WHAT'S IT LIKE LIVING IN RUSSIA TODAY?

sky....we are looking forward to your responses Exclamation

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Re: WHAT'S IT LIKE LIVING IN RUSSIA TODAY?

sky marshal wrote:

Mapleleaf wrote:
Everyday life? How does it vary from section to section? The effect of the Russian Mafia? Views of U.S. and other countries?

fellows, I'm in Moscow, Russia right now. Take your chance to ask on current affairs

You still there? I'd be interested to hear your take on the russian economy and where it's going. I understand growth rates are high, but that foreign investors are reluctant to get involved because of lacking legal protection?

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cicerone imposter wrote:

sky, First of all, Welcome to A2K. I was in Russia about five years ago when most people's income in Moscow and St Pete was around $100 per month. Has that improved considering the rate of inflation? We had mostly all professionals serving on our boat as maids, waiters, waitresses, and bar tenders, because we learned that they were able to earn more in tips in one month on a cruise boat than they can working in their profession as a doctor, lawyer, or college professor. It's somewhat the same in the Balkans where I visited back in September. Our local guide in Bucharest is a dentist.

I think there was a major financial crisis in russia in 98 or thereabouts. Does that coincide with your trip?

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I was in Russia in July of 2000. We had a professional Russian journalist on our boat, and she provided us with four very ingtersting lectures on the past, present, and future Russia. The biggest problem back in 2000 was the corruption of the government and the mafia. What was so fascinating even back then was the beauty of the country and many of its museums and sites - many first class by world standards. Yet, many of the professionals earned only about $100 a month. The metro system in Moscow is one of the most beautiful in this world - bar none. The museums such as the Pushkin Museum of Fine Art, the Tretyakov Museum, the Kremlin, and some of the underground shops in Red Square belies the poverty of the country. We had the opportunity to stop in some of the towns along the Vulga River, and walk into shops and see the living conditions of most Russians. After I completed my tour in Russia, I really felt badly for the people, because they have so much potential, and yet live like a third world country. I just wonder if things have improved over the five year period since I visited Russia.

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I have also had the opportunity to visit China twice; the first visit in 1992, then again in 2000. The changes in Beijing and Shanghai was dramatic; from filthy to one of the cleanest largest cities in the world. When I landed in Beijing in 1992, the airport building was an old shack. In 2000, they have a brand new, beautiful airport. In Shanghai, the river across from the Bund used to be farmland. It's now built over with skyscrapers and a t.v. tower. Both Beijing and Shanghai have construction going on in all parts of the city. The contrast between China and Russia is dramatic in how their economy is growing.

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But skyscrapers have also belied the poverty in their shadow.

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^JB^ wrote:

But skyscrapers have also belied the poverty in their shadow.

Good point JB. And I understand corruption is the #1 problem in China too.I read about a road that was built in the midst of pay-offs that is falling apart and has killed many travelers.

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These kind of man-made incidents never stop and people are already frustrating and annoyed. A kind of cost of the booming economy :wink:

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Sort of odd really, you'd think authocratic governments, which tend to be less concerned with privacy issues than western democracies, would have more luck controlling corruption.

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Like Saddam.

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It's true that skyscrapers can and does hide many political and economic problems, but when one sees first hand how more Chinese are able to live the "middle class" lifestyle of buying designer clothes and eating at nice restaurants, the improvements are significant. More are driving MBZs and BMWs in China, and that shows the contrast between ten years ago and today. That progress will continue for China, whereas Russia will be very slow to 'catch up.'

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Einherjar wrote:

Sort of odd really, you'd think authocratic governments, which tend to be less concerned with privacy issues than western democracies, would have more luck controlling corruption.

Interesting point. Has anyone read anything re the relation between autocratic governments and corruption?

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I am curious about how this affects the average person living in Moscow - or anywhere in Russia. I have read about corrupt police. It makes me wonder what kinds of things a Russian would call the police for, and what kinds of calls the police would respond to. In America, people call for everything from murder to a barking dog (noise disturbance) and police respond. I've also read that the police expect to be paid by the victim of a crime - a bribe, so to speak. I wonder if this is a common thing. Do all police expect it? Or only some officers? Anyone familiar with the differences in policing or in basic laws?

Virago

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Mapleleaf wrote:

Would someone educate me re the election results (Ukrain..?)?
What are the reasons behind Russia's action? Also, why has the Russian leadership pursued a reversal of democratic reforms? Is it their objective to return to the autocratic days? If so, why?

I have already shared my impression of the events in the Ukraine: http://www.able2know.com/forums/a2k-post1070958.html#1070958
As to the trend that now exists in the Russian politics, my opinion is that all democracy in Russia ended up in 1993 when Yeltsin proclaimed the parliament an outlaw though he was not entitled to dissolve it according to the constitution. After many people dared to resist he ordered to encircle the parliament building with barbed wire and sent riot police to disperse protesting rallies. Clashes lasted for two weeks and finally when the protesters smashed police cordons, Yeltsin commanded tanks and SWAT units to machine-gun crowds at the Moscow television centre and attack the parliament.

