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Chris Helmbrecht Premium Member Group moderator Ambassador
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Russia's Poor People
When I was a kid, I grew up in a little town in South Germany. We had two ”projects” where the poor people lived. Mostly long term unemployed, living from social security and other government aid. Among them many foreigners from Rumania, Belarus and Poland. They had German roots (family) in the past and were allowed to immigrate to Germany, but their dream of living wealthy in our social democracy was smashed fast.

Of course some made it with hard work and government help. They were able to build houses in the little villages surrounding my hometown and the German neighbors watched them in jealousy. An integration has never happened one way or the other and many of the immigrants still live in the projects being poor.

What does it mean to be poor? Having been poor a few times (only for months) in my life I know pretty well what it means. Of course I had a family to back me up. Not with money, but a place I could return to for food and shelter. I just suffered, because I have been too proud to go back home with the tail between my legs. Being poor in Germany isn’t really being poor. You have access to healthcare, free or supported housing, food stamps, a monthly minimum wage and many other amendments.

Being poor in New York is different. Being poor in such a rich city, where the decadence is just around you all over the place. At the beginning it just hurts, that you can’t consume like the others. Than after a while your stomach starts to bother you, because the 2 hot dog “recession menu” or a slice of pizza a day are not enough to live from. Five dollars don’t buy you a lot in Manhattan. It gets you a bottle of water, a slice of pizza, 2 hot dogs or 2 simple burgers at McD and a soup at night. Maybe a cup of coffee, when you find some change in your pockets.

I have been poor a few times when I started off in New York. It wasn’t easy being illegal and getting work. I have lived like this for months, crashing on the couches of people I just met that liked me. There were also problems with medical help. You can’t go to a doctor or dentist, if you don’t have money. It’s a constant fear, when you get a flue or you twisted some ankle, that it won’t go away and you need to go to a hospital. As an American you are covered half way by some social laws, but as an illegal you have no rights. You are welcomed as long as you have money. If not you shouldn’t be there. That’s the clear message of the system.

Today I feel fine. I appreciate my expensive healthcare plan and good dinners, but I still get upset if a restaurant owner rips me off with some fifty dollar meal, that didn’t even taste good. Probably I learned about the real value of money. And … nowadays I live in Moscow. It’s a similar decadency as in New York, but people even show off more. Against all news articles I read, I was surprised to find a large middle class. Many of them belong to the upper middle class and they are called “New Russians”. They think of themselves of being rich, but in my point of view, they are only upper middle class. Of course in a country where 90% of the people make a monthly salary below $200 you can call yourself rich, if you make more than 2000.

Yes, a salary below $200/month. That is $6.66 a day, if you don’t pay rent, phone, health insurance, electricity, heat, and other amendments. If you go outside of Moscow it gets worse. You don’t have to drive far, a hundred kilometers maybe and you are in the middle of nowhere. You were driving through the woods for two hours. Here and there you passed a village. People were sitting on the sides of the streets offering their farming goods or handcrafted stuff. There are no jobs out here and you are only left with helping yourself. People grow vegetables, hold rabbits and chickens to have at least some food.

Micha, my girlfriends uncle, just had an accident out there, on his way to some dacha (a weekend house). He got off the road and his car flipped a few times. Drivers in Russia don’t wear seatbelts because it’s uncomfortable and not cool, so he got hurt badly. Yes, a Russian driver even finds it an offence to his driving skills, if you wear your seatbelt on the co-driver seat. The people who found Micha were very nice. They even came to the hospital to visit him and brought him food. It’s one of the positives things about poverty that people get closer with each other. What else do they have, than themselves and their local community. The cops out there, we have talked to, had a monthly salary of 4000 Rubels, which is about $120. They didn’t have gas for their police cars and their radios only had reception (if they worked) in a 5 kilometer circle around the station, but their territory was 10 times larger. The only jobs they have out there is either being a policeman or joining the local criminals. This huge country Russia is 99% rural areas like what i descrinbed above and much worse, and only 1 % cities. About 10% of the population (150 million) lives in Moscow.

