and now lives a pampered, lazy, elitist lifestyle from everything I have ever read. Money is a huge part of it for him IMO. There have been rumours of the immense wealth of him and his friends for quite a while. The Newsweek article about Putin's daily life makes him sound like every other dictator in history - spoiled, narcissistic, paranoid, and living the high life.
Those are rumors, because nobody has been able to find it. Putin may be the worlds richest man, because he could be if simply he wants to be. So if he's a megalomaniac and his goal is wealth, why has he gone to such incredible exent to conceal it? He not doing anything with it. And he's a do-er.
Its not that odd. His real aspirations are elsewhere.
he has no pressure to reveal his wealth other than to top the Forbes list, and WGAF about the Forbes list? It is common knowledge that he and his friends have been the primary and personal beneficiaries of much of his economic program.
but how does that translate to him not caring about wealth? No matter what he does he still faces a demographic bomb, he still faces resource depletion issues, unless he can strong-arm the rest of the world into blessing off on his taking the mineral wealth of the Arctic, which the world will not do. Russia has a couple more decades in the sun, after which it will not have the money or the population to be a heavy hitter, no matter who is in charge.
"Perhaps".....first time you might have agreed with me
He cares, but not like you or I (assuming you have to pay your bills on time too). He's not using it for any selfish purpose. More money isn't going to make a difference. One article speculated that he doesn't see money as a means of security should he lose power. If there is a next leader, and they want him dead or incarcerated, money won't matter.
As for the future, no one knows what the world will be like in several decades. Putin wants to be the historic Russian leader of the millenium, and he will play his cards as he can. The problem for the world, is he's ruthless, probably evil, and good at what he does. Right now, its Ukraine.
to compare Gilded Age America to the Russia of gangsters of plutocrats in control of the country and its regions, is silly. Yes natural gas is an important resource, but the oil reserves are being rapidly depleted. The influx of low-skill immigrants who are, and whose children will be, poorly educated does not reverse a demographic problem. Yes reports of its demise may be overstated, but that article read like a somewhat more credible apologia for a regime that doesn't deserve the effort.
RE: If you're Russia, China or any other aggressor ...
the "wither Russia" idea becomes vogue and regarded as an inevitability. More often than not its more reflective of wishful thinking rather than anything else. Yes, Russia has its problems and challenges, some very serious. Yet, Russia always endures plodding along its own path.
Moreover, there are some people out there that are giddy with joy waiting for what the believe is the inevitable collapse of the Putinist system. There is this misguided notion that whoever or whatever succeeds Putin will be liberal democratic reformers. Unfortunately what follows is likely to be much worse.
While not perfectly appropriate, I am reminded of a quote from a former professor about the USSR, "The Soviet system is not likely to last and not likely to fundamentally change by evolution, and is not likely to be overthrown by revolution. History to be sure has a way of advancing even when it means leaving historians behind."
Its the last sentence that is the most poignant.
Oh also the oil reserves are not be depleted that rapidly. They are in ok shape. What is more disconcerting is the fact that commodity exports account for 60 % of all budget revenues.
the idea that Oppenheimer would be anti-Russian, considering how absolutely vile the treatment of the Jews was in Russia in the late 19th and early 20th Century, seems plenty understandable. And at times during their history the French where Russophilic, as were the Brits too, to an extent anyway, when the Turks were seen as the more brutal of the two.
The resources are tenuous in some ways and industry related to resource extraction is in tatters, as you let on. Economically they have problems. And despite the protestations of facile economists not all demographic trends are created equal. An increase in the population of educated, skilled workers is a net plus for the economy. An increase in the population of unskilled, poorly educated workers can be quite the opposite if the society is unable to elevate the subsequent generations.
Its not that odd. His real aspirations are elsewhere.
He's divorced. He has two daughters that do not live in Russia. Its a different kind of megalomania.
As for the future, no one knows what the world will be like in several decades. Putin wants to be the historic Russian leader of the millenium, and he will play his cards as he can. The problem for the world, is he's ruthless, probably evil, and good at what he does. Right now, its Ukraine.
whither - ( New Window )
Really? You just had to do that?
Moreover, there are some people out there that are giddy with joy waiting for what the believe is the inevitable collapse of the Putinist system. There is this misguided notion that whoever or whatever succeeds Putin will be liberal democratic reformers. Unfortunately what follows is likely to be much worse.
While not perfectly appropriate, I am reminded of a quote from a former professor about the USSR, "The Soviet system is not likely to last and not likely to fundamentally change by evolution, and is not likely to be overthrown by revolution. History to be sure has a way of advancing even when it means leaving historians behind."
Its the last sentence that is the most poignant.
Oh also the oil reserves are not be depleted that rapidly. They are in ok shape. What is more disconcerting is the fact that commodity exports account for 60 % of all budget revenues.
The resources are tenuous in some ways and industry related to resource extraction is in tatters, as you let on. Economically they have problems. And despite the protestations of facile economists not all demographic trends are created equal. An increase in the population of educated, skilled workers is a net plus for the economy. An increase in the population of unskilled, poorly educated workers can be quite the opposite if the society is unable to elevate the subsequent generations.