For quite a long time after the collapse of the Soviet Union, I have watched what was happening in the new Russia. It isn’t heartening to see the theft of the country’s natural wealth by the former communist leaders. The population is declining, alcoholism is increasing, and the entire country seems to be gripped by criminality. After seven decades of near-starvation in every area: housing, transportation, medical care and even basic foodstuffs, people had to resort to lying, cheating and stealing just to survive. With the thug-in-chief, Vladimir Putin running things, it can only get worse for the common citizen as he increases his power and personal wealth. I think the country will eventually implode and become very dangerous.
An article in a recent Forbes Magazine by British historian Paul Johnson agrees with my assessment except for the part about the country becoming dangerous. It’s a very good read.
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