Back to Moscow. Many of these people and mostly the young come into the big cities to get their share of the cake. It reminds you of history class and industrialization of the 19th century in Europe, doesn't it? The cities are growing vastly, while the villages in the regions are left for the elderly and weak. Moscow by now has 15 million registered citizens, but there are much more illegal people and these are not only from Kazachstan or other neighboring former Soviet republics. Many of the illegal are people from all over Russia. Even Russians need a registration and permission to stay in Moscow, otherwise the city would be overcrowded, but the police is not able to control the stream of new people coming into the city each day.

All of them follow the same dream of capitalism, looking for a better life. Most stay poor and can hardly manage to survive on a daily basis with jobs on construction sites or cleaning the places and cars of the wealthy. Some live in empty train wagons, some sleep in our hallway. Some even in selfmade shacks in the city parks. At the end of this, I didn’t even talk about the seniors who get a pension of $30/month. Unless they have family who supports them, they need to continue to do some work or stand in metro entrances begging for some change to make their daily living. It breaks my heart, when I see an old babushka (grandmother), that is totally worn out, sitting on a piece of cardboard, surrounded by little icons of the orthodox church, begging for some small amounts of change, while its snowy weather and far below zero. Or sometimes I see soldiers with no legs hopping on their hands through the metro, asking for some food or money. After they have done their (mandatory) duty in Chechnya or elsewhere, they are left with nothing. The system doesn’t care about them. The Russia they fought for leaves them alone now. Help yourself or get nothing.

Russia is known to be a country of suffering for centuries and it seems Russians got used to it. But the youth is infected with MTV, Bravo and the new ideas of comfort, consume and capitalism. They will fight for it one way or the other. Meanwhile on the top, an elite circle of oligarchs is gaining more and more money. In parallel there is a political elite that also wants its share of the wealth and fill their pockets with cash, while the base is getting poorer and poorer. The youth is fighting to make it into the middle class in legal or illegal ways. The old and weak are left behind with no one to care about them. It’s a sad situation and I wonder what happens, when the people finally wake up and realize that the dream is a dream and only a very small group will manage the jump into a higher class, while the others will loose.

How long will it take for people to understand that Russia itself is not poor, but wealthy from oil, gas and other resources? Its citizens are kept poor on purpose for the benefit of some elite. How long will it take until another revolt? Another movement like the French or the red revolution that brought us democracy and communism?

