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> Russia wants important enemies to die slow I know this is a common oversimplification when talking about governments, but please, could we at last use "Kreml
by dvfjsdhgfv 8y ago
> Russia wants important enemies to die slow
I know this is a common oversimplification when talking about governments, but please, could we at last use "Kremlin" instead? Russia is a large country with many people just like us, who want to live, love and have a wonderful time. Sure, at times the public opinion is stirred when some atrocities are reported and you can hear some vocal groups online, but Russians are not different from any other nation in this respect.
Their leaders, however, are a different story. You could say Russians have had bad luck with respect to their rulers for centuries. When you look back at what Lenin, Stalin and others did, Putin starts to look like a savior. But they all have a certain attitude and ambitions. So could we please stop saying "Russia" when we don't mean Russian people at all, and common Russians are actually victims of bad policy of their rulers.
- expathacker 8y agoSeeing as Russia has been a democracy for 25 years, isn't this just absolving the Russian populace of any guilt or responsibility over their choice in government, or the actions of said government?
- Eldt 8y agoHow democratic exactly do you think their election process is?
- expathacker 8y agoI do not know, do you? I'm guessing that neither of us have observed their election process in person, or are experts in the fairness of their, or any other democratic process. If you are, please school me, I'm a willing student. I am a US citizen, my birth nation has "elected" two presidents who failed to win the popular vote. 2% of my fellow citizens are unable to vote due to felony convictions. On top of this, the practice known as gerrymandering is essentially carte blanche for a state's ruling power to ensure continuous victories due to the complicated nature of an inconsistent federalist voting system.
- meowface 8y agoThe US's election system has many issues, but Russia's system (at the present moment) is a complete charade. At least with the US system, the rules and loopholes (as stupid as they are) are transparent, known, and understood ahead of time. There's no funny business behind the curtain. In Russia, elections are secretly manipulated by the state. The US is a sometimes-dysfunctional democracy, but Russia doesn't have a democracy at all.
- expathacker 8y agoWell, to be a little bit pedantic, the USA doesn't have a democracy either, we have a representative republic. You're speculating as to the state of Russia's democracy. Have you any specific proof of your allegations? I'm guessing your proof lays primarily with that which is published in the media, and the strong statements / research which come out of NATO and other anti-Russian establishments? I can't believe people would vote for Trump, but let's face it, they did because they believed his economy promises. I can't believe people voted for Putin, but Russia's economy has flourished under his reign, before him, people literally starved to death. I can't believe people vote for Erdogan, but Türkiye's economy is magnitudes stronger and fairer than it was before the AKP reign. Perhaps these democracies are working as intended, and people just cast short-sighted, greed-driven votes?
- everdev 8y agoThe same way most Americans don't approve of or want to be associated with Trump. Democracies allow more freedom of choice, but large minorities or even small majorities in democracies can be ruled by people they see as detrimental to the country or opposed to their own personal views. I'm sure this is compounded by voter intimidation, limits on free speech, etc. We have a long way to go in the US and Russia until every person is directly represented by either themselves or someone they ideologically agree with. Winner take all democracies are certainly better than aristocracies or dictatorships, but still result in the misrepresentation of huge portions of the population.
- tim333 8y agoI see your point but "Kermlin" is a bit over specific - when people like Magnitsky get killed you know it's Russians but not whether the Kermlin or mobsters or what. Elements within Russia perhaps.
- picsao 8y agoThese wonderful people do not protest against trolls throwing fog grenades into every negative discussion on Russia.
- meowface 8y agoIt's just an abbreviation. People say "America", "Russia", or "China" when talking about their governments.