Are the Russians better off under Putin then they were under the Soviet Union?

Started by Razgovory, July 02, 2013, 06:11:13 PM

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Razgovory

Something I've been wondering about.  Putin is a despot, you can't say that Russia has a democracy with straight face, (I'm not sure you could ever say that really), but is it an improvement?  Since the Soviet Union lasted quite a while I suppose I should reduce the time scale a bit.  I'm thinking of the Soviet Union under Brezhnev and co. It's a long and stable period of Soviet history. The Soviet Union of the mid to late 1980's is bit to chaotic to gauge and the being starved only half to death is an improvement over Stalinist period.  I should clarify what I mean when I say"better off", as well.  Does the average person have more personal wealth?  Do they have more personal freedom, economic freedom, and political freedom?
I've given it serious thought. I must scorn the ways of my family, and seek a Japanese woman to yield me my progeny. He shall live in the lands of the east, and be well tutored in his sacred trust to weave the best traditions of Japan and the Sacred South together, until such time as he (or, indeed his house, which will periodically require infusion of both Southern and Japanese bloodlines of note) can deliver to the South it's independence, either in this world or in space.  -Lettow April of 2011

Raz is right. -MadImmortalMan March of 2017

Ed Anger

We do get a lot of porn from them now. But a lot of it is just icky.

Stay Alive...Let the Man Drive

CountDeMoney

Of course they're better off.  And as much as I hate to say it, since I miss traditional Bad Guys(tm), so are we.  I'm sure the majority of the former Soviet Republics would agree as well.

I think the immediate post-Soviet era with Boris had such growing pains in learning the new economy that it wound up breaking the Russians, though.

Legbiter

Well, the average Russian today is maybe better off than during the turbulent 90's. A little bit at least. Russia's never had what you'd call good governance so it's a tough call.
Posted using 100% recycled electrons.

mongers

"We have it in our power to begin the world over again"

DGuller

Yes, they're vastly better of materially, and not really less free politically.  The only downside is that there is still plenty of political uncertainty.  The screws are still being tightened, no one knows what Putin's end game is, no one knows what Russia's guiding ideology is apart from being a thorn in America's side, and there is no mechanism for the transition of power.  What would happen if Putin decides to fly barechested into space, to wrestle polar bears in weightlessness, and something wond horrible happens?



CountDeMoney

Quote from: mongers on July 02, 2013, 06:28:26 PM
Ask some Russians ? :unsure:

They all seem rather happy at Best Buy and Home Depot, walking around with their shirts all unbuttoned with their gold medallions and shit.  I YAM EPIC WIN

Liep

"Af alle latterlige Ting forekommer det mig at være det allerlatterligste at have travlt" - Kierkegaard

"JamenajmenømahrmDÆ!DÆ! Æhvnårvaæhvadlelæh! Hvor er det crazy, det her, mand!" - Uffe Elbæk

garbon

Quote from: CountDeMoney on July 02, 2013, 06:34:42 PM
Quote from: mongers on July 02, 2013, 06:28:26 PM
Ask some Russians ? :unsure:

They all seem rather happy at Best Buy and Home Depot, walking around with their shirts all unbuttoned with their gold medallions and shit.  I YAM EPIC WIN

Somehow I doubt this thread was about Russians living here.
"I've never been quite sure what the point of a eunuch is, if truth be told. It seems to me they're only men with the useful bits cut off."
I drank because I wanted to drown my sorrows, but now the damned things have learned to swim.

DGuller

Quote from: Liep on July 02, 2013, 06:38:29 PM
They're equally aware that they could be better off.
It's definitely tough to live there.  Whenever I see home videos from there, people are getting into car accidents and/or fights.

Liep

Stop googling for Russian Dashcams then, even if they are entertaining. :P
"Af alle latterlige Ting forekommer det mig at være det allerlatterligste at have travlt" - Kierkegaard

"JamenajmenømahrmDÆ!DÆ! Æhvnårvaæhvadlelæh! Hvor er det crazy, det her, mand!" - Uffe Elbæk

DGuller

Quote from: Liep on July 02, 2013, 06:48:01 PM
Stop googling for Russian Dashcams then, even if they are entertaining. :P
I don't.  :huh:  I just visit ru-chp.

Sheilbh

I'm not sure. They're undoubtedly better off than in the 90s. They're more free than they were under the Soviets and materially better off. On the other hand life expectancy in Russia has plummeted since the 80s, though again I think it's creeping back up from Yeltsin era lows. Also from friends who've lived in Russia they say bits of it are just unstable and quite dangerous, there's a lot of crime and a lot of violence.
Let's bomb Russia!