Libertarians coming out in support of Putin, now I've seen it all.
"They lied to us about Covid, which means that Russia is really a great place. And if it's great, it means it's democratic, because democracy means good. We also like to motivate ourselves with stories about how terrible the West really is. And by the way, I did the tourist stuff in Moscow and St Petersburg - it didn't look like the dystopias in Hollywood movies. Which means Russia is great. Here you go, a slightly tongue-in-cheek contrarian article for you people that will make you think, wink wink."
This polemic forces the reader to judge the eroded liberal democracies of the West with Russia, a dictatorship. The gap, it seems, is uncomfortably narrow and closing. The provocations of this piece confront libertarians of the West on the need to do better.
It is curious, too, how so many people feel such a visceral offence to the idea that another country is not as bad as they were told. It is not defending Australia or Australian's to denigrate another nation. And it is even more misguided to denigrate another nation based on transparently dishonest claims made about it by the lying bastards who are mismanaging OUR nation! Most people will never go to Russia, never do 1 second of research into Russia, and never even think about Russia. So they probably should consider why they feel such strong feelings of resentment when someone says Russia is not as awful as they were told? Why would any Australian need Russia (or Iran, or North Korea, etc etc) to be bad? Does their being awful make Australia better? Does Russia being a "brutal dictatorship" do anything to solve the worsening situation in Australia, caused by corrupt politicians and incompetent government bureaucracy? And shouldn't people worry that they feel such strong emotions, about a place they have no care or knowledge of, based on propaganda spewed by the lying hypocrites in Parliament or on the ABC?
One has to hope that, having migrated to Russia, you won't be thrown out of a hotel window for something you said that could be interpreted as criticism of the peace-loving Putin!
Hahaha. I have not moved to Russia; but I have been to Moscow and St Petersburg. They are typical, beautiful European cities, except without all the homelessness, crime, high prices and overt sense of an interfering nanny state sticking its nose into everything. I could have moved to Russia but I chose other countries that better met my needs. The point is that Russia is an option with a lot of attractive benefits to SOME people, relative to the west; particularly when you realise that everything you've heard about it in the western media is a lie. If I was forced to choose between Russia and, say, the UK, or Canada, or one of the other 50+% tax countries who lie constantly about Russia while freezing citizens bank accounts and locking them in jail for their Facebook posts, then I would choose Russia without hesitation. It actually gives me no joy saying it. And I do not say it as a criticism of my Commonwealth brothers and sisters. The problem is 100% with government. Our leaders are a humiliating disgrace and the nasty, braindead bureaucrats interfering in every aspect of our lives are even worse. Would you seriously trust Albo to even wash your dishes or park your car competently? The guy is dumber than a box of hammers, and makes fewer truthful statements than a dead mute. The same goes for Starmer in the UK, Trudeau in Canada, Scholz in Germany, and Dictator Von Der Leyen in the EU. It's no wonder all the western economies and societies are such a total shambles. It's also no wonder they've lost the proxy war they started with Russia, and now they are in recession with no way out. So, is Putin an angel? Obviously not, because he is a politician. The point I was making is: if you are a Christian, family oriented person, who wants to live in a safe society, with all the modern conveniences, low taxes, low cost of living, and the ability to build a career or business in a growing economy, Russia happens to meet those criteria. But, if you are shopping for a country to live, and being able to fight with the government is on your list of 'must-haves', then you are doing it wrong. But you'd still be better off doing that in Russia than the UK.
In spite of all their failings, western democracies tend not to throw people out of hotel windows nor do they poison or otherwise murder their public critics. Putin is a brutal dictator and Russia is losing population, waging an illegal war and is seeing the longevity of its citizens plummet as they turn to alcohol to solve their problems. You are free of course to use your wealth to live in Russia without sharing the same fears as most Russian citizens but you will be foolish to forget that Russia is not a democracy and you may pay a very heavy price for disagreeing with Putin.
I am sure you are absolutely right. Of course, the brilliant leaders of western democracies are above reproach when it comes to ethics, morality and honesty. They would NEVER do harm to nations or individuals whose interests or opinions conflict with theirs. And they certainly would never lie about anyone. I am sure that your information is coming from accurate, honest and unbiased sources and nothing I have said is worthy of any consideration by anyone. I apologise for wasting your time with a perspective that contradicts the ABC.
Libertarians coming out in support of Putin, now I've seen it all.
