Author Topic: A Russians view (Read 1954 times)

FiLtH · « **on:** July 23, 2005, 01:16:07 AM »

Near where I live, we have a mountain with a road that goes to the top. Mt Washington. Last fall a friend brought his russian friend up to see the area. I wanted them to go up the mountain to see the view. It cost like 12 bucks to drive up it. She had a huge problem with this and refused to go saying it was nature and we shouldnt have to pay to go up a mountain.

I tried to explain to her the cost pays to the road maint. (which being in some of the worlds worst weather takes it toll) among other costs. She wouldnt listen. I told her she could go walk up any mountain around her for free, but if she wanted to drive up this one, thats how it was.

The discussion deteriorated into a US is so greedy type of thing. My friend said she was a sort of yuppie in Russia, and alot of them think this way. Isnt there anything is Russia similar that you have to pay for to have upkeep on things?

Boroda · « **Reply #1 on:** July 23, 2005, 01:34:01 AM »

Let me explain. I hope you'll understand.

Some things are free. Free for all. Like air, sea and mountains. Views included. Like music too.

Paying to some bastard who puts a bar across a road to a mountain top is... like supporting a wrong commerce. No way.

Paying to upkeep things? What? Sorry, I didn't underdtand? You mean that the money paid for riding to a mountain top will be used to maintain the road? Don't be silly, please. 99% of this money will find it's destination in a pocket of a smart-ass who blocked the road. So it goes.

I don't support such commercial enterprising. Sorry. I'll better go there on foot. If I'll pay him - next week I'll find that I have a checkpoint asking for money on my way home.

And paying for air, sea and mountains is absolutely wrong. At least 100,000,000 of sane Russians share this POV.

Boroda · « **Reply #2 on:** July 23, 2005, 01:37:23 AM »

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Originally posted by Wolfala
She's a minority - screw her. If she has any amount of education she'd know nothing in the world is for free.

Alex, there are simply different things... sometimes...

If we'll make each other pay for everything here - we'll be extinct in 10 years, being too busy counting supposed profits. Then a next problem will be to teach Chinese to operate oil-drilling machinery and pipelines.

Suave · « **Reply #3 on:** July 23, 2005, 01:39:07 AM »

I guess that's why roads in russia are few and in a perpetual state of disrepair. Which is ironic considering that it's a socialist country. Me I prefer to live where I'm not forced to share the cost of an infastructure that I don't use.

Boroda · « **Reply #4 on:** July 23, 2005, 01:54:32 AM »

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Originally posted by Suave
I guess that's why roads in russia are few and in a perpetual state of disrepair. Which is ironic considering that it's a socialist country.

Russia isn't a socialistic country. I wish it was.

Roads inside cities are approximately the same condition as in US suburbs.

Road quality depends more on regional administration, not on money collected. In different "rayon" (district?) roads are different from "they bombed us here in 1942" to "it's not German autobahn - too many turns".

Roads are "few" because we still occupy 1/7 of land on Earth, and out of this 1/7 - 3/4 is unpopulated. Or populated by people who were not informed that their land, where they hunt and breed deers, belongs to Russian Federation. 3/4 of Russia simply don't need roads, mostly because people living there don't have a concept of a "road"

Wolfala · « **Reply #5 on:** July 23, 2005, 01:59:59 AM »

Sorry - bad day here. Sick is listening to people ***** and complain.

Boroda · « **Reply #6 on:** July 23, 2005, 02:04:19 AM »

Forgot to tell this:

Please, feel free to see us as "Asian hordes of Jewish bolsheviks" or "Asian barbarians on their shaggy mounts", whatever you like more.

We don't care.

But air, sea and a view from a mountain must be ****ing free. For everyone.

Boroda · « **Reply #7 on:** July 23, 2005, 02:12:52 AM »

Last thought: I'd better go fix the road to the mountain top myself, to ensure that it will be free for everyone.

It's not about "communism", it's just how I see things should be. And 100,000,000 Russians think so too, I hope.

You found a perfect example of different mentality. Probably this attitude is a reason why we are so deep in the bellybutton now. But I like it and will never trade it for "good life" or anything.

Zakhal · « **Reply #8 on:** July 23, 2005, 02:33:39 AM »

I thought taxes were paid so goverment could upkeep roads like that? Thats how it is atleast here and our weather is pretty bad too.

