Russia Dying

[Argus]

The LA Times has been running a series on the modern Russia, portraying a nation of people in despair, with massive corruption, sky high suicides, general poverty, hopelessness, misery and despair, where ife expectancy for men has fallen to 59 and a rising AIDS epidemic threatens the future. Although I knew things were bad in Russia I hadn't realized quite how bad. We should take note of all this for many reasons, not the least of which is the number of nuclear weapons stockpiled within its borders.

Russia is rapidly losing population. Its people are succumbing to one of the world's fastest-growing AIDS epidemics, resurgent tuberculosis, rampant cardiovascular disease, alcohol and drug abuse, smoking, suicide and the lethal effects of unchecked industrial pollution.

In addition, abortions outpaced births last year by more than 100,000. An estimated 10 million Russians of reproductive age are sterile because of botched abortions or poor health. The public healthcare system is collapsing. And many parents in more prosperous urban areas say they can't afford homes large enough for the number of children they'd like to have.

A Dying Population

For the well-off — mostly foreigners and those who struck it rich in Russia's transition from communism — there are gleaming "European medical centers" with modern equipment and foreign-trained physicians who charge $100 a visit. Everyone else is relegated to foul-smelling infirmaries with stained sheets, no food and a dearth of equipment as basic as a functioning X-ray machine. The doctors work for as little as $140 a month.

For the Sick, no place to turn

[theloniusfleabag]

Dear Argus,

Some might say that these maladies are merely 'growing pains', to be expected when there is such a gigantic shift from something such as the communism that once was is replaced by a new system. It is a massive 'revolution', with no one at the wheel...Putin is trying to put the brakes on, possibly to hold onto power, but also because massive change can occur too rapidly without planning to 'bridge the gaps'.

[Great Pharoah]

I believe that the situation in Russia is beginning to turn backwards as well. Putin is beginning to create a one party system in Russia, and is trying to consolidate the power that the Soviets once had. This is evident by the sanctions he recently put up against Georgia. And it is the people of Russia who will suffer. Russia should be a world Energy Superpower, but is not focussing on its own problems, but instead, focusing on its neighboring republics, its time for a new, more moderate leader in Russia.

[Argus]

Dear Argus,

Some might say that these maladies are merely 'growing pains', to be expected when there is such a gigantic shift from something such as the communism that once was is replaced by a new system. It is a massive 'revolution', with no one at the wheel...Putin is trying to put the brakes on, possibly to hold onto power, but also because massive change can occur too rapidly without planning to 'bridge the gaps'.

Problem is there's little sign things are getting better. And little sign Putin is the man to make them better. He's killed a lot of people because of his hard line on Chechnya, and devoted a lot of resources there which could have been better used elsewhere. He's been bullying and threatening his neighbours to try and rebuild the Soviet Union, has just about ended freedom of the press, and according to recent reports Russia's psychiatric hospitals are again being used to imprison and "medicate" government opponents.

[jdobbin]

It must be fairly disheartening for Russians to basically become poorer and sicker when they see many of the Eastern European countries becoming wealthier and healthier.

Wish I could say I knew what the solution was. Russians are both afraid of a command economy and private business. You can see why. They both take advantage of ordinary Russians who don't seem to have any power at all.

[Biblio Bibuli]

It must be fairly disheartening for Russians to basically become poorer and sicker when they see many of the Eastern European countries becoming wealthier and healthier.

I'll believe it when I see it!

Russia is being portrayed as doing poorly for a reason.

[jdobbin]

I'll believe it when I see it!

Russia is being portrayed as doing poorly for a reason.

You have faith in Putin's government? I think I've seen some fairy recent stats about life expectancy in Russia and that is has gone down. I'd like to see more of what is happening there but those figures if true are fairly alarming.

[geoffrey]

I'll believe it when I see it!

Russia is being portrayed as doing poorly for a reason.

You have faith in Putin's government? I think I've seen some fairy recent stats about life expectancy in Russia and that is has gone down. I'd like to see more of what is happening there but those figures if true are fairly alarming.

