Originally posted by Boroda
To Neubob about "free enterprising":
Businessmen that i'll name as examples are Abramovich, Vekselberg and other crooks.
I am aware of the escape-plans of our current "elite" and i wish them to get out ASAP. Usually this fear of "nationalisation" is nothing more then an attempt to find a reason for a planned retreat. How you see this nationalisation? Bolsheviks come again wearing leather jackets and dusty helmets with their mausers?
Your next argument will probably be the fate of poor Hodorkovskiy, so i answer in advance: a thief must be in prison. Gleb Egorovich was right, while the Age of mercy didn't come, we have plenty of coca-cola and chewing gum instead.
Now seriously: small enterprises have problems mostly not because of some evil govt trying to nationalise them, but because the whole system is so rotten that minor govt employees, militia, controling authorities and other parasites use all possible ways to extort money. In 1996 RF had 2 times more govt employees then the USSR in 1990 including Party staff. Now it's much worse.
Actually Beard, I was thinking of mentioning Khodorkovski, but decided not to. He is too big, and generally not characteristic of anything resembling your average private businessman. I also specifically mentioned 'non-crooks'.
I think the last paragraph of your post illustrates my point pretty well. Specifically, the part about minor govt. employees, militia, controlling authorities and these other parasites. These problem, while ongoing and annoying, will tend to require larger government intervention. The threat that these small entrepreneurs feel breathing down their necks is the very same remedy which will be aimed at curbing your 'parasites'. That is why anyone with means, and with brains, is making preparations, however passive, to get up and get out of dodge with the s hits the fan. I am not speaking in theory, Pavel, I am speaking after having observed this very distinct pattern of behavior.
Examples that I've personally seen are numerous. And without going into too much detail, I will say that I do not know of a single well-to-do Russian business man or woman who has put all their eggs in that basket.