"They lied to us about Covid, which means that Russia is really a great place. And if it's great, it means it's democratic, because democracy means good. We also like to motivate ourselves with stories about how terrible the West really is. And by the way, I did the tourist stuff in Moscow and St Petersburg - it didn't look like the dystopias in Hollywood movies. Which means Russia is great. Here you go, a slightly tongue-in-cheek contrarian article for you people that will make you think, wink wink."
This polemic forces the reader to judge the eroded liberal democracies of the West with Russia, a dictatorship. The gap, it seems, is uncomfortably narrow and closing. The provocations of this piece confront libertarians of the West on the need to do better.
It is curious, too, how so many people feel such a visceral offence to the idea that another country is not as bad as they were told. It is not defending Australia or Australian's to denigrate another nation. And it is even more misguided to denigrate another nation based on transparently dishonest claims made about it by the lying bastards who are mismanaging OUR nation! Most people will never go to Russia, never do 1 second of research into Russia, and never even think about Russia. So they probably should consider why they feel such strong feelings of resentment when someone says Russia is not as awful as they were told? Why would any Australian need Russia (or Iran, or North Korea, etc etc) to be bad? Does their being awful make Australia better? Does Russia being a "brutal dictatorship" do anything to solve the worsening situation in Australia, caused by corrupt politicians and incompetent government bureaucracy? And shouldn't people worry that they feel such strong emotions, about a place they have no care or knowledge of, based on propaganda spewed by the lying hypocrites in Parliament or on the ABC?
Exactly! Thank you Kenelm.
One has to hope that, having migrated to Russia, you won't be thrown out of a hotel window for something you said that could be interpreted as criticism of the peace-loving Putin!
Hahaha. I have not moved to Russia; but I have been to Moscow and St Petersburg. They are typical, beautiful European cities, except without all the homelessness, crime, high prices and overt sense of an interfering nanny state sticking its nose into everything. I could have moved to Russia but I chose other countries that better met my needs. The point is that Russia is an option with a lot of attractive benefits to SOME people, relative to the west; particularly when you realise that everything you've heard about it in the western media is a lie. If I was forced to choose between Russia and, say, the UK, or Canada, or one of the other 50+% tax countries who lie constantly about Russia while freezing citizens bank accounts and locking them in jail for their Facebook posts, then I would choose Russia without hesitation. It actually gives me no joy saying it. And I do not say it as a criticism of my Commonwealth brothers and sisters. The problem is 100% with government. Our leaders are a humiliating disgrace and the nasty, braindead bureaucrats interfering in every aspect of our lives are even worse. Would you seriously trust Albo to even wash your dishes or park your car competently? The guy is dumber than a box of hammers, and makes fewer truthful statements than a dead mute. The same goes for Starmer in the UK, Trudeau in Canada, Scholz in Germany, and Dictator Von Der Leyen in the EU. It's no wonder all the western economies and societies are such a total shambles. It's also no wonder they've lost the proxy war they started with Russia, and now they are in recession with no way out. So, is Putin an angel? Obviously not, because he is a politician. The point I was making is: if you are a Christian, family oriented person, who wants to live in a safe society, with all the modern conveniences, low taxes, low cost of living, and the ability to build a career or business in a growing economy, Russia happens to meet those criteria. But, if you are shopping for a country to live, and being able to fight with the government is on your list of 'must-haves', then you are doing it wrong. But you'd still be better off doing that in Russia than the UK.
In spite of all their failings, western democracies tend not to throw people out of hotel windows nor do they poison or otherwise murder their public critics. Putin is a brutal dictator and Russia is losing population, waging an illegal war and is seeing the longevity of its citizens plummet as they turn to alcohol to solve their problems. You are free of course to use your wealth to live in Russia without sharing the same fears as most Russian citizens but you will be foolish to forget that Russia is not a democracy and you may pay a very heavy price for disagreeing with Putin.
I am sure you are absolutely right. Of course, the brilliant leaders of western democracies are above reproach when it comes to ethics, morality and honesty. They would NEVER do harm to nations or individuals whose interests or opinions conflict with theirs. And they certainly would never lie about anyone. I am sure that your information is coming from accurate, honest and unbiased sources and nothing I have said is worthy of any consideration by anyone. I apologise for wasting your time with a perspective that contradicts the ABC.
I am not sure why you seem to prefer a brutal dictatorship to an imperfect democracy. I think you are hiding something from this discussion.
I could say the same thing to you. ;-)