Some Thoughts on European and US Sanctions
@TypicalRussian (747)
Budennovsk, Russian Federation
July 17, 2022 11:57am CST
Well, i can't precisely describe the situation in Russia right now, simply because i am not there. But my 30 years of life there and information from my family members there are pretty much credible. Below are my three thoughts
First, I was naive enough to believe that nowadays one can exclude the country from the world trade and have no consequences on all the members of the world society.
Second, i was very sad to realise that many European countries, especially Germany, just cant live without russian energy resources. One can ask yourself. how could that happen that the german leaders allowed that situation with total neglection of independence from russian resources. Not only were the supplies always constant, but also there was an increase of number of trade projects in the recent years. Some people may ask a rhetorical question, whether Putin had been bribing the majority of european leaders since 2000s.
Third, the fact that many foreign companies left Russia, doesnt change the sociological situation or tension level in the society at all. More than a half of the population were never able to allow to buy brand clothes, shoes, cars, Apple devices. Those who could-they were always treated negatively by ordinary people, because there is hardly a way to earn enough money honestly in Russia. So, one can say that half of the population were and are glad that foreign companies left Russian market, because then it means that there would be more equality among the population. Everybody would be driving LADA, everybody would be eating pancakes and not fast american fast food, everybody would be wearing russian, belorussian or chinese clothes. The Euro and Dollar change rate course used to be up to 150 rubles in March, but now it is 60, so no reason to be bothered. Again, half of the population are happy that the country have western sanctions because it makes people more equal (like in soviet time), the sanctions make mainly rich people suffer, and now there would be a good opportunity to develop russian own industry, market, production.
Would be glad to read your comments on that.
2 people like this
2 responses
@porwest (92589)
• United States
17 Jul 22
In all fairness and honesty the existence you describe that the Russian people supposedly prefer sounds very depressing and boring. Where's the challenge? Where's the opportunity? Where's the freedom and reward of hard work and success? Where's the joy of being able to treat or reward themselves from time to time? Where's the thrill of accomplishment?
I am not sure what life was like during the Soviet era, nor what it was like after it, but I do feel that Putin has set the country back in way that is not societally good for the people, and it pains me that even after the fall of the Soviet Union, the country and the leaders could not do better to make it an opportunity to bring their people forward in the world and to offer them lives that have meaning and value and that produces something of value to the rest of the world as well.
As for any sanctions, I fully support them and for obvious reasons, and hope that the invasion of Ukraine ends soon and that both countries are able to pull through it all for the better of both peoples. But who knows?
1 person likes this