I think it was Hemmingway who once said, a revolution only happens, if the people have nothing to loose, but their lives. Russia is not far from that point. I don’t want to be here when it happens, because it will be a bloody one. The elite should share the wealth or be prepared for a fierce fight that cannot be won. History has shown it. We should learn out of that, but my wealthy Russian friends think they are secure. They think the low class people will continue to suffer. They think they are safe and it’s enough to have an armed door man, a driver and maybe a few body guards. They live on a secured island, the center of Moscow. What matters tomorrow? We live today, many Russians think. Well, time will tell.
- 19 Feb 2005, 11:15 am
Chris Helmbrecht wrote: > When I was a kid, I grew up in a little town in South Germany. We had > two ”projects” where the poor people lived. Mostly long term > unemployed, living from social security and other government aid. > Among them many foreigners from Rumania, Belarus and Poland. They had > German roots (family) in the past and were allowed to immigrate to > Germany, but their dream of living wealthy in our social democracy > was smashed fast. > > Of course some made it with hard work and government help. They were > able to build houses in the little villages surrounding my hometown > and the German neighbors watched them in jealousy. An integration has > never happened one way or the other and many of the immigrants still > live in the projects being poor. > > What does it mean to be poor? Having been poor a few times (only for > months) in my life I know pretty well what it means. Of course I had > a family to back me up. Not with money, but a place I could return to > for food and shelter. I just suffered, because I have been too proud > to go back home with the tail between my legs. Being poor in Germany > isn’t really being poor. You have access to healthcare, free or > supported housing, food stamps, a monthly minimum wage and many other > amendments. > > Being poor in New York is different. Being poor in such a rich city, > where the decadence is just around you all over the place. At the > beginning it just hurts, that you can’t consume like the others. Than > after a while your stomach starts to bother you, because the 2 hot > dog “recession menu” or a slice of pizza a day are not enough to live > from. Five dollars don’t buy you a lot in Manhattan. It gets you a > bottle of water, a slice of pizza, 2 hot dogs or 2 simple burgers at > McD and a soup at night. Maybe a cup of coffee, when you find some > change in your pockets. > > I have been poor a few times when I started off in New York. It > wasn’t easy being illegal and getting work. I have lived like this > for months, crashing on the couches of people I just met that liked > me. There were also problems with medical help. You can’t go to a > doctor or dentist, if you don’t have money. It’s a constant fear, > when you get a flue or you twisted some ankle, that it won’t go away > and you need to go to a hospital. As an American you are covered half > way by some social laws, but as an illegal you have no rights. You > are welcomed as long as you have money. If not you shouldn’t be > there. That’s the clear message of the system. > > Today I feel fine. I appreciate my expensive healthcare plan and good > dinners, but I still get upset if a restaurant owner rips me off with > some fifty dollar meal, that didn’t even taste good. Probably I > learned about the real value of money. And … nowadays I live in > Moscow. It’s a similar decadency as in New York, but people even show > off more. Against all news articles I read, I was surprised to find a > large middle class. Many of them belong to the upper middle class and > they are called “New Russians”. They think of themselves of being > rich, but in my point of view, they are only upper middle class. Of > course in a country where 90% of the people make a monthly salary > below $200 you can call yourself rich, if you make more than 2000. > > Yes, a salary below $200/month. That is $6.66 a day, if you don’t pay > rent, phone, health insurance, electricity, heat, and other > amendments. If you go outside of Moscow it gets worse. You don’t have > to drive far, a hundred kilometers maybe and you are in the middle of > nowhere. You were driving through the woods for two hours. Here and > there you passed a village. People were sitting on the sides of the > streets offering their farming goods or handcrafted stuff. There are > no jobs out here and you are only left with helping yourself. People > grow vegetables, hold rabbits and chickens to have at least some > food. > > Micha, my girlfriends uncle, just had an accident out there, on his > way to some dacha (a weekend house). He got off the road and his car > flipped a few times. Drivers in Russia don’t wear seatbelts because > it’s uncomfortable and not cool, so he got hurt badly. Yes, a Russian > driver even finds it an offence to his driving skills, if you wear > your seatbelt on the co-driver seat. The people who found Micha were > very nice. They even came to the hospital to visit him and brought > him food. It’s one of the positives things about poverty that people > get closer with each