5 ms·

I see a stories here of happy Soviet people. One from current Russian minority (upper class back then by default) and one from party member. Let me tell you my

by lnsru 5y ago

I see a stories here of happy Soviet people. One from current Russian minority (upper class back then by default) and one from party member. Let me tell you my family story. My grand grandfather was a clerk in independent Lithuania’s court before Soviet occupation. He went to gulag when Soviets came and died there. For the rest of the family the life was destroyed - they were outlawed. Education and work choices very limited, no party membership, occasional KGB checks. Especially during catholic celebrations like Eastern or Christmas. Few generations later I left for Germany and never looked back. Lithuania lost status of being western country in Soviet Union. Now it is just another weird faceless post Soviet country that made into EU and NATO. No strategy, no goals, no future. People and especially politicians hadn’t learned planing and choice making. At the moment this country is in a silent war against Russia, Belarus and even China: https://www.businessinsider.com/china-threatens-lithuania-withgarbage-bin-of-history-for-taiwan-office-2021-12 https://www.businessinsider.com/china-threatens-lithuania-wi... Oh well…

BoyRobot777 5y ago
> Now it is just another weird faceless post Soviet country that made into EU and NATO. No strategy, no goals, no future. You've been reading too much propaganda. Living in Lithuania is become better each year. Lithuania's GDP is like Belarus, while the population is 3x smaller. Lithuania has surpassed russia in GDP per Capita long time ago. Lithuania is #11 in doing business [1]. Lithuania is Largest Fintech hub in the EU in terms of licensed companies[2]. Lithuania is one of global leaders when it comes to laser technology. And currently, there are talks between Taiwan and Lithuania about semi-conductor factory. And that is being achieved in only 30 years or so. Regarding being faceless. Lithuania has showed that it has a strong spine again and again against authoritarian regimes. By hosting Belarusian pro democracy leaders [3], by support Ukraine in every possible way in their path to democracy, and yes, supporting Taiwan, which resulted in spat between China and Lithuania. While we old western countries talk, Lithuania walks the talk. Lithuania has very much a face. And that's the face of being pro democracy. Yes they are small and they rely on their partners support, but they have values. [1] https://www.doingbusiness.org/en/data/exploreeconomies/lithuania# https://www.doingbusiness.org/en/data/exploreeconomies/lithu... [2] https://investlithuania.com/fintech-report-2020-2021/ https://investlithuania.com/fintech-report-2020-2021/ [3] https://www.rferl.org/a/belarus-lithuania-official-opposition/31342168.html https://www.rferl.org/a/belarus-lithuania-official-oppositio...
- lnsru 5y ago
  Bring it on!!! I really love that naive belief that lasers are somehow competitive in the world. I have 2 links for you: https://rekvizitai.vz.lt/m/imone/pieno_zvaigzdes/ https://rekvizitai.vz.lt/m/imone/pieno_zvaigzdes/ and https://rekvizitai.vz.lt/m/imone/ekspla/ https://rekvizitai.vz.lt/m/imone/ekspla/ Lithuanian milk products are leading in the world! And they make some serious revenue compared to the lasers. Single German company is much bigger than everything laser related in Lithuania: https://app.handelsblatt.com/unternehmen/industrie/maschinenbau-trumpf-sieht-anzeichen-fuer-ende-der-konjunktur-talfahrt/26274142.html https://app.handelsblatt.com/unternehmen/industrie/maschinen... I mean I was lured into this tale by Prof. Dr. Piskarskas too, but the reality is much different. Lithuania has magnificent food processing industry delivering products for the same old Soviet brotherhood countries as it did 50 years ago. Regarding Taiwan and semiconductor factory. Sorry, I can’t take it serious being electrical engineer and working in semiconductor manufacturing. The foreign policy is absolutely shit in Lithuania. Relationships with Poland and Latvia are a disaster. Relationship with Russia and Belarus plus China is kind of Cold War. Sorry, I can’t praise this. Just look at Israel: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/7/8/jordan-israel-agree-to-water-deal-more-west-bank-trade https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/7/8/jordan-israel-agree-... You see, you don’t must like everybody in the world, but business is business and well being of of the own people should be more important than some insane moral principles.
  - BoyRobot777 5y ago