What Ive read is that som of the russian roads are really bad (weather takes its toll). Som of our streets would look like them but we patch the holes regulary so they stay in drivable condition.

The city streets in Russia are modern though. Atleast what Ive seen in pics.

SOB · « **Reply #9 on:** July 23, 2005, 02:37:09 AM »

Roads cost money, and this particular one seems to be privately owned. Why exactly should they let anyone use the road for free, and where is the money going to come from for the upkeep of the road? And the view from the top of the mountain is free...you'll just need to hike your bellybutton up there if you don't wanna spend the money to use the road.

Zakhal · « **Reply #10 on:** July 23, 2005, 02:45:52 AM »

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Originally posted by SOB
Roads cost money, and this particular one seems to be privately owned.

Well if its a private road then its different of course. Private roads are not maintained with tax money.

In winter there is a law here that if you dont maintain your private road and somone slips on it hurting himself badly, he can sue you for it if there was no sand on the road.

The roads here are pure ice on winter so theres no taking chances. Sand must be spread everywhere and then when summer comes it must be collected back from the roads.

Costs are big but its still less expensive than fixing hundreds of broken legs and arms every winter.

StarOfAfrica2 · « **Reply #11 on:** July 23, 2005, 03:16:09 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Boroda
Alex, there are simply different things... sometimes...

If we'll make each other pay for everything here - we'll be extinct in 10 years, being too busy counting supposed profits. Then a next problem will be to teach Chinese to operate oil-drilling machinery and pipelines.

Welcome to Capitalism 101. Find something someone else wants. Find a way to make that person pay to get what they want. Charge them as much as they can stand to pay without getting so ticked off they shoot you.

Working now for 224 years!

You see, you see nature as God's gift to all men. We Americans see nature as a source of income waiting to be exploited. Those that dont are called "tree huggers". Sometimes we shoot them. Sometimes we put them in jail. Sometimes we just tie them in a chair and make them watch Bill O'Rielly's TV show over and over again.

Wolfala · « **Reply #12 on:** July 23, 2005, 03:46:22 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by StarOfAfrica2
Welcome to Capitalism 101. Find something someone else wants. Find a way to make that person pay to get what they want. Charge them as much as they can stand to pay without getting so ticked off they shoot you.

Working now for 224 years!

You see, you see nature as God's gift to all men. We Americans see nature as a source of income waiting to be exploited. Those that dont are called "tree huggers". Sometimes we shoot them. Sometimes we put them in jail. Sometimes we just tie them in a chair and make them watch Bill O'Rielly's TV show over and over again.

Funny story,

My boss went to school up in Humbolt State, which is in northern CA, where a majority of the pot grown in the world seems to come from. His favorite past time was to "shoot a hippie." Stay with me here - he would have a high powered pellet gun. Sit on top of a roof, and the hippies would be flying down the roads on their skateboards, wearing an ungodly amount of layers for clothes. The pellets would impact them and send them careening off and into the side of the road.

Not to seem like that essentially cruel, he just didn't like the hippies that was posing. I.e. the type that sold their BMW and got a 1960's VW bug which pollutes 20 times the amount the BMW they had, yet preach "don't pollute."

Anyways - not to berate the point. Money is important - i'm not going to pretend that it is not. I have type 1 diabetes, so its a mathmatical certainty, that without money, i can't get medication,and then i'm dead in 6 months. So, thats that - and thats the system that is in place - for better or worse.

Wolf

mora · « **Reply #13 on:** July 23, 2005, 04:44:34 AM »

Isn't there any privately owned roads in Russia? Is it legal to use motor vehicles on private property? I find nothing wrong with anyone charging for the use of their own road, no matter if they charge $1 or $100,000.

In here we have "everymans rights" which guarantees the right to walk on anyone's land. It however doesn't grant the use of motor vehicles. It would be legal to walk that road, but not to use a motor vehicle on it without the owners permission, for which he may or may not charge whatever sum he wants.

Siaf__csf · « **Reply #14 on:** July 23, 2005, 05:24:34 AM »

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The city streets in Russia are modern though. Atleast what Ive seen in pics.

The city streets in russia are worse than baghdad after cluster bombing. Pictures won't tell you anything, I suggest you go and visit yourself.

Oh, and don't take your own car if you don't want a broken suspension, exhaust pipe or bent fenders.