other. What else do they have, than themselves > and their local community. The cops out there, we have talked to, had > a monthly salary of 4000 Rubels, which is about $120. They didn’t > have gas for their police cars and their radios only had reception > (if they worked) in a 5 kilometer circle around the station, but > their territory was 10 times larger. The only jobs they have out > there is either being a policeman or joining the local criminals. > This huge country Russia is 99% rural areas like what i descrinbed > above and much worse, and only 1 % cities. About 10% of the > population (150 million) lives in Moscow. > > Back to Moscow. Many of these people and mostly the young come into > the big cities to get their share of the cake. It reminds you of > history class and industrialization of the 19th century in Europe, > doesn't it? The cities are growing vastly, while the villages in the > regions are left for the elderly and weak. Moscow by now has 15 > million registered citizens, but there are much more illegal people > and these are not only from Kazachstan or other neighboring former > Soviet republics. Many of the illegal are people from all over > Russia. Even Russians need a registration and permission to stay in > Moscow, otherwise the city would be overcrowded, but the police is > not able to control the stream of new people coming into the city > each day. > > All of them follow the same dream of capitalism, looking for a better > life. Most stay poor and can hardly manage to survive on a daily > basis with jobs on construction sites or cleaning the places and cars > of the wealthy. Some live in empty train wagons, some sleep in our > hallway. Some even in selfmade shacks in the city parks. At the end > of this, I didn’t even talk about the seniors who get a pension of > $30/month. Unless they have family who supports them, they need to > continue to do some work or stand in metro entrances begging for some > change to make their daily living. It breaks my heart, when I see an > old babushka (grandmother), that is totally worn out, sitting on a > piece of cardboard, surrounded by little icons of the orthodox > church, begging for some small amounts of change, while its snowy > weather and far below zero. Or sometimes I see soldiers with no legs > hopping on their hands through the metro, asking for some food or > money. After they have done their (mandatory) duty in Chechnya or > elsewhere, they are left with nothing. The system doesn’t care about > them. The Russia they fought for leaves them alone now. Help > yourself or get nothing. > > Russia is known to be a country of suffering for centuries and it > seems Russians got used to it. But the youth is infected with MTV, > Bravo and the new ideas of comfort, consume and capitalism. They > will fight for it one way or the other. Meanwhile on the top, an > elite circle of oligarchs is gaining more and more money. In parallel > there is a political elite that also wants its share of the wealth > and fill their pockets with cash, while the base is getting poorer > and poorer. The youth is fighting to make it into the middle class in > legal or illegal ways. The old and weak are left behind with no one > to care about them. It’s a sad situation and I wonder what happens, > when the people finally wake up and realize that the dream is a dream > and only a very small group will manage the jump into a higher class, > while the others will loose. > > How long will it take for people to understand that Russia itself is > not poor, but wealthy from oil, gas and other resources? Its citizens > are kept poor on purpose for the benefit of some elite. How long will > it take until another revolt? Another movement like the French or the > red revolution that brought us democracy and communism? > > I think it was Hemmingway who once said, a revolution only happens, > if the people have nothing to loose, but their lives. Russia is not > far from that point. I don’t want to be here when it happens, because > it will be a bloody one. The elite should share the wealth or be > prepared for a fierce fight that cannot be won. History has shown it. > We should learn out of that, but my wealthy Russian friends think > they are secure. They think the low class people will continue to > suffer. They think they are safe and it’s enough to have an armed > door man, a driver and maybe a few body guards. They live on a > secured island, the center of Moscow. What matters tomorrow? We live > today, many Russians think. Well, time will tell.
Michael Oreshin
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Re: Russia's Poor People
Good Day, Chris.
Very intresting read opinion about "our life"...
But your tell actual state of affairs about 1994-1996, not 2005... “New Russians” ? :))) Sorry, it's 95-98 year...
>The cops out there, we have talked to, had
a monthly salary of 4000 Rubels, which is about $120. They didn’t have gas for their police cars and their radios only had reception (if they worked) in a 5 kilometer circle around the station, but their territory was 10 times larger. Chris, "dacha" locate in Moscow district (near Moscow)? And police haven't gas for cars ????!!!! :)))))) May be "Micha" simple "weep", and you beleve him ? :)))

