747400, on 05 March 2012 - 07:57 AM, said:
Comrade Putin will lead Russia back to greatness.
Actually, I think that's what's needed; an unstable and impoverished Russia, thanks to the "Democratic" West (and let's be honest, the flag wavers of Democracy don't have much claim to being truly representative of the wishes of the People, do they

)trying to force their sacred ideal of Capitialism on them, was really not a recipe for global peace and Stability. It's worked very nicely for a handful of oligarchs and mafiosi, but has it brought a blissful future of freedom and happiness for the masses? I rather feel that Marx would have an ironic smile on his face.

What Russia has had since the end of the Soviet Union is far from capitalism, 74700. Russia's economic freedom is near-nonexistent. It's rated as "Mostly Unfree", #144 in the world. It's a corrupt mess.
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Russia’s economic freedom score is 50.5, making its economy the 144th freest in the 2012 Index. Its score is unchanged from last year, with a significant increase in business freedom counterbalanced by a significant deterioration in control of government spending. Russia is ranked 41st out of 43 countries in the Europe region, and its overall score is below the world and regional averages.
The Russian government has demonstrated little if any commitment to economic reform in recent years, and the country’s economic freedom score remains stuck at the lower end of the “mostly unfree” category. While strong returns from hydrocarbons have buoyed the economy, prospects for sustained long-term growth and diversification remain dim. Pervasive corruption and limited respect for property rights undermine the rule of law, increasing uncertainty and investment risk.
Extensive state interference in the economy mutes private-sector dynamism. Layers of complex non-tariff barriers significantly increase the cost of trade. Deterrents to foreign direct investment include bureaucratic inconsistency and regulatory obscurity. The lack of market competition has inflated price levels. Public spending has been expanding, with little transparency or public accountability for expenditures. The budget has become increasingly dependent on oil prices.
http://www.heritage..../country/russia