L. Todd Wood
2014-02-23 16:13:10 UTC
Look In The Mirror, America!
Listening to the media gleefully hype the numerous construction flaws
and rumors of corruption at the Sochi Olympics, I couldn't help thinking
that Americans in general have no clue about Russia. Since I spend a
lot of time in Moscow, I thought I would point out some of the
similarities and differences.
So let's talk about corruption. Yes, Russia has systemic governmental
corruption from the local to the national level; politicians up and down
the line have their hand in the pie. Yes, there were billions stolen in
Sochi. This corruption pushes up the cost of everything in Russia and
prevents her economy from modernizing. That is why Russia was recently
voted 92nd in ease of doing business by the World Bank.
However, these billions don't come close to the $800+ billion that was
wasted by the economic stimulus the Obama administration enacted in
2009. Most of the money went to pay back supporters and lined public
service union pockets--attempting to head off the rightsizing of state
governments that will eventually have to take place. What about the
auto bailouts where again billions were paid to unions and bond holders
were left holding the bag, preventing the rationalization of labor costs
that would have taken place in a normal bankruptcy process? How about
the Federal government using the IRS and other government agencies to
target the opposition? And come on, does anyone believe the case
against Dinesh D'Souza was brought as a result of a normal FBI review?
What about the $600+ million that was spent on the website for the
Affordable Care Act? There is a strong case to be made that corruption
in the United States siphons more money out of our economy than in
Russia. Luckily the American economy has been resilient enough to
overcome this hurdle.
Yes, Putin and other officials have palatial dachas in the countryside.
But I wonder if they were more expensive than all of the global
vacations the Obama's have taken? And yes, Putin has stifled the free
press in Russia; in America, the corrupt press does the bidding of the
Democratic Party. Which is worse?
Moving on to infrastructure, Russia has serious infrastructure
deficiencies, especially outside the major cities. However, if you ever
want to see a true, massive work of art, ride the Moscow metro. Every
station is a gleaming architectural masterpiece with marble, statues,
mosaics, and chandeliers. And, it's clean and well maintained and
safe. All one has to do is ride the New York subway once to see the
difference. Talk about third world! The tiling is falling off,
escalators often don't work, riders are accosted by the homeless and
panhandlers, the elevators stink of urine, etc. And I have to agree
with Joe Biden, LaGuardia is a third world disgrace. JFK and Newark are
second world. I wish Americans could see Sheremetyevo Airport in
Moscow, then they would understand. It's a gleaming metropolis of
modernity with a very nice Aeroexpress train to the capital city.
Let's take a look at culture. In Russia, most people speak several
languages. Education is valued. Kids are loaded down with work every
night in mathematics, literature, the sciences, history, etc. The
Russian historical appreciation of the arts is well documented. And I'm
not talking about a canvas smeared with feces, I'm talking about ballet,
classical music, and theater. I heard recently a young girl tell her
mother in Moscow, "Mom, there was a girl in my class today who hadn't
heard of Vivaldi. Can you imagine not knowing Vivaldi?" I think that
question speaks for itself. Just ask your child who Vivaldi was. In
contrast, the American education system is collapsing under a union
driven agenda of dumbing down our children and the promotion of
socialist values. It was recently reported that one fourth of Americans
don't know the Earth revolves around the Sun, case closed.
And speaking of airports, one notices another thing getting off the
plane in America. We are fat. We are not sturdy, or strong, or plus
-sized. We are fat. There is no obesity epidemic in Russia. People
spend time cooking with things like fresh vegetables and enjoy the taste
of things rather than filling themselves to the gills with processed
carbohydrates and sugars.
And last but not least, yes there is organized crime in Russia. It's a
problem. Like any country, there are places that are not safe. But
what you don't see are gangs of teenagers looking to knock out someone
of a different race. Instead of looking for who is committing crime in
America, the administration looks to remove the consequences of one's
actions by making it illegal for employers to conduct background checks
and campaigns for felons to be able to vote (to garner more Democratic
votes). I haven't even brought up our refusal to enforce immigration
law.
Don't get me wrong, I'm a patriot. I served my country. I'm proud of
her history and what she used to represent. But I'm not proud of what's
going on today. I don't recognize America. She is sinking into a moral
and cultural black hole of corruption. Russia is regaining her
rightful, historical place in the world that was sidetracked by the
communist revolution. America is spending her days thinking of ways to
pick your pocket--we'll cheat the other guy and pass the savings on to
you.
Russia is rising. Maybe we can give her a high five on our way down.
Instead of criticizing others, look in the mirror America.