Chris, i think article is very obscure :-/

Micahel
- 19 Feb 2005, 11:45 am
Michael Oreshin wrote: > Good Day, Chris. > Very intresting read opinion about "our life"... > But your tell actual state of affairs about 1994-1996, not 2005... > “New Russians” ? :))) Sorry, it's 95-98 year... > >The cops out there, we have talked to, had > > a monthly salary of 4000 Rubels, which is about $120. They didn’t > > have gas for their police cars and their radios only had reception > > (if they worked) in a 5 kilometer circle around the station, but > > their territory was 10 times larger. > Chris, "dacha" locate in Moscow district (near Moscow)? And police > haven't gas for cars ????!!!! :)))))) May be "Micha" simple "weep", > and you beleve him ? :))) > > Chris, i think article is very obscure :-/ > > Micahel
Chris Helmbrecht Premium Member Group moderator Ambassador
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Re^2: Russia's Poor People
Chris, "dacha" locate in Moscow district (near Moscow)? And police haven't gas for cars ????!!!! :)))))) May be "Micha" simple "weep", and you beleve him ? :)))
Datcha is 300km in the North West, where some (Ex) Yukos Managers have their second dachas near a lake for fishing.

Chris, i think article is very obscure :-/
No problem. All I write is my personal opinion and my observation and you are free to voice yours.

In a discussion an argument is usually not just dismissed but you bring your own argumentation. I don't see that in your post. So, how does it look from your opinion?

I don't doubt many things have changed for the better since the Jelzin era and there is a growing middle class in some cities (mostly SBP and Moscow), but how is life in general? Do you see what is going on in your country? Do you make an effort to really look?
- 19 Feb 2005, 12:20 pm
Chris Helmbrecht wrote: > > Chris, "dacha" locate in Moscow district (near Moscow)? And police > > haven't gas for cars ????!!!! :)))))) May be "Micha" simple "weep", > > and you beleve him ? :))) > > Datcha is 300km in the North West, where some (Ex) Yukos Managers > have their second dachas near a lake for fishing. > > > Chris, i think article is very obscure :-/ > > No problem. All I write is my personal opinion and my observation and > you are free to voice yours. > > In a discussion an argument is usually not just dismissed but you > bring your own argumentation. I don't see that in your post. So, how > does it look from your opinion? > > I don't doubt many things have changed for the better since the > Jelzin era and there is a growing middle class in some cities (mostly > SBP and Moscow), but how is life in general? Do you see what is going > on in your country? Do you make an effort to really look?
Michael Oreshin
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Re^3: Russia's Poor People
I don't about Yukos Manger, but this place call "Seliger"...

Sorry, Chris, i am really don't bring any arguments, - my trouble that call "language barrier" :((((...

But middle class growing not only in MSK and SPB.. Of Course in some region (for example Penza), very hard situation... But some region (Volgorad for exmaple) show good growth last 2 years...

Do you make an effort to really look? So many pathos in this phrase.. Ofcourse, so much problem, that we should solve... But knowing problem, is half of solution... isn't that so ?
Michael
This post was modified on 19 Feb 2005 at 03:55 pm.
- 19 Feb 2005, 12:57 pm
Michael Oreshin wrote: > I don't about Yukos Manger, but this place call "Seliger"... > > Sorry, Chris, i am really don't bring any arguments, - my trouble > that call "language barrier" :((((... > > But middle class growing not only in MSK and SPB.. Of Course in some > region (for example Penza), very hard situation... But some region > (Volgorad for exmaple) show good growth last 2 years... > > > Do you make an effort to really look? > So many pathos in this phrase.. Ofcourse, so much problem, that we > should solve... But knowing problem, is half of solution... isn't > that so ? > Michael
Chris Helmbrecht Premium Member Group moderator Ambassador
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Re^4: Russia's Poor People
But middle class growing not only in MSK and SPB.. Of Course in some region (for example Penza), very hard situation... But some region (Volgorad for exmaple) show good growth last 2 years...
No doubt its growing in the cities (that's what I said), but if you go outside of the cities people are still poor. I don't have any statistics but from what I hear from people I meet the avarage income in the subburbs (even in MSK) and outside is between $100-300/month and less.

Do you make an effort to really look?
So many pathos in this phrase.. Ofcourse, so much problem, that we should solve... But knowing problem, is half of solution... isn't that so ?
I didn't want to offend you, but too many people here (in Moscow) don't look. The babushka asking for some change or the soldier in the subway are "crazy people" and are ignored, sometimes even feared. I am just a guest in your country, but I walk around with open eyes and talk to all kinds of people, because I am interested in their lives. I do that anywhere I go in the world

Again, no doubt its getting better. Is it far from 95-98? I don't know. Can't compare. I just came here the first time in 2003.

By the way, with my story I didn't want to make Russia look bad. I just wanted to draw a picture as I see it these days. It may not be the same you see. That is depending on where you look and how you interpret things.

