Donald Hank
The truth about Putin through neocon glasses
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By Donald Hank
August 26, 2013

Canada Free Press recently ran an article dissing Putin, who opposes our involvement in Syria.

The reason many traditionally minded Americans warm up to Putin is that he supports Middle East Christians. Say what you want, but Russia is the only world power that does this.

In the article, the author tries to paint Putin as undemocratic and as supporting a regime unfriendly to the free market. They even say he is worse than Obama.

Here is the ugly truth these people won't face:

Russian unemployment, latest is 5.3%:
http://www.tradingeconomics.com/russia/unemployment-rate

Russia debt to GDP (8.4%)
http://www.tradingeconomics.com/russia/government-debt-to-gdp

US debt to GDP (101.6%)
http://www.tradingeconomics.com/united-states/government-debt-to-gdp

Russian economic growth: 2.5-2.8% expected in 2013
http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/fb19d7c8-f098-11e2-929c-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2d17Z8Yjv

US growth projected at 1.7% by IMF:
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-07-09/imf-reduces-global-growth-projections-as-u-s-expansion-weakens.html

Recipients of 'social payments' (in Russian)
http://pfrrt.ru/citizens/pensioneram/poluchateljam-sotsialnykh-vyplat/

3 categories:

Vets

families of deceased vets

invalids and children of invalids.

This seems to be the bulk of what we would call welfare.

In the US, over 100 million receive welfare:

http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/over-100-million-now-receiving-federal-welfare_649589.html

Freedom?

The government seems to exert pressure on the media in the Russian Federation, but at least there, the media represent a genuine 4th Estate. In the US, the media and the government are a virtual monolith. In addition, Obama is now exerting unprecedented influence over the media, as illustrated by the charges brought against James Rosen.

Solzhenitsyn, in the last speech he gave at Harvard, said that while in Russia, the government controls the media, in the US, the media and the government work hand in hand. That is why it was his last speech.

As for speech, it is still free for officially recognized victim groups in the US, but freedom of religion is taking a back seat, as illustrated by the latest mock trial of Scott Lively, who was accused, absurdly, of causing the death of a homosexual in Africa by preaching a sermon opposing homosexuality on Biblical grounds, when in fact, the murder was perpetrated by another homosexual.

Everything depends on your definition of freedom.

The Russians still think freedom of religion and thought trump sexual freedom, although they do not outlaw and of the sexual orientations protected in the West. They just ban publicly propagandizing for some orientations.

A boy in Russia who takes a passing notion that he is a girl, will never get a sex change operation that he may later regret.

© Donald Hank

 

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Donald Hank

Until July of 2009, Don Hank was operating a technical translation agency out of his home in Wrightsville, PA. He is now retired and residing in Panama with his wife and daughter.

A former language teacher, he holds an undergraduate degree in French and German from Millersville State University (PA), a Master's degree in Russian language and literature from Kutztown State College (also in PA), has studied Chinese for 3 years in Taiwan at the Mandarin Training Center, and is self-taught in other languages, having logged a total of 8 years abroad in total immersion situations.

He is also the founder of Lancaster-York Non-Custodial Parents, a volunteer organization that provides Christian counseling for non-custodial parents.

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