What surprises me, is that the west applauded Yeltsin’s actions and declared his victory to be a victory of democracy over communism. He used to be "a good guy" then. I see absolutely no difference between him and Putin who was practically nominated by Yeltsin and enjoys all those "president-does-whatever-he wants" laws, which had been pushed by Yeltsin. Both of them are neither democratic nor liberal. What made Putin to be "a bad guy" now? I suspect it is only because he wants to govern Russia himself instead of giving it up to financial tycoons who appeared from nowhere during Yeltsin’s rule and in a couple of years happened to control all country’s natural resources, all big industries, all the national media and most local administrations. Very few people in Russia sympathized with them when Putin showed to the big business who has real power. Many believe they are all mafia, and besides the undemocratic system we have here was constructed with their assistance and encouragement. Putin is only using the machine that was not built by him.

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Re: WHAT'S IT LIKE LIVING IN RUSSIA TODAY?

sky marshal wrote:

fellows, I'm in Moscow, Russia right now. Take your chance to ask on current affairs

Sky Marshall, are you Russian or just a visitor to Moscow? If you are Russian I am happy to see anybody here from my country. I am a bit tired to carry the can and answer all questions here Smile

Besides my humble opinion cannot be an oracle to be taken as the gospel-truth and some diversity of thought is always a good thing. In case you came to Russia from a different country then I am eager to hear your impressions!

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Einherjar wrote:

I think there was a major financial crisis in russia in 98 or thereabouts. Does that coincide with your trip?

The financial crisis you refer to happened in Russia on 17th August, 1998 when Russian rouble exchange rate dropped from 6 RUR per $1 to 15 RUR per $1 just in one day. They name a number of reasons for it including the preceding financial crisis in Asia. The principal one is the government’s default on its short-term liabilities (those liabilities used to be a kinda risky pyramiding game). Something of this sort had been expected but nobody could predict the scale. On the one hand this crisis was a crushing blow to everyone, the biggest banks (who played this game with the government) were ruined (while the small ones survived), most companies were short of working capital, unemployment drastically increased while the consumer prices rose with the US dollar. On the other hand it had some positive effect on the national economy because being unable to buy imported goods people could only afford domestically produced food and home appliances, which boosted home production as well as investment to it.

Unfortunately we are still a divided country, where one part of the nation (mostly engaged in exporting or importing operations or activities near them) earns money in spheres that do not require much special expertise or use of sophisticated technologies (though I am not saying it is very easy to make money I such areas) while the other part can work hard and get nothing just because there is no demand for their skills and knowledge. Sorry to say, this is the price for Russia’s integration into the world economy.

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SerSo, Russia's total integration into the world economy is only a matter of time; it's a given for most of the world's economies no matter how isolated they may seem today. When the bubble burst in Japan in the late 1980s, not only the banks but many consumers were suddenly in debt beyond their capacity to pay it, so many Japanese committed suicide. After a decade of deflation and reverse interest rate, Japan is finally beginning to show some strenth in their economy. The only way Russia can stablize their economy is to produce goods and services that can compete in the world markets; I believe Russia has great potential, because your educational system still produces the best and brightest. The corruption in government and the mafia is the toughest hurdle for the people to overcome, but even in China with a communist/tyranical leadership, they are advancing economically and politcally.

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Russia

Virago wrote:

I am curious about how this affects the average person living in Moscow - or anywhere in Russia. I have read about corrupt police. It makes me wonder what kinds of things a Russian would call the police for, and what kinds of calls the police would respond to. In America, people call for everything from murder to a barking dog (noise disturbance) and police respond. I've also read that the police expect to be paid by the victim of a crime - a bribe, so to speak. I wonder if this is a common thing. Do all police expect it? Or only some officers? Anyone familiar with the differences in policing or in basic laws?

Virago

Informative...I am also curious.

Perhaps it was earlier on this thread, I seem to remember that local people had to pay the local criminal element (like a tax) ;also, the citizens paid government taxes.

You know; I have never been asked for a bribe. I know it ocurrs in America. In fact, in some places, it may approaching a norm. But for me, I have lived 64 years in America....and no problem. I wonder if that is common?

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cicerone imposter wrote:

It's true that skyscrapers can and does hide many political and economic problems, but when one sees first hand how more Chinese are able to live the "middle class" lifestyle of buying designer clothes and eating at nice restaurants, the improvements are significant. More are driving MBZs and BMWs in China, and that shows the contrast between ten years ago and today. That progress will continue for China, whereas Russia will be very slow to 'catch up.'

Exactly, i cannot deny it Smile

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WHAT'S IT LIKE LIVING IN RUSSIA TODAY?

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