Maybe they play by the 'here for a good time, not a long time' tune? How do we know the Russians are just partying it up like crazy and enjoying life far more than us.

[jbg]

Russia has always been a sick country. Always insular, tribal, prone to overuse of alchohol, lots of corruption, no rule of law.

The other European countries at least have a "window on the world" to some extent. Russia, being effectively landlocked, has never had the people with a drive to make their country a better one. The good people leave or are driven out.

Remember Stalin, who branded entreprenurial farmers "Kulaks" that had to be killed? Or the drunken mobs who, in 1892, started a wave of anti-Jewish riots that drove out close to a million Jews, including my ancestors? They sent their brainpower (not only Jews) to England, the US and Canada, and kept the louts and the drunks.

[August1991]

I read the LA Times articles Argus linked to in the OP but I chose to avoid this thread.

Why?

Well, Russia is a big country with many people doing many different things. It is easy for a western journalist to arrive in Moscow, hire an interpreter and find anything to support literally whatever the journalist happens to believe about life, existence, Dostoievski or Russia. Moscow's a big city. If you're looking for a Chinese-speaking Lesbian who keeps snakes in her bath tub, Moscow's the place.

There is an English language newspaper in Moscow that used to run a hilarious pseudo-playoff series between American foreign correspondents in Moscow based on their use of hackneyed phrases. God knows what they'd do with the LA Times series. Maybe they did it.

I figure that Leftists in the West want to hear that Russia is worse off under capitalism and Rightists in the West want to hear how badly communism screws up a society. In general, Canadians and Americans prefer to read in the International Section that the outside world is screwed up, poor and uncivilized. (In the Travel Section, they want to read about wonderful food and authentic history.)

In short, what the LA Times reports about Russia is irrelevant in the grand scheme of things and how such an article is discussed in a Canadian political forum is even less relevant. Hence my decision to avoid this thread.

So, why this post of mine? I don't know exactly. But do you want something to consider? The change from Russia to the Soviet Union meant that apartments were privatized. Russians have no mortgage to pay. How would Canadians feel about suddenly learning that they own their place outright? If I know Slavic prairie westerners, they'd still complain. Slavs are dour fatalists who never forget. They're never happy. Albertans and western farmers always complain. So do ordinary Russians.

[theloniusfleabag]

Dear August1991,

Thanks for posting this very good bit. I understand you have been to Moscow, and are somewhat better able to understand it, rather than the majority of us judging on second-hand news. It has been said that the best education system of all is travel, and I tend to believe it.

[Biblio Bibuli]

It is easy for a western journalist to arrive in Moscow, hire an interpreter and find anything to support literally whatever the journalist happens to believe about life, existence, Dostoievski or Russia.

I served in the Russian Army so I've had it up to my neck with Dostoievsky. I prefer Hemyngway.

[STOLYPIN]

It is easy for a western journalist to arrive in Moscow, hire an interpreter and find anything to support literally whatever the journalist happens to believe about life, existence, Dostoievski or Russia.

I served in the Russian Army so I've had it up to my neck with Dostoievsky. I prefer Hemyngway.

Esenin #1 Dostoievsky#2 Russia Forever

[STOLYPIN]

Russia has always been a sick country. Always insular, tribal, prone to overuse of alchohol, lots of corruption, no rule of law.

The other European countries at least have a "window on the world" to some extent. Russia, being effectively landlocked, has never had the people with a drive to make their country a better one. The good people leave or are driven out.

Remember Stalin, who branded entreprenurial farmers "Kulaks" that had to be killed? Or the drunken mobs who, in 1892, started a wave of anti-Jewish riots that drove out close to a million Jews, including my ancestors? They sent their brainpower (not only Jews) to England, the US and Canada, and kept the louts and the drunks.

