Moscow—While Americans debate the potential impact of Social Security privatization, Russians are already reacting to a sweeping overhaul of their system. The protest wave began in early January, when thousands of angry pensioners in several cities blockaded roads, occupied government buildings and scuffled with police over cancellation of their traditional welfare benefits. By late February, students, trade unionists and academics… return to article
-
subscribe to print magazine
-
email this article to a friend
-
Reader Comments (7)Page 1 of 1 pagesOh man, if the wacky russians who are being oppressed my Putin are protesting the change of their social welfare system, what will happen if “free” americans are forced to change with the cronyism of the American political system. Oh let’s see, what multi-national company privatizes Social Security, Lockheed martin! So defence contractors are going to be holding onto OUR money for us, what happens when Haliburton or General Defence pulls an Enron. Oh wait the’ve got so many kickbacks from Bush & co. that they won’t ever go under. Even if they might, the gov’t will give them more money to baill them out. At least the russians and the americans will be on the same monitary level soon, then we can start the Cold War all over again.
Posted by skip on Mar 2, 2005 at 6:05 PM It’s significant that, as the article says, the main Communist constituency is pensioners, past their ability to improve their lives by working. It might have been smarter to phase out subsidies for the old by simply identifying an age under which no new freebies would be given and allowing time to do the rest. As for free education, free utilities, and the rest, I can’t help but think that there was a failure of mathematical calculation generations ago. Maybe that would have dispelled the idea that any government could give away so much unless it was in charge of an incredibly wealthy society from which to pay for it all. Of course, Russia is incredibly rich, but only in the sense of potential, being still a developing nation with a raft of yet-to-be-tapped resources. If I accepted Marxist theory (which I don’t much, except for the idea of alienation among workers who cannot prosper from their labor, which I think Marx simply observed as easily as we can all observe it), I might say that when the Bolsheviks tried to hop over the capitalist wealth-building stage and straight into sharing the wealth, the promised benefits of the Revolution became impossible. Seems like a clear case of chickens coming home to roost, most unhappily for those like the old or handicapped who will now be left wanting. That single cash payment will be gone in no time, I’d be distressed too.
Posted by Kuya on Mar 3, 2005 at 12:09 AM Are you joking? Russia is NOT incredibly rich, there is no magic number to stop “freebies” and there were no free utilities. Soviets paid for everything; rent, food, electricity. Unless of course you were a high up member of the graft ridden government. But back to the beginning. Russia has SOME natural gas, SOME oil reserves (smaller than Texas’ before the pumping began) and a whole lot of wet timber that is so knotty and warped, the only people who want to buy it from them is the Japanese. Marx was a member of the group of people he argued for (the workers) so was Engels, so was Lenin, so was Kruschev, so was Breshnev… So yeah he kind of observed it. Every day of his life. Anyway Marxism was not designed for a nation as large as the USSR, it was for Germany, Marx himself siad it wouldn’t work in Russia(too many ethnic groups). But the point is: you repeat what you hear from people and TV(boob tube) and movies that were made in the US or other western nations (propaganda). Putin does it and it’s bad, Bush does it and he is a great leader (HA!) BAAAAAAAA
Posted by Skip on Mar 3, 2005 at 11:46 AM Oh my god, I can’t believe I missed that. You used the phrase Communist constituency to describe Russians. Its not the 60s anymore.
Posted by skip on Mar 3, 2005 at 11:48 AM Did I offend you in a past life, dude?
Why would you think I see Bush as a great leader?
Never mind, clearly you’re on the warpath. I hope you’re using all that energy to enlighten your neighbors, as well as showing your fangs to me.
Do you yell a lot when you talk to people?
Posted by Kuya on Mar 3, 2005 at 6:09 PM This is all very similar to what has been happening here in Canada over the past 15 years. I have heard all the arguments from the right about wealth creation, etc, but when I look, I just see re-distribution again. It is the greatest transfer of national wealth from the population at large to a tiny super-selfish minority in the history of the world. This kind of greed is a disease that makes AIDS look like a summer cold. Overcoming it will be the greatest challenge humanity has faced in its history, and THE cause of the millenium. In Russia, if Putin is threatened, he will respond with tanks and gulags. The same is true in other countries we thought were democracies. Maybe here in Canada we have a better chance to make positive changes peacefully. I hope we do our part.
Posted by wayne on Mar 5, 2005 at 7:53 PM Well, the Russians wanted democracy or something like it. Welcome birds of a feather to greedsville. Something tells me wants trying to happen is world rule. Take everything away from the poor and middle class and they will be at the mercy of the government. The only trouble with this type of law making is the amount of street people you end up with. Do the ruling government then go in with flame throwers and get rid of their problem, or do they let the starving masses eat them. Just because your old, doesn’t mean you can’t revolt in masses. Wasn’t that the way the Chinese were going to overrun the world or so our government thought at one time?
Posted by Pat Grzybowski on Mar 6, 2005 at 1:25 AM Page 1 of 1 pages -
register a new account »Posting Security
Also by Fred Weir
- Putin Is Gone! Long Rule Putin!
With new president, Russians continue to forgo political voice for economic security - From Autocracy With Love
- Ethnic Cleansing in Russia
Putin stokes the flames of xenophobia by targeting non-Slavs in Georgia. - No Reason to Exist
- ‘Managed’ No More
Russians take to the streets to protest the privatization of their social welfare system. - Deep Divide
Ukraine's contested election reflects Russia's push to reunify
Popular Discussions
- The 9/11 Faith Movement
Many Americans believe 9/11 was a conspiracy by the U.S. government
1968 posts since Jul 11 06 - What’s the 411 on 9/11?
891 posts since Dec 21 05 - Democrats: It’s the War
659 posts since Nov 1 05 - Was the Presidential Election Stolen?
459 posts since Jun 19 06 - A Fundamental History Lesson
The rise of National Socialism proved politics and religion don't mix
426 posts since Oct 10 05
© 2005 In These Times | Reprint Policy | Privacy Policy | Powered by Expression Engine | RSS Feeds