I wish Russia is getting better. It gets its problems under control and I see Putin is on the right way. Hopefully he will set the course for his successor. There are lots of opportunities between Europe and Russia in a long term. But there is a lot of work ahead and its not being done with a selfish "I only care about myself today. Don't know what happens tomorrow" attitude. That may not be yours, but its widely spread, especially in the elite.

One more thing. I don't want to come across as the arrogant European. Just analyzing the situation. I left my country, because I don't agree with many things that happen there and I have no confidence in its leadership. I'm just an open minded person traveling the world with open eyes and maybe you can help me to understand even better.
- 19 Feb 2005, 4:25 pm
Chris Helmbrecht wrote: > > But middle class growing not only in MSK and SPB.. Of Course in some > > region (for example Penza), very hard situation... But some region > > (Volgorad for exmaple) show good growth last 2 years... > > No doubt its growing in the cities (that's what I said), but if you > go outside of the cities people are still poor. I don't have any > statistics but from what I hear from people I meet the avarage income > in the subburbs (even in MSK) and outside is between $100-300/month > and less. > > > > Do you make an effort to really look? > > So many pathos in this phrase.. Ofcourse, so much problem, that we > > should solve... But knowing problem, is half of solution... isn't > > that so ? > > I didn't want to offend you, but too many people here (in Moscow) > don't look. The babushka asking for some change or the soldier in the > subway are "crazy people" and are ignored, sometimes even feared. I > am just a guest in your country, but I walk around with open eyes and > talk to all kinds of people, because I am interested in their lives. > I do that anywhere I go in the world > > Again, no doubt its getting better. Is it far from 95-98? I don't > know. Can't compare. I just came here the first time in 2003. > > By the way, with my story I didn't want to make Russia look bad. I > just wanted to draw a picture as I see it these days. It may not be > the same you see. That is depending on where you look and how you > interpret things. > > I wish Russia is getting better. It gets its problems under control > and I see Putin is on the right way. Hopefully he will set the course > for his successor. There are lots of opportunities between Europe and > Russia in a long term. But there is a lot of work ahead and its not > being done with a selfish "I only care about myself today. Don't know > what happens tomorrow" attitude. That may not be yours, but its > widely spread, especially in the elite. > > One more thing. I don't want to come across as the arrogant European. > Just analyzing the situation. I left my country, because I don't > agree with many things that happen there and I have no confidence in > its leadership. I'm just an open minded person traveling the world > with open eyes and maybe you can help me to understand even better.
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Re: Russia's Poor People
Chris,
great posting! ...I almost wrote "article." I think it'd be great if you could publish that. There is no sarcasm in my words.

Not to argue with your points but rather trying to take your thinking further, I would like to share my view on "revolutionary situation" ("революционная ситуация"). My main thesis is that there is no revolutionary situation in Russia.

While I would agree that a revolution is more likely to happen "if the people have nothing to loose, but their lives", I believe that it is not enough. A life is still a lot to loose.

In history lessons at school, I was usually bored and I never though I would quote Lenin in my life. I was wrong though. I have to share Lenin's view that there are three co-related "characteristics of a revolutionary situation": 1. Elite cannot keep its reign by old means 2. Escalation, above usual, of distress and misery of poor. 3. Volatile environment (e.g. war, economic crisis, etc.)

I think that #2 is the most important condition that is missing for Russia to have a revolutionary situation. The development of misery level seems to be crucial in dynamics of population's sentiment towards government. Revolution is not likely to happen in an improving environment. And I think that now Russian people's life is becoming better rather than worse. (Sure, it is an improvement from worse to bad but still.)

So, I'd say, no chance for a new Russian revolution in the near future. The question remains though, what will happen when the economics situation in Russia starts deteriorating (which I think is likely to happen if there is a sharp decline in raw material prices) and "the reserve fund" is depleted? Will it be enough to create such a situation? I don't know. I guess that will depend on the extent to which main population is affected.

