Ask a Russian

[Yeekim]

Russia needs power transitioning mechanism which will guarantee safety for former leaders and reduce risk of becoming gerontocracy again

Well good luck with that (unironically).
On the other hand, eg Malaysian prime minister is 94. You could be looking at another 30 years of Putin... not considering recent and future advances of medicine.

 

[Pwnzerfaust]

What do you think can be done to stop the complete deterioration of cities outside the major ones like Moscow, St. Petersburg, and in the far east, Vladivostok? Cities outside those major places seem to be pilfered for the benefit of the high-profile, politically-powerful metropolises, to the detriment of not only the residents of those lesser cities, but of Russia as a whole. Is there anything that can be done to reverse that, and return economic prosperity to the more peripheral cities?

 

[red_elk]

I wouldn't say there is a Russia-wide problem of complete deterioration of cities outside the major ones. Small towns and villages are being depopulated, this is a general urbanization tendency and I doubt much can be done here. There is also a problem of aging infrastructure in peripheral regions, which should be solved by investing enough money and fighting corruption. From what I see the situation is slowly improving last decade or so, although it's still far from being satisfying, especially in "depressed" regions.

 

[red_elk]

Ilya Glazunov "Epic Tale" (Былина), 1974

 

[Aleksey_aka_al]

Come on, this naiveté is unbecoming of you. Leaving the office of president does not mean giving up control over the country.

Yes, it does. You should decide between Putin being an evil all-powerful dictator and Russia being an evil omni-corrupted oligarchy.

 

[Aleksey_aka_al]

Right, we have xenophobia too. My former colleague was half Russian and half Kabardian and when he wanted to rent apartment in Moscow, he said Russians treated him with suspicion and he had to pay more. Many people here associate Caucasus inhabitants with crime and shady business. But back home Kabardians treated him as Russian and also didn't trust him as much as they trust their own people.

There’s androgenophobia! Females get better rent prices and are more welcomed.

 

[FriendlyFire]

I guess the fact that Russia now has the same PPP as Poland also puts it into the category of successful post communist countries

My mistake its GDP per capita
Russia is ranked 61 and Poland ranked 52, its about a 33% difference
The two most successful are Estonia and Solvenia ranked at 33 and 35 around 230% difference.

Also the worst is Tarikistan and Kyrgyzstan all the way down at 164, 155
They are really poor barely 10% of Russia GDP per capita

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(nominal)_per_capita

 

[Zardnaar]

I wouldn't say there is a Russia-wide problem of complete deterioration of cities outside the major ones. Small towns and villages are being depopulated, this is a general urbanization tendency and I doubt much can be done here. There is also a problem of aging infrastructure in peripheral regions, which should be solved by investing enough money and fighting corruption. From what I see the situation is slowly improving last decade or so, although it's still far from being satisfying, especially in "depressed" regions.

Alit of cities on YouTube look good in the CBDs it's in the outskirts where things are rough.

Worst parts of Russia online are better than the worst parts if the USA.

 

[Yeekim]

Yes, it does. You should decide between Putin being an evil all-powerful dictator and Russia being an evil omni-corrupted oligarchy.

Like it meant giving up control in 2008, yes?

 

[red_elk]

Like it meant giving up control in 2008, yes?

I think he gave up control to some extent in 2008. Medvedev was just a reliable person to hold position and very unlikely to rebel against him, but technically Russian president has a lot of power and could organize something to prevent re-election. That was one of the ideas behind "liberal" protests in 2011, to keep Medvedev as the president. Problem is that pro-Western liberals had only ~5% of popular support and Putin could win fair elections against Medvedev or anybody else. They didn't have legal ways to stay in power.

 

[red_elk]

Lavrov and Shoigu (Foreign affairs and Defense) are staying in the new government.
That idiot Medinsky is finally removed.

 

[FriendlyFire]

Alit of cities on YouTube look good in the CBDs it's in the outskirts where things are rough.
Worst parts of Russia online are better than the worst parts if the USA.

That true now because of the Meth epidemic that have been ravaging Rual America
Its 13.9% poverty rate for the US vs 13.4 % for Russia

 

[Zardnaar]

That true now because of the Meth epidemic that have been ravaging Rual America
Its 13.9% poverty rate for the US vs 13.4 % for Russia

Well the crappy parts of Russia are run down and buildings falling apart. Same as US but more homeless.

Look up skid row on you tube. You can have hipster joints and everything nice and then complete crap 3 blocks over.

 

[Aleksey_aka_al]

Like it meant giving up control in 2008, yes?

There was a guy in your sister nation to the north, who ruled there for 25 years without any pauses like that.

Then there’s this mustache guy to the south, who has been in power for 26 years, without a pause either.

Then there’s that really old lady to the west ruling so long that she gets tremble attacks now.

Guess what, Estonia, you are surrounded by dictatorships!

 

[Yeekim]

There was a guy in your sister nation to the north, who ruled there for 25 years without any pauses like that.

Then there’s this mustache guy to the south, who has been in power for 26 years, without a pause either.

Then there’s that really old lady to the west ruling so long that she gets tremble attacks now.

Guess what, Estonia, you are surrounded by dictatorships!

:shrug: Never seen anyone claim Putin is somehow unique. Not going to contest comparison with Lukashenka either, it is certainly apt.
However, Kekkonen died 40 years ago and Elizabeth is essentially a tourist attraction, more comparable to Lenin's mummy than Putin.
You left out the most obvious comparion though - look no further than "elbasy" Nazarbayev. Officially no longer a president, still confirms appointments to government.

 

[Aleksey_aka_al]

:shrug: Never seen anyone claim Putin is somehow unique. Not going to contest comparison with Lukashenka either, it is certainly apt.
However, Kekkonen died 40 years ago and Elizabeth is essentially a tourist attraction, more comparable to Lenin's mummy than Putin.
You left out the most obvious comparion though - look no further than "elbasy" Nazarbayev. Officially no longer a president, still confirms appointments to government.

Merkel.

I was talking about republics close to Estonia not monarchies somewhere far.

Anyway, some decades later, if you are still around (I will surely be), I'll tell you the same about Putin. When you will try to defend your long-ruling president of the time. Which surely your tiny state will have one day. If only it survives that long. Because hatred plus envy towards a big neighbour is not a good base for a nation building but that is what your people chose.

Hmm, what I wonder is, if Estonia survives, how many foreignly imported presidents it would take before a long one appears .

 

[Yeekim]

"Envy".

 

[Aleksey_aka_al]

Just admit.

 

[Yeekim]

Minimum wage in Russia as of 01.01.2020 - 12,130 rubles (177€).
Minimum wage in Estonia as of 01.01.2020 - 584€.
Or if you like pictures, I suggest this blog: https://varlamov.ru/2434012.html

(Well, my favorite post is this, actually: https://varlamov.ru/2334638.html

Right. I must admit, we are indeed, deeply envious...

 

[Aleksey_aka_al]

So? Basically, what you are telling me is that you have to work harder and to keep things prettier without any other way around it.

If I were to choose between Estonia and Cambodia, guess, what my choice would be and why . Wages, lol.

Right. I must admit, we are indeed, deeply envious...

Yes, you are. You have that thing with national pride that makes your nation and identity deeply dependent on Russia. It is as if Russia and Russians suddenly cease to exist, Estonia and Yeekim will disappear the same microsecond as if they never existed .