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How to enforce democracy in Russia?
I see that there is a lot of Russophobia in here, so I decided to give you guys some opportunity to redeem yourselves and see as to HOW you think democracy, rights can be successfully enforced, how corruption, crime, poverty can be rooted out. Be realistic, and I'll try to reason with you. And please dont say that there are no laws written to protect the people, because Russian constitution is a very beautifully written piece of work: http://www.kremlin.ru/eng/articles/ConstMain.shtml
The less and more lax the laws are, the harder it is to catch and prosecute the criminals, who take advantage of the law, out of control. In Soviet Union, these was no mafia running the country. By the way, most Russian mafia are former Soviet military and intelligence officers, mercenaries, who lost their jobs with the fall of communism and decided to shift to illegal business to fund themselves. Easy as that. To tell you the truth, Putin should crack down on mafia and crime as he did with corrupt oligarchs, press harsher penalties for corruption, obstruction of justice, crime. Russian society needs some law and order. At the same time, he should enforce the Constitution in full, which some officials still don't.
When Soviet Union was going down, the West promised to help Russia rebuild and change, financially and economically. That never materialized. Yeltsin's firesale of the most of public sector, grab-it-all economic reforms, evaporization of retirement funds, securities, unlimited freedoms caused so many upheavals, like independence movements and horrible corruption and self-rule, as evident in Tatarstan and Bashkirstan. Regional governments in some cases refused to pay taxes, or even to allow federal taxmen to enter their region. Former military turned mafia officials created their own laws, while Yeltsin nodded and called it all democracy. I lived there, I've seen it all. I've seen a police officer's car riddled with bullets, and witnesses called it a "fuel leak resulting in explosion" in my former town. I've seen it all. And what did the West do? Well, the businesses came in, co-operated with the Russian mafia, and made huge profits. Putin put an end to this endless cycle of neverending "gangster's paradise". But there's still a long way to go.
Also, here's a very good recent INDEPENDENT article by a highly respected organization that shows how powerless the government is to fight criminals with current efforts:
Russia: Fight Against Corruption Starts With Interior Ministry
http://www.rferl.org/features/featu...EE-D48B8F4213D0
quote:
Despite the Russian State Duma's recent ratification of an international corruption convention, it will take a long time before Russia can seriously tackle graft -- especially when the country's Interior Ministry has been accused of corrupt practices.
On 17 February, the Duma ratified by absolute majority the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, which was adopted in 2003 and came into force in December 2005.
Politicians were quick to warn against the devastating effects of corruption in Russia. Commenting on the ratification, Duma Deputy Speaker Vladimir Pekhtin (Unified Russia) said that corruption was so widespread that "some unscrupulous officials see their offices as a source of rent."
The same day, Interior Minister Rashid Nurgaliev said that corruption threatens Russia's national security. "Today the scale and degree of corruption impacts on various aspects of state and public life and not only threatens the country's internal security, but causes considerable damage to Russia's image abroad," he said. Nurgaliev added that in 2005, his ministry investigated 34,500 cases of corruption, a growth of 17 percent against the previous year. All in all 438,000 economic crimes were committed, 1,600 in the energy sector alone, the minister said.
Interior Ministry Criticized
But Nurgaliev and his ministry have recently come under fire. On 17 February, Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking at a meeting with senior police officers, criticized the 2-million strong ministry for corruption and the inability to stop rampant criminality.
Crime is soaring in Russia. According to Putin, in 2005, there were 1 million crimes registered in Russia, 50,000 of which were considered grave. Nurgaliev said the number was higher, with 3.5 million registered crimes. The statistics are also skewed by the practice of officials not officially registering many crimes.
Putin also said that public trust in the police is much lower than for other law-enforcement agencies, and state and public institutions. According to the president, people who turn to the police for help often face indifference, and sometimes have their rights directly violated by Interior Ministry officials.
Putin also accused the Interior Ministry of low levels of professionalism and called on it to root out corrupt police officers.
Economic Crimes
The Russian president said that the Interior Ministry must defend small- and medium-sized businesses and "law-abiding, loyal citizens, and entrepreneurs." In particular, he spoke of crimes in the corporate sector, for instance "greenmailing," the hostile take-over, dismemberment, and sale of an undervalued company. Putin warned that the police should not become involved in corporate conflicts, or take sides in disputes among economic entities.
Many Russia watchers have speculated that Putin's criticism of the Interior Ministry might lead to Nurgaliev's resignation. But that is unlikely to happen before the St. Petersburg G8 summit in June as the Interior Ministry is one of the key agencies responsible for the meeting's security.