    > And they make some serious revenue compared to the lasers. I don't know why you've linked ekspla, which has 4x lower revenue than Light Conversion. And sure, the revenue is bigger in Pieno Zvaigzde, than in Light Conversion, but the profit is almost 3x lower[1][2]. Also, look at the grown of revenue. It's like night a day. > Single German company is much bigger than everything laser related in Lithuania So? Am I to understand that Germany has won the competition in laser related technologies and Lithuania has no chance? > Regarding Taiwan and semiconductor factory. Sorry, I can’t take it serious being electrical engineer and working in semiconductor manufacturing. We shall see :) > The foreign policy is absolutely shit in Lithuania. Relationships with Poland and Latvia are a disaster. Source? Because Poland and Lithuania has been cooperating on multiple levels and their relationship is at the highest right now. Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania also are cooperating on a lot of levels. Just recently, they've agree to create joint ‘operational area’ for defence[3]. They also agreed to jointly develop a MLRS artillery system for the first time. Thanks to russia, relationships are better than ever. While relationships with authoritarian regimes were never warm to begin with so I don't see any loss here. Either you support pro-democracy or not. If not, relationship with these countries will be bad. [1] https://rekvizitai.vz.lt/imone/pieno_zvaigzdes/apyvarta/ https://rekvizitai.vz.lt/imone/pieno_zvaigzdes/apyvarta/ [2] https://rekvizitai.vz.lt/en/company/light_conversion/turnover/ https://rekvizitai.vz.lt/en/company/light_conversion/turnove... [3] https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/1569645/baltic-states-agree-to-create-joint-operational-area-for-defence https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/1569645/baltic-stat...
daliusd 5y ago
Could you give several examples of countries which have strategies, goals and future (and how you imagine it)? It would help better understand where you come from. I can think of several countries that have goals, some have strategies, but not many will have future with their goals and strategies or lack of it (e.g. China and Russia will fail IMHO, Israel, Japan and Germany will succeed, but that’s only my opinion)
- varjag 5y ago
  See, it's unwise and spineless unless you suck up to Russia.
- lnsru 5y ago
  It’s hard to do such a difficult guessing. I will bet against so called democracies in the western world. They’re too corrupt and plan how to build and maintain short time money laundering schemes. Think about failed autobahn mount and mask buying schemes in Germany. Lithuanian railway and Belarus deal should be known better to you.
  - BoyRobot777 5y ago
    > They’re too corrupt Compared to what? China? russia? > Lithuanian railway and Belarus deal should be known better to you. It's has been blown out of proportion without understanding the full picture, not corruption. "The US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has officially confirmed that Washington's sanctions against Belaruskali, one of the world's largest potash fertiliser producers and exporters, are not binding on Lithuania's state-owned railways.[1]" Lithuanian railway cannot just terminate their contract otherwise they will face legal consequences in Court of Arbitration. They are looking for a legal way to kill the contract, but it takes time and planing. [1] https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/1568321/us-sanctions-not-binding-on-lithuanian-railways-us-treasury-says https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/1568321/us-sanction...
    - lnsru 5y ago
      Pick some other from the list: Vilnius Subway project, National airline, National stadium. There are no state projects that are designed for wellbeing of the citizens. They are all made for state money laundering. You know why MO Museum is so different from everything in that country? It’s made by rich guy for people without selfish interests.
drakonka 5y ago
Thanks for sharing. I couldn't help but have an instinctive reaction of envy when I read the last part of your comment. The country I'm from is currently under Russian occupation for trying to get closer to the EU, and here you are seemingly taking Lithuania's membership for granted. Joining the EU for sure doesn't magically solve everything, but can open up so many new opportunities for a post Soviet country. It must be nice to have the luxury to dismiss its usefulness so casually.
- lnsru 5y ago
  I would say Lithuania was just lucky and on time. There were 3 equally sized population groups at the time: pro Russia, pro EU and we-don’t-care. Pro EU was the loudest and most active, the voting was hard one with low participation, but still succeeded: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003_Lithuanian_European_Union_membership_referendum https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003_Lithuanian_European_Uni... I can’t guarantee the same outcome today.
  - BoyRobot777 5y ago
    > There were 3 equally sized population groups at the time: pro Russia, pro EU and we-don’t-care. Pro russia equally sized? Where are you getting this from? It seems you're just a troll and I'll stop engaging with you now. > can’t guarantee the same outcome today. Lithuania has one of most positive view on EU[1]. [1] https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2019/10/14/the-european-union/ https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2019/10/14/the-european-u...

