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> If you don't want consequences for your citizens, don't go to war to enact consequences on other countries' citizens. This kind of reasoning is derived from

> If you don't want consequences for your citizens, don't go to war to enact consequences on other countries' citizens. This kind of reasoning is derived from a representative democracy where the citizens elect a government to look after their best interests. Consequently, the government's ability to stay in power depends on public consensus and approval. By most indications, Russia seems to be ... not that.

thrwyoilarticle 5y ago
Can we stop painting Russia as a nation of poor proles being subjugated by a disparate government? On the whole, Russian people are very much in favour of their leader & largely ignored the erosion of protections like term limits for the short term that it benefited them. To turn around once the consequences are on their shoulders and say that this was unforeseeable is nonsense. If you want a nation that is subjugated by Russia's government & experiences the consequences, there is a much better option.
- approxim8ion 5y ago
  Setting fires under people in the hopes that they rise against their government that would not have much trouble quashing such an uprising doesn't make much sense beyond fulfilling power fantasies some people get off on. Sanctions are really good at starving a populace, but not particularly good at achieving a change in power structure.
- goldsteinq 5y ago
  Russian government systematically shuts down free press, murders or imprisons leaders of oppositions and rigs elections. The last elections to the Russian parlament were obviously rigged, and yet international community recognized them as valid. Russian opposition is fighting an uphill war with government for literally decades without any help from the other countries. Hundreds to thousdands of people are detained every day for protesting against the war. Yes, support ratings for Putin are quite high — because there’s no free media and everyone trying to spread truth is promptly dealt with. Nobody cared when Russia ignored the decision of ECHR to free Navalny. Nobody cared when Nemtsov was murdered. This situation is not new, it’s the result of the decades-long policy of “let Putin get away with any crimes against his country and international law as long as we get oil and gas”.

thrwyoilarticle 5y ago

Can we stop painting Russia as a nation of poor proles being subjugated by a disparate government? On the whole, Russian people are very much in favour of their leader & largely ignored the erosion of protections like term limits for the short term that it benefited them. To turn around once the consequences are on their shoulders and say that this was unforeseeable is nonsense. If you want a nation that is subjugated by Russia's government & experiences the consequences, there is a much better option.

approxim8ion 5y ago
Setting fires under people in the hopes that they rise against their government that would not have much trouble quashing such an uprising doesn't make much sense beyond fulfilling power fantasies some people get off on. Sanctions are really good at starving a populace, but not particularly good at achieving a change in power structure.
goldsteinq 5y ago
Russian government systematically shuts down free press, murders or imprisons leaders of oppositions and rigs elections. The last elections to the Russian parlament were obviously rigged, and yet international community recognized them as valid. Russian opposition is fighting an uphill war with government for literally decades without any help from the other countries. Hundreds to thousdands of people are detained every day for protesting against the war. Yes, support ratings for Putin are quite high — because there’s no free media and everyone trying to spread truth is promptly dealt with. Nobody cared when Russia ignored the decision of ECHR to free Navalny. Nobody cared when Nemtsov was murdered. This situation is not new, it’s the result of the decades-long policy of “let Putin get away with any crimes against his country and international law as long as we get oil and gas”.