sure the citizens are doing fine. This is true if the government is secure in its power. If the rulership--or factions within the rulership--are worried about losing their privileges, they may just grab what they can when they can.

snitko 16y ago
That's a popular point here. Many think they're just grabbing as much as they can while they can. I don't know. Maybe it's true, but it seems to me it would be quite a task to run and hide later. It may be easier to stay and secure the environment (by eliminating corruption and making it safe). Maybe I'm wrong.
- sliverstorm 16y ago
  Not to stereotype, but I have noticed all my friends who have a live-fast, die-hard sort of attitude- the type that is appropriate when you're not entirely sure if you'll see tomorrow- were born in Russia. So, I would hazard a guess the folks you speak of are simply not conditioned to be thinking about 'later'.
  - snitko 16y ago
    That is probably one of the most correct stereotypes about Russians. For example almost no one ever saves money here. Nor in the banks, neither under the pillow.
    - lfnik 16y ago
      I have married a Russian and I can also confirm this. Adrenaline junkies galore in Russia
fgf 16y ago
An interesting comparison I'm not really qualified to make is between the relatively secure (?) and cohesive (!) chinese communist party elite and the chaotic free for all (?) in russia. The countries elites both help themselves to quite a bit of wealth but the russians seem to experience an unsolved tragedy of the commons issue. If this is true, will united russia (or whatever it's called) solve the problem of maximising returns from their control of the country (it did take the PRC communist party a few decades)? How could they?
houseabsolute 16y ago
I read an economics paper on this once, but I forgot its title. Couldn't have been a very advanced paper because it was undergraduate economics. The thesis was basically exactly what you just said.

snitko 16y ago

That's a popular point here. Many think they're just grabbing as much as they can while they can. I don't know. Maybe it's true, but it seems to me it would be quite a task to run and hide later. It may be easier to stay and secure the environment (by eliminating corruption and making it safe). Maybe I'm wrong.

sliverstorm 16y ago
Not to stereotype, but I have noticed all my friends who have a live-fast, die-hard sort of attitude- the type that is appropriate when you're not entirely sure if you'll see tomorrow- were born in Russia. So, I would hazard a guess the folks you speak of are simply not conditioned to be thinking about 'later'.
- snitko 16y ago
  That is probably one of the most correct stereotypes about Russians. For example almost no one ever saves money here. Nor in the banks, neither under the pillow.
  - lfnik 16y ago
    I have married a Russian and I can also confirm this. Adrenaline junkies galore in Russia

fgf 16y ago

An interesting comparison I'm not really qualified to make is between the relatively secure (?) and cohesive (!) chinese communist party elite and the chaotic free for all (?) in russia. The countries elites both help themselves to quite a bit of wealth but the russians seem to experience an unsolved tragedy of the commons issue. If this is true, will united russia (or whatever it's called) solve the problem of maximising returns from their control of the country (it did take the PRC communist party a few decades)? How could they?

houseabsolute 16y ago

I read an economics paper on this once, but I forgot its title. Couldn't have been a very advanced paper because it was undergraduate economics. The thesis was basically exactly what you just said.