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-02-22/look-mirror-america
Listening to the media gleefully hype the numerous construction flaws
and rumors of corruption at the Sochi Olympics, I couldn't help thinking
that Americans in general have no clue about Russia. Since I spend a
lot of time in Moscow, I thought I would point out some of the
similarities and differences.
So let's talk about corruption. Yes, Russia has systemic governmental
corruption from the local to the national level; politicians up and down
the line have their hand in the pie. Yes, there were billions stolen in
Sochi. This corruption pushes up the cost of everything in Russia and
prevents her economy from modernizing. That is why Russia was recently
voted 92nd in ease of doing business by the World Bank.
However, these billions don't come close to the $800+ billion that was
wasted by the economic stimulus the Obama administration enacted in
2009. Most of the money went to pay back supporters and lined public
service union pockets--attempting to head off the rightsizing of state
governments that will eventually have to take place. What about the
auto bailouts where again billions were paid to unions and bond holders
were left holding the bag, preventing the rationalization of labor costs
that would have taken place in a normal bankruptcy process? How about
the Federal government using the IRS and other government agencies to
target the opposition? And come on, does anyone believe the case
against Dinesh D'Souza was brought as a result of a normal FBI review?
What about the $600+ million that was spent on the website for the
Affordable Care Act? There is a strong case to be made that corruption
in the United States siphons more money out of our economy than in
Russia. Luckily the American economy has been resilient enough to
overcome this hurdle.
Yes, Putin and other officials have palatial dachas in the countryside.
But I wonder if they were more expensive than all of the global
vacations the Obama's have taken? And yes, Putin has stifled the free
press in Russia; in America, the corrupt press does the bidding of the
Democratic Party. Which is worse?
Moving on to infrastructure, Russia has serious infrastructure
deficiencies, especially outside the major cities. However, if you ever
want to see a true, massive work of art, ride the Moscow metro. Every
station is a gleaming architectural masterpiece with marble, statues,
mosaics, and chandeliers. And, it's clean and well maintained and
safe. All one has to do is ride the New York subway once to see the
difference. Talk about third world! The tiling is falling off,
escalators often don't work, riders are accosted by the homeless and
panhandlers, the elevators stink of urine, etc. And I have to agree
with Joe Biden, LaGuardia is a third world disgrace. JFK and Newark are
second world. I wish Americans could see Sheremetyevo Airport in
Moscow, then they would understand. It's a gleaming metropolis of
modernity with a very nice Aeroexpress train to the capital city.
Let's take a look at culture. In Russia, most people speak several
languages. Education is valued. Kids are loaded down with work every
night in mathematics, literature, the sciences, history, etc. The
Russian historical appreciation of the arts is well documented. And I'm
not talking about a canvas smeared with feces, I'm talking about ballet,
classical music, and theater. I heard recently a young girl tell her
mother in Moscow, "Mom, there was a girl in my class today who hadn't
heard of Vivaldi. Can you imagine not knowing Vivaldi?" I think that
question speaks for itself. Just ask your child who Vivaldi was. In
contrast, the American education system is collapsing under a union
driven agenda of dumbing down our children and the promotion of
socialist values. It was recently reported that one fourth of Americans
don't know the Earth revolves around the Sun, case closed.
And speaking of airports, one notices another thing getting off the
plane in America. We are fat. We are not sturdy, or strong, or plus
-sized. We are fat. There is no obesity epidemic in Russia. People
spend time cooking with things like fresh vegetables and enjoy the taste
of things rather than filling themselves to the gills with processed
carbohydrates and sugars.
And last but not least, yes there is organized crime in Russia. It's a
problem. Like any country, there are places that are not safe. But
what you don't see are gangs of teenagers looking to knock out someone
of a different race. Instead of looking for who is committing crime in
America, the administration looks to remove the consequences of one's
actions by making it illegal for employers to conduct background checks
and campaigns for felons to be able to vote (to garner more Democratic
votes). I haven't even brought up our refusal to enforce immigration
law.
Don't get me wrong, I'm a patriot. I served my country. I'm proud of
her history and what she used to represent. But I'm not proud of what's
going on today. I don't recognize America. She is sinking into a moral
and cultural black hole of corruption. Russia is regaining her
rightful, historical place in the world that was sidetracked by the
communist revolution. America is spending her days thinking of ways to
pick your pocket--we'll cheat the other guy and pass the savings on to
you.
Russia is rising. Maybe we can give her a high five on our way down.
Instead of criticizing others, look in the mirror America.
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-02-22/look-mirror-america