by lnsru 5y ago

BoyRobot777 5y ago

> Now it is just another weird faceless post Soviet country that made into EU and NATO. No strategy, no goals, no future. You've been reading too much propaganda. Living in Lithuania is become better each year. Lithuania's GDP is like Belarus, while the population is 3x smaller. Lithuania has surpassed russia in GDP per Capita long time ago. Lithuania is #11 in doing business [1]. Lithuania is Largest Fintech hub in the EU in terms of licensed companies[2]. Lithuania is one of global leaders when it comes to laser technology. And currently, there are talks between Taiwan and Lithuania about semi-conductor factory. And that is being achieved in only 30 years or so. Regarding being faceless. Lithuania has showed that it has a strong spine again and again against authoritarian regimes. By hosting Belarusian pro democracy leaders [3], by support Ukraine in every possible way in their path to democracy, and yes, supporting Taiwan, which resulted in spat between China and Lithuania. While we old western countries talk, Lithuania walks the talk. Lithuania has very much a face. And that's the face of being pro democracy. Yes they are small and they rely on their partners support, but they have values. [1] https://www.doingbusiness.org/en/data/exploreeconomies/lithuania# https://www.doingbusiness.org/en/data/exploreeconomies/lithu... [2] https://investlithuania.com/fintech-report-2020-2021/ https://investlithuania.com/fintech-report-2020-2021/ [3] https://www.rferl.org/a/belarus-lithuania-official-opposition/31342168.html https://www.rferl.org/a/belarus-lithuania-official-oppositio...

lnsru 5y ago
Bring it on!!! I really love that naive belief that lasers are somehow competitive in the world. I have 2 links for you: https://rekvizitai.vz.lt/m/imone/pieno_zvaigzdes/ https://rekvizitai.vz.lt/m/imone/pieno_zvaigzdes/ and https://rekvizitai.vz.lt/m/imone/ekspla/ https://rekvizitai.vz.lt/m/imone/ekspla/ Lithuanian milk products are leading in the world! And they make some serious revenue compared to the lasers. Single German company is much bigger than everything laser related in Lithuania: https://app.handelsblatt.com/unternehmen/industrie/maschinenbau-trumpf-sieht-anzeichen-fuer-ende-der-konjunktur-talfahrt/26274142.html https://app.handelsblatt.com/unternehmen/industrie/maschinen... I mean I was lured into this tale by Prof. Dr. Piskarskas too, but the reality is much different. Lithuania has magnificent food processing industry delivering products for the same old Soviet brotherhood countries as it did 50 years ago. Regarding Taiwan and semiconductor factory. Sorry, I can’t take it serious being electrical engineer and working in semiconductor manufacturing. The foreign policy is absolutely shit in Lithuania. Relationships with Poland and Latvia are a disaster. Relationship with Russia and Belarus plus China is kind of Cold War. Sorry, I can’t praise this. Just look at Israel: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/7/8/jordan-israel-agree-to-water-deal-more-west-bank-trade https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/7/8/jordan-israel-agree-... You see, you don’t must like everybody in the world, but business is business and well being of of the own people should be more important than some insane moral principles.
- BoyRobot777 5y ago
  > And they make some serious revenue compared to the lasers. I don't know why you've linked ekspla, which has 4x lower revenue than Light Conversion. And sure, the revenue is bigger in Pieno Zvaigzde, than in Light Conversion, but the profit is almost 3x lower[1][2]. Also, look at the grown of revenue. It's like night a day. > Single German company is much bigger than everything laser related in Lithuania So? Am I to understand that Germany has won the competition in laser related technologies and Lithuania has no chance? > Regarding Taiwan and semiconductor factory. Sorry, I can’t take it serious being electrical engineer and working in semiconductor manufacturing. We shall see :) > The foreign policy is absolutely shit in Lithuania. Relationships with Poland and Latvia are a disaster. Source? Because Poland and Lithuania has been cooperating on multiple levels and their relationship is at the highest right now. Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania also are cooperating on a lot of levels. Just recently, they've agree to create joint ‘operational area’ for defence[3]. They also agreed to jointly develop a MLRS artillery system for the first time. Thanks to russia, relationships are better than ever. While relationships with authoritarian regimes were never warm to begin with so I don't see any loss here. Either you support pro-democracy or not. If not, relationship with these countries will be bad. [1] https://rekvizitai.vz.lt/imone/pieno_zvaigzdes/apyvarta/ https://rekvizitai.vz.lt/imone/pieno_zvaigzdes/apyvarta/ [2] https://rekvizitai.vz.lt/en/company/light_conversion/turnover/ https://rekvizitai.vz.lt/en/company/light_conversion/turnove... [3] https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/1569645/baltic-states-agree-to-create-joint-operational-area-for-defence https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/1569645/baltic-stat...

