Donald Hank
The truth about Putin through neocon glasses
By Donald Hank
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
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
The views expressed by RenewAmerica columnists are their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of RenewAmerica or its affiliates.
(See RenewAmerica's publishing standards.)
