https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-whatever-their-differences-putin-and-trump-share-an-ideology/ This just scratches the surface, but helps explain how silly me again's left-right preoccupation is. Putinism is ostensibly conservative, glorifying the past and standing against "political correctness" and so called "SJWs". Funny thing is, for Putin, even though he is a de-facto global leader of Far Right, that tradition is anchored to the Soviet Union, especially the "Great Patriotic War" (Soviet part of WWII 1941-1945; Commies seriously downplay the other pieces of that conflict) and "Great Victory" (May 9 1945, as opposed to May 8 everyone else celebrates). Joseph Stalin is cast as a great hero (and so is Tzar Nicolas II; somehow they live with knowledge that one set of their heroes murdered their Saint Emperor). Trump seemingly stands for exact opposite; yet in fact they have the core of beliefs in common. It's a real thing; on this forum hierophant is an adherent of this ideology.
Doug Saunders is quite the fabulist. Putin - increase government control Trump - reduce government control. The U.S. had no significant problems on its southern border until Trump? How many centuries of 'problems' are required? "The United States was enjoying the most successful era of multilateralism and international co-operation it had seen, up to the end of 2016." Bizarre statement.
Putin seeks to undermine government institutions that can be a check to his power and replace all control by his own corrupt network. So does Trump. Putin is just more successful, that`s all. Also, just behold all the conservative commenters singing Putin praises. Including for policies - like the flat tax for example.
Which government institutions has Trump undermined? I'd be okay with a flat tax. But which conservative commenters (commentators?) are these? Some years ago there was much debate among the freedom-minded about whether a flat tax or national sales tax would be preferable. If tax there must be, that is. I liked what was said by Walter E. Williams, that he'd settle for a lower tax rate.
But that's where you go too far, because whether a flat tax has merit is orthogonal to whether it happens to have been deployed by the Putin regime.
Not that it matters, since Republicans don't have the balls to do either a federal sales tax or a flat tax.
Perhaps. He's praised for "strength" and "standing up to PC" enough though, including by Trump. Putin worship on the Right is well known. Funny thing is, there's also a Putin worship on the Left (for "antiglobalism"). Both strains are common in Europe. It's funny when they use almost word-for-word same rhetoric.
Stanislav, can you please provide just one (1) United States commentator who is "singing Putin praises"? LOL
Or you could say they have brass balls to do what they do. That Congress is our only native criminal class was said long ago.
My first instinct was to say "Limbaugh". Of course, it proved to be completely accurate https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/14/us/politics/putin-trump-conservatives.html So basically, parts of the "conservative movement" are hijacked by a trained operative of KGB, which was "the vanguard of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union" (itself the "vanguard of humanity". KGBists are quite full of themselves, with press like this).
Stanislav, Россия - ядерная сверхдержава. Как следует обращаться с ядерной сверхдержавой в ходе переговоров? On the one hand, Russia's economy is only about the size of Italy, but on the other hand, они имеют большинство ядерного оружия в мире. If someone is pointing a pistol at you, then ты будешь вежлив или груб с ним? Ведение переговоров требует словесной дипломатии. Stanislav, как русский, вы должны это понимать.
My position on Putin and Russia? Carthago delenda est. PS: I speak Ukrainian at home. Reset your Google Translate accordingly.