Originally posted by Boroda
I don't care about "democracy", I worry about other things.
The problems we, Russians, see, are quite different from the views of Western people, including some imaginary features of political system that never works.
It's interesting for me, what did you find so annoying in SPb? "anti-democratic, and they appear to be getting worse"? Can you please elaborate? I always like to see how our country, and especially the city where I was born (I still think that it's probably the best city in the world, with beautiful intelligent and polite people) looks for a foreigner. Please, do me a favour!
Errr...I never said I found anything annoying about (or in) StPb. In fact, I said, and still think, that St. Petersburg is a wonderfull city, both for the people who live there and the city itself. Furthermore, I am hoping to return to Russia, specifically Moscow, in the near future to teach English for 2 years. The only reason I want to go to Moscow instead of St. Petersburg is because I want to see more of Russia. I would be extremely happy if Russia prospered and became a stronger country.
As for my views on the government, I would say that the ability for the Ruissian federal government to basically choose who will be governor of a particular oblast (province) is a move that limits the right of the citizens of the oblasts to choose their particular governor, and I consider that anti-democratic (since they used to be able to vote for their governors). I have noticed over the years a distinct move away from what I would call a multi-party system into a one-party system. Unity controls basically all of the Duma, and now Unity (and whichever party the next President creates) will also control who becomes governer. And yes, I have heard and read the arguments put forth by President Putin about how this is supposed to help combat terrorism, but I don't personally agree with those arguements. IMO, giving overriding power to one authority (be it a party or an individual), can lead to serious problems.
I also feel that in order to have a democracy that is capable of functioning properly, you have to have strong, and independent news organizations that provide factually accurate and fair information to the public. I would say that what I have seen of the media in the last few years, there is much less 'freedom of the press' in Russia than there was 10 years ago. It's hard to have a democracy when all of the news organizations focus on positive election coverage of only one candadite, and tend to ignore the rest. I am talking specifically of the 1996 Presidential elections.
As to 'an imaginary political system that never works,' I'm going to have to disagree with you if you are talking about democracy in general. IMO, the largest problem with democracy in Russia today is partially to blame on the West, though most of the blame does still sit squarely on former President Yeltsin. Instead of worrying about tearing down Communism and spreading Capitalism around as if it would lead to democracy, I feel that the focus in the early 90's should have been more on democracratic reforms, and less on "shock therapy."
To sum up my views, I like Russian people, and I want to see them safe and prosperous, but I am worried that the likeliness of that happening are diminishing. But that's my opinion, and if you and your fellow countrymen disagree with me, then I accept that. It is your country, and the choices are yours to make; all I can do is wish you the best, and hope that you are right.
