But why would you consider it entirely unthinkable that Russia might precipitate a war in the Middle East, exclusively for the purpose of driving up the price of oil, so as to help the Russian economy?
I think pretty much all leaders I have ever read about are first of all rational thinkers. In this example I feel that the risk of Russia's involvement in a war far exceeds the profit you could gain out of such an endeavor. If I were in their shoes, I'd ignore the middle east, because the prices will go up again. And the gas prices are still higher now than they were 10 years ago... They probably have nice projections in Russia when they expect the gas prices to go up again. Driving up the oil prices is a temporary achievement I feel... Maybe you have better foresight and can see the gas prices permanently dropping. I don't see that happening because a billion Chinese and Indians will need it soon...
Whereas I doubt that the recent drop in oil prices is a permanent thing, Russia may not feel that it is able to weather the storm, as its economy is rapidly tanking, due primarily to the sharp decrease in the price of a barrel of oil. I agree that Vladimir Putin is "rational" enough (though I do not believe that "all" national leaders are; but that is another story); yet I doubt also that Putin is fearful of President Obama, should the former become engaged in a war--whether in the Middle East or anywhere else.
Unlike the U.S., Russia remembers the first world war. Because the bulk of those killed was it the Russian population. The U.S. throughout half of the twentieth century held the greatest number of wars than any other country. In Russia believe that the U.S. and NATO warm up a third world war. Isn't your economy a big bubble?
Unlike the U.S., Russia remembers the first world war. Because the bulk of those killed was it the Russian population. The U.S. throughout half of the twentieth century held the greatest number of wars than any other country. In Russia believe that the U.S. and NATO warm up a third world war. Isn't your economy a big bubble? Are you crazy? Russians don't need no war. The main aggressor in the world the USA. Only in America pokes its nose into all the issues in the world.
It should be considered fiscally irresponsible and fiscally insincere for the right to soothsay doomsdays and not prepare for them via Tax for doomsdays and spending according to the exigency.
I am not "soothsay[ing] doomsdays." Rather, I am posing a serious question--which you have tap-danced around, in favor of derailing the thread with a convenient polemic against "the right"...
Are you on the right? Have you not noticed how they have nothing but fallacy for their Cause, while proclaiming to be for the "gospel Truth" in public venues?
If you sincerely wish to discuss the thread at hand, I will certainly be happy to do so with you. But if you merely wish to derail it, by ranting against "the right," you will leave me with no choice but to consider you a troll...
You have nothing but fallacy for your Cause. That is one consideration of this thread. Anyway, the right needs to convince us they are really, really sincere (and not just on contingency, either) about their doomsdays soothsayings. I believe doomsday tax rates from the right may cover that current gap in confidence in the sincerity of the right.
I just heard that the inflation rate in Russia, for the past year, was 11.4 percent; or almost double the 6.5 percent of the previous year.
I really am not promoting some "Cause" by asking for reasoned responses to the OP. But since you prefer to derail any thread that is not entirely congenial to your preferred talking points, I shall consider you merely a troll. Therefore, I am placing you on "Ignore." Good day, sir...
Nothing bu fallacy for your Cause; i go it. Anyway, the right needs to convince us they are really, really sincere (and not just on contingency, either) about their doomsdays soothsayings. I believe doomsday tax rates from the right may cover that current gap in confidence in the sincerity of the right.
The guy saying Russia has enough resources and ruble value going down not affecting things is right. If the ruble going down was going to seriously affect the populace, why would Putin not give a crap about sanctions? His people are more supportive of him than ever and they can't live off propaganda alone, so the sanctions must not affect their daily lives too much. Hell, the government already developed a Russian smartphone and some other tech to replace imported stuff. They wouldn't do that if they weren't planning on doing this for the long haul. The way I see it, Russia's trying to become an autarky. That is, they want to become completely self sufficient and mostly unreliant on international trade. The reason they're letting China prop up the ruble a bit is for the few imported goods they need and to show they have China backing them up if anyone tries directly intervening in Ukraine.
Well, if things were that bad for the average person, why is his popularity going up? Although, I guess it could be propaganda. I do know that their news sites are saying that they're trying to become self sufficient and less reliant on foreign money.
Probably due to nationalism. (As long as Putin sticks a finger in the collective eye of the West--and especially the US--it is likely to enhance his popularity.) Like, for instance, The Moscow Times? Or, perhaps, Pravda?
