Quote (dro94 @ Jul 31 2017 12:19pm)
The point is a guy like Putin shouldn't have been allowed in government. Hitler objectively improved the living standards of the Germans in the early-mid 30s, though I wouldn't say the subsequent destruction of his country by his own doing was particularly helpful to Germany in the long run. There is no doubt that Putin wants Russia to be taken seriously as a superpower, but to do that you have to have a GDP bigger than Canada's. Maybe if he spent more on infrastructure, healthcare and business as opposed to engaging in proxy wars and aggressive expansionism, Russia would be a superpower. Countries like the US do the same meddling across the world, but at least the government invests in the well being of their citizens (to an extent...), while Putin and his cronies let their people suffer. Guys like Putin murder journalists they don't agree with, sorry but I'll never accept Putin apologist arguments.
Implying GDP is the only metric for superpower. They've stared down the west in Syria and in many other geopolitical arenas and have made us look like fools. Militarily they are only second to the Americans. They may not be able to project their power like we do but in an all out war they would collapse any adversary (MAD) .
Cronyism is a serious issue for Russia as a business environment, even going forward, but the real reason why they are struggling is because of collapsing energy prices and their shrinking population. Unlike other developed countries they simply don't have a diversified way of generating money. Pretending that if only Putin was docile then somehow Russias woes would suddenly disappear is naive, i hope as a future economist you would develop your perspectives better.
You reduce my opinions to "Putin apologist" because the thing i present are pretty factual and you living in the west have long been fed the same narrative which i challenge.