In Our View: Russian politics

Opinion

Discussion

November 17, 2009

Anonymous The Joplin Globe Tue Nov 17, 2009, 11:30 AM CST

If you think we have a political problem in the United States, check out Russia.

A recent editorial in The Washington Post noted that Russian President Dmitry Medvedev recently gave a 140-minute “state of the union” address. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin was sitting in the front row with, reportedly, a displeased look on his face.

We would first note that Russians have the same problem we have, in that their politicians talk too much. Can you imagine Congress or the American people “staying tuned” to a 2 hour, 20 minute presidential address?

Medvedev noted that Russia’s most serious domestic problems were that “our most serious domestic political problem” lies in Chechnya, Ingushetia and other Caucasus republics. He was politely implying some racial or ethnic profiling in Russia, dominated politically by Russian Slavs. Those republics have strong Muslim populations and reject Russian dominance.

Imagine if a U.S. president said that our most serious domestic problem was in gaining “control” of minority-filled ghettos or other enclaves of people with views opposed to “traditional” American values or religion. Yet, in fact, our greatest domestic disputes, at least currently, involve trying to offer American taxpayer assistance to the poor, downtrodden and, to some degree, minority populations.

Russia’s domestic politics are further compounded by a staggering economy and standard of living far worse than ours. Corruption in Russia at all levels, private and governmental, is beyond comparison. Russia needs vast supplies of technology, productivity and other intangibles that we have in abundance by comparison. Russia’s only real resources are, on the physical level, oil and gas, and on an intangible level, the amazing ability of the Russian people to simply endure and prevail.

Text Only

Opinion

Our View: Santorum's Achilles' ear
Rick Santorum knocked everyone for a loop this week, not just with his victory in Missouri but with the landslide size of the thing.

February 10, 2012 1 Photo
Our View: Are school loans next 'debt bomb'?
The late American middle class struggled for decades to keep pace with an American dream slipping from its grasp.

February 9, 2012 1 Photo
Our View: A better way of limit terms
A Missouri House committee on Tuesday endorsed a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow lawmakers to serve 16 years in the state Legislature, either the House or the Senate.

February 8, 2012 1 Photo
Your View: Is it our fault?
When did coveting things and money take over character? What happened?

February 8, 2012
Your View: No way to run a school
All throughout the state of Missouri, you’ll hear much discussion about teacher tenure and the indefinite contracts that go along with that. Most — if not nearly all — jobs in the private and public sectors have no such career protection.

February 8, 2012
Your View: Prime suspects
If it’s too cool in the house, you can turn up the heat if you think you can afford it.

February 8, 2012
Our View: Worldwide concern
There is growing concern worldwide that Israel might launch an attack on Iranian nuclear plants.

February 7, 2012 1 Photo
Other Views: FAA deal up in air five years
The Federal Aviation Administration bill was delayed 23 times, but the agency finally has a law giving it $63 billion and full operating authority for the next four years.

February 6, 2012 1 Photo
Don Ray, columnist: Obama's pipeline excuse an election-year cop-out
On Jan. 18, President Barack Obama announced he was rejecting the Keystone XL pipeline project — a project that had its beginnings some 40 months ago (September 2008).

February 6, 2012
James Whitford, guest columnist: Broken people or broken system?
Are the people broken or is the system broken? If you walk into Watered Gardens, our rescue mission, it may seem the people are broken. But it’s a rescue mission. It just feels that way. And sometimes, it just looks that way.

February 4, 2012
More Opinion Headlines

Water company cites reconnections

Opinion

Search Results

Discussion

In Our View: Russian politics

Joplin City Manager Mark Rohr wants the city to distribute weather radios to all Joplin homes that don’t have one. That’s 11,000 radios. Do you think that’s a good use of $300,440?

Joplin City Manager Mark Rohr wants the city to distribute weather radios to all Joplin homes that don’t have one. That’s 11,000 radios. Do you think that’s a good use of $300,440?

Site Map

Contact Us