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jpv · 05-10-2008, 06:41 AM

Big, You're delusional if you think the majority of the oil money won't be stolen (or isn't being stolen) by a few big wigs. Russia already has a reported cash surplus of 100 billion dollars sitting there; funny, they haven't built a new road in Vladivostok for 12 years.
You talk about paying workers. I have a very telling story (and not rare here at all, especially in the provincial regions): My father in-law has property out in a village. He and my brother in-law are trying to fix it up. They started with a new outhouse (most village homes don't have indoor plumbing). It took 2 months to find someone who'd build them an outhouse. They were begging to pay people to build it. Most of the working-age people in the village don't want to work; they prefer to get government money and spend it on booze. The same story when they looked to renovate the banya. General laziness and its partner, alcoholism are endemic in this country, and this is especially so outside of the cities.
I understood the point of the thread very clearly. I outlined why I thought it was unviable. If you don't agree with my assessment, fine. We'll see in 20 years where the "standard of living" is higher: England or Russia. I think we both know that answer.
Vladivostok is known for being extremely corrupt, true, but most of my points (and of course I was generalizing) ring true for any corner of this vast land. You are right that the weather sucks, though.
By the way, what "model of improving standards" would you use? Russia has no model, as living standards have never been good here; in fact, right now the living standards are probably the highest they've ever been (apart from pensioners, perhaps). So, what do you suggest?

05-10-2008, 06:41 AM	#14 (permalink)
jpv Redshirt Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 146 Tournaments Joined: 0 Tournament Wins: 0	Re: Oil money come to sweet Russia! Big, You're delusional if you think the majority of the oil money won't be stolen (or isn't being stolen) by a few big wigs. Russia already has a reported cash surplus of 100 billion dollars sitting there; funny, they haven't built a new road in Vladivostok for 12 years. You talk about paying workers. I have a very telling story (and not rare here at all, especially in the provincial regions): My father in-law has property out in a village. He and my brother in-law are trying to fix it up. They started with a new outhouse (most village homes don't have indoor plumbing). It took 2 months to find someone who'd build them an outhouse. They were begging to pay people to build it. Most of the working-age people in the village don't want to work; they prefer to get government money and spend it on booze. The same story when they looked to renovate the banya. General laziness and its partner, alcoholism are endemic in this country, and this is especially so outside of the cities. I understood the point of the thread very clearly. I outlined why I thought it was unviable. If you don't agree with my assessment, fine. We'll see in 20 years where the "standard of living" is higher: England or Russia. I think we both know that answer. Vladivostok is known for being extremely corrupt, true, but most of my points (and of course I was generalizing) ring true for any corner of this vast land. You are right that the weather sucks, though. By the way, what "model of improving standards" would you use? Russia has no model, as living standards have never been good here; in fact, right now the living standards are probably the highest they've ever been (apart from pensioners, perhaps). So, what do you suggest?