daliusd 5y ago

Could you give several examples of countries which have strategies, goals and future (and how you imagine it)? It would help better understand where you come from. I can think of several countries that have goals, some have strategies, but not many will have future with their goals and strategies or lack of it (e.g. China and Russia will fail IMHO, Israel, Japan and Germany will succeed, but that’s only my opinion)

varjag 5y ago
See, it's unwise and spineless unless you suck up to Russia.
lnsru 5y ago
It’s hard to do such a difficult guessing. I will bet against so called democracies in the western world. They’re too corrupt and plan how to build and maintain short time money laundering schemes. Think about failed autobahn mount and mask buying schemes in Germany. Lithuanian railway and Belarus deal should be known better to you.
- BoyRobot777 5y ago
  > They’re too corrupt Compared to what? China? russia? > Lithuanian railway and Belarus deal should be known better to you. It's has been blown out of proportion without understanding the full picture, not corruption. "The US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has officially confirmed that Washington's sanctions against Belaruskali, one of the world's largest potash fertiliser producers and exporters, are not binding on Lithuania's state-owned railways.[1]" Lithuanian railway cannot just terminate their contract otherwise they will face legal consequences in Court of Arbitration. They are looking for a legal way to kill the contract, but it takes time and planing. [1] https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/1568321/us-sanctions-not-binding-on-lithuanian-railways-us-treasury-says https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/1568321/us-sanction...
  - lnsru 5y ago
    Pick some other from the list: Vilnius Subway project, National airline, National stadium. There are no state projects that are designed for wellbeing of the citizens. They are all made for state money laundering. You know why MO Museum is so different from everything in that country? It’s made by rich guy for people without selfish interests.

drakonka 5y ago

Thanks for sharing. I couldn't help but have an instinctive reaction of envy when I read the last part of your comment. The country I'm from is currently under Russian occupation for trying to get closer to the EU, and here you are seemingly taking Lithuania's membership for granted. Joining the EU for sure doesn't magically solve everything, but can open up so many new opportunities for a post Soviet country. It must be nice to have the luxury to dismiss its usefulness so casually.

lnsru 5y ago
I would say Lithuania was just lucky and on time. There were 3 equally sized population groups at the time: pro Russia, pro EU and we-don’t-care. Pro EU was the loudest and most active, the voting was hard one with low participation, but still succeeded: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003_Lithuanian_European_Union_membership_referendum https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003_Lithuanian_European_Uni... I can’t guarantee the same outcome today.
- BoyRobot777 5y ago
  > There were 3 equally sized population groups at the time: pro Russia, pro EU and we-don’t-care. Pro russia equally sized? Where are you getting this from? It seems you're just a troll and I'll stop engaging with you now. > can’t guarantee the same outcome today. Lithuania has one of most positive view on EU[1]. [1] https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2019/10/14/the-european-union/ https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2019/10/14/the-european-u...