shutting down a few watts of power on your most famous landmark, which is one of the most important cultural icons in the world, is some serious third world bullshit
Quote (Black XistenZ @ Sep 26 2022 11:04pm)
Imho, there is a game of poker/chicken going on between Europe and Russia right now, both sides are bluffing, but they're using different methods for their bluff. Russia is trying to portray the situation at home as perfectly normal, stores full of cheap food, clubs and theaters open, etc. They're trying to send a message to the West that the economic sanctions don't hurt them in a meaningful way, everything is fine, nothing to see here. The West isn't even trying to pretend like the cut of Russian energy supplies doesn't hurt, they're trying to project determination and willingness to sacrifice. The message they want to send to Russia is that they will not let up in their support for Ukraine even if they have to endure economic pain because of it, that Russia will not be able to crack or divide them.
This of course goes back to the different timescales both sides operate on in the economic war. Russia's leverage and European suffering is greatest in the near-term future, but will abate over time while the Western sanctions will only unleash their full potential on the Russian economy in the medium-term. European leaders can be (somewhat) honest with their people: "yes, things will suck for a while, but it will get better". Putin cannot be honest and tell his people "we can paper over the Western sanctions for a while, but the long-term decline of our country is sealed".
you are right, european politicians are pretty honest
they are preparing people for
permanent energy shortages