Russian Jews are depleting American worker's SSI

Since the fall of the Communist regime in the Soviet Union, a steady stream of Soviet Jews have immigrated to the United States. The majority came here from Russia. Many Christian evangelicals believe this is unscriptural and in defiance of the Bible, which they say calls for all Jews to resettle in Israel. The Russian Jews chose to immigrate to America instead of Israel because of this nation's affluent economy and its financial benefits.

Due to the influence of powerful Jewish organizations in America, most of these newly arrived Russian Jewish immigrants are being given favorable treatment. They have received millions upon millions of dollars in government "resettlement grants" and welfare subsidies. As unbelievable as it seems, Russian Jews who immigrate to the U.S. are eligible for free Medicaid health insurance, free housing, free food stamps, and--believe it or not--free Social Security benefits!

Jews who served in the Russian army march in Washington demanding U.S.A. veterans' benefits. They say they helped fight the Germans. But so did soldiers from many other nations, including the Belgians, the Dutch, the Ethiopians, the Poles, the French, and the Serbs from Yugoslavia. (The U.S. is now repaying the Serbs for their war service with NATO bombs and missiles!)

That's right, thousands of non-citizen Russians living in America, never having paid one red cent into Social Security coffers, are nevertheless taking in an average $640 per month for life from SSI. Meanwhile, many retired, native-born Americans who, as workers, mandatorily contributed for decades into the Social Security fund are today drawing measly benefits of as little as $220 per month!

The Jewish Lobby Greatly Feared

The difference is that the Russian immigrants are Jews, and Jewish interests are massively powerful in American politics. The Jewish Lobby is greatly feared by Washington's politicians. Tragically, Jewish interests consistently support ultra-liberal socialist politics and the growth of the Welfare State.

Recently, 50 bus loads of Russian Jews were transported from New York City to Washington D.C. by Jewish organizations and Israeli lobbying groups. In our nation's capitol, the Jewish demonstrators were given signs, banners, and placards, and they enjoyed maximum positive press coverage. They marched and demonstrated, demanding veteran's benefits be paid Jews by the U.S.A. for their war service to Communist Soviet Russia! Their demands were supported by President Clinton as well as liberal Jewish politicians like Minnesota's Senator Paul Wellstone and Senator Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey.

[jbg]

Russian Jews are depleting American worker's SSI

Since the fall of the Communist regime in the Soviet Union, a steady stream of Soviet Jews have immigrated to the United States. The majority came here from Russia. Many Christian evangelicals believe this is unscriptural and in defiance of the Bible, which they say calls for all Jews to resettle in Israel. The Russian Jews chose to immigrate to America instead of Israel because of this nation's affluent economy and its financial benefits.

I didn't choose to quote the full diatribe. Do you have links, other than www.jewwatch.com to support any of this stuff?

[STOLYPIN]

Russian Jews are depleting American worker's SSI

Since the fall of the Communist regime in the Soviet Union, a steady stream of Soviet Jews have immigrated to the United States. The majority came here from Russia. Many Christian evangelicals believe this is unscriptural and in defiance of the Bible, which they say calls for all Jews to resettle in Israel. The Russian Jews chose to immigrate to America instead of Israel because of this nation's affluent economy and its financial benefits.

I didn't choose to quote the full diatribe. Do you have links, other than www.jewwatch.com to support any of this stuff?

http://adlusa.us/ http://adlusa.us/jewsnssi.htm What's wrong ?

[jbg]

Russian Jews are depleting American worker's SSI

Since the fall of the Communist regime in the Soviet Union, a steady stream of Soviet Jews have immigrated to the United States. The majority came here from Russia. Many Christian evangelicals believe this is unscriptural and in defiance of the Bible, which they say calls for all Jews to resettle in Israel. The Russian Jews chose to immigrate to America instead of Israel because of this nation's affluent economy and its financial benefits.

I didn't choose to quote the full diatribe. Do you have links, other than www.jewwatch.com to support any of this stuff?

http://adlusa.us/ http://adlusa.us/jewsnssi.htm What's wrong ?

That is a hate website. I just looked at it and shuddered.