The adoption of the UN corruption convention is likely to have little effect. The convention obliges signatories to make crimes such as bribery, embezzlement, and money laundering criminal offenses. Importantly, the convention also provides for the extradition of people accused of corruption, repatriation of funds from abroad that were obtained illegally, and the confiscation of assets linked with corruption.
It is expected that confiscation of corruption-linked assets and the return of criminal capital from abroad will be the first measures to be enshrined in Russian legislation. However, according to organized- crime experts, it will take many years before international anticorruption norms are adopted in Russia -- even if there is the political will to do so.
Re: How to enforce democracy in Russia?
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| Originally posted by Magnetonium [COLOR=FF7F50] should enforce the Constitution in full, which some officials still don't. When Soviet Union was going down, the West promised to help Russia rebuild and change, financially and economically. That never materialized. |
Re: Re: How to enforce democracy in Russia?
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| Originally posted by LazFX So here we go, BLAME AMERICA! WTF man?? Russia is a welfare country. Need lil evil America to fix it? This frnkly is getting old. is Russia filled with a bunch of school children that need directions on how to wipe its own ass after taking a shite?? Once I read that....... the rest of your post means nada. |
Re: Re: Re: How to enforce democracy in Russia?
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| Originally posted by Magnetonium Well, then, dont whine about your so-called lack of democracy in Russia, because they cant do it overnight. How many generations did it take for the West to evolve their democratic vision? Well, dont expect Russia ON ITS OWN to develop a perfectly functional, equal to West democracy. My point is, if you dont help Russia, there's no point in complaining. |
Re: Re: Re: Re: How to enforce democracy in Russia?
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| Originally posted by LazFX What I expect of Russia is nothing. What are ya a bunch of kids??? Need a diaper for all of the shite that comes out of your collective brains?? Seriously man, its not you are Iraq or Iran or some country that is ran by some Religious idiots, you are RUSSIA!! A great land, a great people and one hell of a kick ass history! Damn it man, are you wanting handouts or what?? |
Having both "Enforcing" and "democracy" in the same sentence reminds me of Brazil, where voting is compulsory 
hmm,
My knowledge on the topic is a couple of years out of date, but the last time I looked at the issue it appeared that Putin was doing everything he could to strengthen Russian democracy.
Specifically I recall that Russia had an issue with too many parties vying to represent the different parts of the political spectrum, so that a vote for say the 'left' was too fractured to receive critical mass (enough votes to become elected)
In order to force mergers on the left (i.e. create an opposition with legitimate strength) I recall that Putin kept upping the min. % that a party needed in order to be relevant (something along those lines).
Something like that... 
Well Russian's want Americans things or Western things. They are in large demand. If you thought Americans were superficial go to Russia and look just how superficial they are. Americans wear Abercrombie and have sufficient money to afford the clothing, Russians wear versaci and don't have money to afford the clothing. Its why so many women and girls are escorts. Its the only way they can make a decent amount of money.
Oh, and this democracy in Russia won't last. Because Russians are too use to having power in the hands of one person plus there are many Russians who are fascists. Last I heard ten percent are "active" in fascists organizations. And I heard 60% agree with what these groups goals are: you know Russia for Russians.
Re: How to enforce democracy in Russia?
| quote: |
| Originally posted by Magnetonium By the way, most Russian mafia are former Soviet military and intelligence officers, mercenaries, who lost their jobs with the fall of communism and decided to shift to illegal business to fund themselves. |
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| Originally posted by metalgearsolid Well Russian's want Americans things or Western things. They are in large demand. If you thought Americans were superficial go to Russia and look just how superficial they are. Americans wear Abercrombie and have sufficient money to afford the clothing, Russians wear versaci and don't have money to afford the clothing. Its why so many women and girls are escorts. Its the only way they can make a decent amount of money. Oh, and this democracy in Russia won't last. Because Russians are too use to having power in the hands of one person plus there are many Russians who are fascists. Last I heard ten percent are "active" in fascists organizations. And I heard 60% agree with what these groups goals are: you know Russia for Russians. |
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| Originally posted by star-traveller You very miserable with the posts like here. What are you trying to achieve with that lie? Convince a bunch of people who are unaware of the current situation in Russia that all that bullshit you wrote is true? Man, sometimes I think you had a really bad experience in Russia (If what you said last time is true, and you've actualy been there). Maybe some Russians even beat a hell out of you. If that was true, I'm glad that you got that. |
| quote: |
| Originally posted by Lira Having both "Enforcing" and "democracy" in the same sentence reminds me of Brazil, where voting is compulsory |
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| Originally posted by LazFX Now that is surely the Pot calling the kettle black. ^^ |
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| Originally posted by star-traveller Sometimes I feel good that there is a language barrier between you and me, so I can't understand a thing in what you saying. |
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| Originally posted by LazFX Ignorance is so Blissful, ain't it?? |
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| Originally posted by star-traveller Sometimes I feel good that there is a language barrier between you and me, so I can't understand a thing in what you saying. |
| quote: |
| Originally posted by star-traveller Yes. But only towards you. |
So basically, despite all the despisement of Russia on this forum, these "haters" are at a loss as to describe how they think democracy in Russia is attainable to world standards without the use of force. It's easy to criticize a country, eh? ... but hard to make a suggestion!