And in conclusion, although many people think that a new revolution will make the wealth distribution in Russia fairer, I would argue with that. History, especially of African countries, of British/French colonies as well as of Russia, shows that the likely course of events is: 1) elite gets poor/dead/exiled; 2) value creation in the country is destroyed and overall level of life will become still worse; 3) economy recovers, new elite arises.
This post was modified on 02 Jan 2006 at 09:52 pm.
- 02 Jan 2006, 04:56 am
--- wrote: > Chris, > great posting! ...I almost wrote "article." I think it'd be great if > you could publish that. There is no sarcasm in my words. > > Not to argue with your points but rather trying to take your thinking > further, I would like to share my view on "revolutionary situation" > ("революционная ситуация"). My main thesis is that there is no > revolutionary situation in Russia. > > While I would agree that a revolution is more likely to happen "if > the people have nothing to loose, but their lives", I believe that it > is not enough. A life is still a lot to loose. > > In history lessons at school, I was usually bored and I never though > I would quote Lenin in my life. I was wrong though. I have to share > Lenin's view that there are three co-related "characteristics of a > revolutionary situation": 1. Elite cannot keep its reign by old means > 2. Escalation, above usual, of distress and misery of poor. 3. > Volatile environment (e.g. war, economic crisis, etc.) > > I think that #2 is the most important condition that is missing for > Russia to have a revolutionary situation. The development of misery > level seems to be crucial in dynamics of population's sentiment > towards government. Revolution is not likely to happen in an > improving environment. And I think that now Russian people's life is > becoming better rather than worse. (Sure, it is an improvement from > worse to bad but still.) > > So, I'd say, no chance for a new Russian revolution in the near > future. The question remains though, what will happen when the > economics situation in Russia starts deteriorating (which I think is > likely to happen if there is a sharp decline in raw material prices) > and "the reserve fund" is depleted? Will it be enough to create such > a situation? I don't know. I guess that will depend on the extent to > which main population is affected. > > And in conclusion, although many people think that a new revolution > will make the wealth distribution in Russia fairer, I would argue > with that. History, especially of African countries, of > British/French colonies as well as of Russia, shows that the likely > course of events is: 1) elite gets poor/dead/exiled; 2) value > creation in the country is destroyed and overall level of life will > become still worse; 3) economy recovers, new elite arises.
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Chris Helmbrecht Premium Member Group moderator Ambassador
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Re^3: Russia's Poor People
Hm, I guess the use of the word revolution was a bit to dramatized, but what I wanted to say is that the gap between rich and poor is getting larger and that may mean troubles. Oh yes, life improves in some parts of Russia, but in others it stands still, yes even in Moscow you can see that gap on a daily basis, especially in winter. You just have to open your eyes.

Indeed there is a beggars mafia, but I refuse to accept that everybody who is begging is part of that mafia. I think I have to take an educated guess each time I give money and yes, I do give money to homeless, crazy and disabled, babushkas and legless military men. Its not my country, but I just feel bad, spending $150 for a night out partying with friends or buying Christmas presents for a lot of money and on the other hand I see this Babushka sitting on her knees in the cold near the metro entrance. Its just too easy to stamp all of these beggars as being part of the beggars mafia and refuse to give anything or share our wealth. Of course that is convenient for our consciousness.

Russia is on its way up economically, but in a very unstable environment. It seems to me the majority of the people are unhappy about their situation and they see the wealth of the others and their own struggles. Of course the media is not showing this, you'd need to walk around with open eyes and leave the bubble you are living in, especially in Moscow.

I am sure, foreign institutions are infiltrating Russian opposition groups, like they do in Belarus or did in Georgia and Ukraine. They will finance them and use them for a regime change. FSB and other organizations may not look at that peacefully. You also have a group of Oligarchs, which (apart from some exceptions) follow the ancient Chinese Art of War, which says, until you are strong enough to beat your opponent of his throne, you should be quiet and please him. Last, I see a vast increase of nationalism, ah sorry ... wanted to say patriotism, which as history has shown on various occasions, can be used by some extremist groups and is highly dangerous.

