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> Break Russia up and you’ll be condemning a lot of people to a lower standard of living long-term. That's of course not necessarily true. You haven't factore
by adventured 5y ago
> Break Russia up and you’ll be condemning a lot of people to a lower standard of living long-term.
That's of course not necessarily true.
You haven't factored in the retardation of economic outcome that the present union is causing because it can only exist through the extreme and persistent application of force (which is very substantially regressive for human development). The reason they keep getting authoritarians century after century is because Russia as it presently stands should not exist, they can only hold it together with force. That comprehensive application of force destroys liberty, creativity, free expression, economic growth, investment, and so on.
You can simultaneously have economic negatives from the lack of a port, in a landlocked Russia spin-off state scenario, and be better off being out from under the forever strangulating authoritarian umbrella of big Russia. That is to say, that's just how horrific and dampening of human potential it is to be under the boot of authoritarian Russia.
There's a good reason so many nations that were formerly dominated by Russia are now exceeding them in GDP per capita.
- CountSessine 5y agoThere's a good reason so many nations that were formerly dominated by Russia are now exceeding them in GDP per capita. “Isn’t ruled by Vladimir Putin” is highly predictive of GDP, but “has a warm-water port” is far more predictive. Who is doing well? Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Georgia, Azerbaijan. Who isn’t doing well? Kazakhstan, Kirghizistan, Tajikistan… There are other variables. “Who has oil”, for example. But “who has unencumbered access to world trade through the sea” is the best.
- nevermindiguess 5y agoIt would be interesting to hear why you think Russia is an authoritarian state. Have you lived there? Have you studied it deeply? Do you have reliable sources to substantiate your claim? You certainly repeat what the western media says, but they are hardly an independent or unbiased source (speaking of authoritarian regimes). To me it looks like you may be making a lot of assumptions without having first hand experience or professional knowledge on the subject.
- JoeAltmaier 5y agoIt's a preposterous notion to doubt that assertion (Russia is authoritarian). I have to believe that is a post by a Russian bot of some kind. {edit:disambiguate}
- alex-ant 5y agoIt is because I'm Russian, and I can confirm that it's an authoritarian state.
- ghostwriter 5y agohow exactly are you confirming this? Please provide the benchmark.
- JoeAltmaier 5y agoI'm in complete agreement. Sorry if I was ambiguous.