Some of us arent that arrogant or to be that presumptous to tell someone else how to run their own country as they see fit...
edit- sure we can be critical and make suggestions but for the most part outside help is rarely wanted and criticism never taken well, that and the world has enough idealistic fools running around with no sense of reality.
| quote: |
| Originally posted by Lilith Some of us arent that arrogant or to be that presumptous to tell someone else how to run their own country as they see fit... edit- sure we can be critical and make suggestions but for the most part outside help is rarely wanted and criticism never taken well, that and the world has enough idealistic fools running around with no sense of reality. |
Or are we going to sidetrack?
It's easy to criticize a country, for its problems, development, bla bla. Lets see if you run that country and how much you can achieve ;-) Easier said than done. Being a President of a country like Russia is a lot of work. And things cant get better overnight. Though they've already become better in the last 4 years under Putin. He accomplished more in the last 4 years than Yeltsin did in his whole 9.
No, I'm going to tell you right now that democracy is a complete crock, its an ideal made up by philosphers and supported by politicians who hand it down to the peons so they think theyre being supported and get a say in the matters of their lives.
When you fall out of whatever higher education system youre probably running around like some kind of cloistered and probably fairly intelligent person you are.
You'll get a job and work your arse off to make ends meet.
You'll get a loan to buy a house so you'll have somewhere to live.
You'll probably end up with kids and a partner of some sort and you can come back here and tell me 'how the world works' and where 'democracy' plays a huge part in it all.
Heres a hint
It doesnt.
The world spins on one thing only, the dollar
And in that world of idealistic, equality, a fair say, fair go, you'll realise that there is no day to day democracy.
You'll work for a tyrant, you'll rarely get a say on how the business runs and you'll be expected to do it without question... at the end of the day capitalism is your value and worth to the world.
How much you make
How much you spend
Will determine exactly how much say in how the world works.
Those with the money, make the world spin, you dont have money, you dont get a say.
| quote: |
| Originally posted by Lilith Its compulsory in lots of countries |
| quote: |
| Originally posted by Lilith No, I'm going to tell you right now that democracy is a complete crock, its an ideal made up by philosphers and supported by politicians who hand it down to the peons so they think theyre being supported and get a say in the matters of their lives. When you fall out of whatever higher education system youre probably running around like some kind of cloistered and probably fairly intelligent person you are. You'll get a job and work your arse off to make ends meet. You'll get a loan to buy a house so you'll have somewhere to live. You'll probably end up with kids and a partner of some sort and you can come back here and tell me 'how the world works' and where 'democracy' plays a huge part in it all. Heres a hint It doesnt. The world spins on one thing only, the dollar And in that world of idealistic, equality, a fair say, fair go, you'll realise that there is no day to day democracy. You'll work for a tyrant, you'll rarely get a say on how the business runs and you'll be expected to do it without question... at the end of the day capitalism is your value and worth to the world. How much you make How much you spend Will determine exactly how much say in how the world works. Those with the money, make the world spin, you dont have money, you dont get a say. |
You can believe in Santa Claus if it helps you sleep better at night, but the essential fact is.
Those people in power have the money, quite a lot of money and they will only be swayed by more money so, anything I really say isn't going to sway their opinions or your own. In day to day life, my capital wealth makes the sum of my opinions rather than the vote I throw in the polling box every 4 years.
And I know full well, those at the bottom of the economic ladder have the least say in how to effect any kind of change in their social and national environment. Being that the average Russian is comparatively poor, I dont see things changing in Russia for their betterment anytime soon.
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