That all adds to the unstable environment and can bring troubles for Russia in the near future. I think a partnership or joining the EU would bring some social reforms and some regulations of the fierce capitalism, but of course not too many people have an interest in that and I doubt its going to happen. So these reforms and regulations have to come from the inside, but at the moment I don’t see any improvements in that area.

Please don’t take this as an offence. I can see many patriotic Russian readers shouting out loud after this article. One or the other may also think I am an arrogant Westerner who wants to put down Russia and educate the Russian people. Neither of them is on my mind. I just wanted to give my personal opinion. My views as a foreigner living here. Indeed, I am a very social person and I lack knowledge of Russian culture and history in some areas. That’s one of the reasons why I came here, because I want to learn and I am curious about Russia. Unlike others (who were sent here by their companies), I came by myself on free will. I left a beautiful apartment and (a bit boring) life in Tenerife Spain (25 C) and came to a rainy Moscow in October 2003, because of my curiosity.
This post was modified on 03 Jan 2006 at 01:52 pm.
- 03 Jan 2006, 1:47 pm
Chris Helmbrecht wrote: > Hm, I guess the use of the word revolution was a bit to dramatized, > but what I wanted to say is that the gap between rich and poor is > getting larger and that may mean troubles. Oh yes, life improves in > some parts of Russia, but in others it stands still, yes even in > Moscow you can see that gap on a daily basis, especially in winter. > You just have to open your eyes. > > Indeed there is a beggars mafia, but I refuse to accept that > everybody who is begging is part of that mafia. I think I have to > take an educated guess each time I give money and yes, I do give > money to homeless, crazy and disabled, babushkas and legless military > men. Its not my country, but I just feel bad, spending $150 for a > night out partying with friends or buying Christmas presents for a > lot of money and on the other hand I see this Babushka sitting on her > knees in the cold near the metro entrance. Its just too easy to stamp > all of these beggars as being part of the beggars mafia and refuse to > give anything or share our wealth. Of course that is convenient for > our consciousness. > > Russia is on its way up economically, but in a very unstable > environment. It seems to me the majority of the people are unhappy > about their situation and they see the wealth of the others and their > own struggles. Of course the media is not showing this, you'd need to > walk around with open eyes and leave the bubble you are living in, > especially in Moscow. > > I am sure, foreign institutions are infiltrating Russian opposition > groups, like they do in Belarus or did in Georgia and Ukraine. They > will finance them and use them for a regime change. FSB and other > organizations may not look at that peacefully. You also have a group > of Oligarchs, which (apart from some exceptions) follow the ancient > Chinese Art of War, which says, until you are strong enough to beat > your opponent of his throne, you should be quiet and please him. > Last, I see a vast increase of nationalism, ah sorry ... wanted to > say patriotism, which as history has shown on various occasions, can > be used by some extremist groups and is highly dangerous. > > That all adds to the unstable environment and can bring troubles for > Russia in the near future. I think a partnership or joining the EU > would bring some social reforms and some regulations of the fierce > capitalism, but of course not too many people have an interest in > that and I doubt its going to happen. So these reforms and > regulations have to come from the inside, but at the moment I don’t > see any improvements in that area. > > Please don’t take this as an offence. I can see many patriotic > Russian readers shouting out loud after this article. One or the > other may also think I am an arrogant Westerner who wants to put down > Russia and educate the Russian people. Neither of them is on my mind. > I just wanted to give my personal opinion. My views as a foreigner > living here. Indeed, I am a very social person and I lack knowledge > of Russian culture and history in some areas. That’s one of the > reasons why I came here, because I want to learn and I am curious > about Russia. Unlike others (who were sent here by their companies), > I came by myself on free will. I left a beautiful apartment and (a > bit boring) life in Tenerife Spain (25 C) and came to a rainy Moscow > in October 2003, because of my curiosity.

Moscow - Москва - Moskau / Russia

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