Can’t say it was unexpected, but I can say god DAMN it!
Vladimir Putin’s short, sharp lesson to a challenging former Soviet state has unleashed patriotic pride in Russia and nostalgia for the glory days of the Soviet Union.
Wow. Are there any history books in Russia? Or anyone over the age of 20? Because, call me crazy, but massive starvation, mass murder, perpetual war threats, etc., just doesn’t scream “Glory days” to me.
Old style socialism had some adherents who wanted to “better the world”; the “Communist Internationale” is an anthem that talks of uniting the human race. With the old socialism given up as impractical, it is being replaced by nationalism. Russia is probably one of the worse cases, but nationalist sentiment is strong in other countries too, including India and China. In the last few years, the anti-immigrant sentiment in the U.S. tells me that nationalists are trying to reassert themselves here too.
Old style socialism had some adherents who wanted to “better the world”; the “Communist Internationale” is an anthem that talks of uniting the human race. With the old socialism given up as impractical, it is being replaced by nationalism. Russia is probably one of the worse cases, but nationalist sentiment is strong in other countries too, including India and China. In the last few years, the anti-immigrant sentiment in the U.S. tells me that nationalists are trying to reassert themselves here too.
Isn’t this kind of nationalism basically fascism? I’ve always regarded the most basic difference between Communism and Fascism as being weather you are supposed to sacrifice in the name of the class or sacrifice in the name of the Government/Leader/Race/Nation (in fascist terminology, it’s all basically the same). So this kind of nutcase nationalism would just be reorganizing the Soviet Union into a Russian Fascist Country.
And yeah, I definitely see the trend in most parts of the world - Africa and Europe pretty much being the only exceptions.
The ‘people over the age of 20’ were brainwashed into believing in collectivism. Rand’s family decided to stay in USSR after visiting New York. I’ve heard a lot of accounts of this, actually.
“The force can have a strong influence on the weak minded” - Ben Kenobi
Sorry, just thought that was kind of funny in relation to this.
Old style socialism had some adherents who wanted to “better the world”; the “Communist Internationale” is an anthem that talks of uniting the human race. With the old socialism given up as impractical, it is being replaced by nationalism. Russia is probably one of the worse cases, but nationalist sentiment is strong in other countries too, including India and China. In the last few years, the anti-immigrant sentiment in the U.S. tells me that nationalists are trying to reassert themselves here too.
“Anti-immigrant” ??? Is that how you describe opposition to amnesty for those who break our laws to enter the country? Anti-immigrant. Huh. My mother was an immigrant, so were my father’s parents. They did not break the law to come here, and they did not expect a free ride when they got here.
“Anti-immigrant” ??? Is that how you describe opposition to amnesty for those who break our laws to enter the country? Anti-immigrant. Huh. My mother was an immigrant, so were my father’s parents. They did not break the law to come here, and they did not expect a free ride when they got here.
What’s even more outrageous is a law that violates an individual’s autonomy by restricting his right to immigrate where he wishes. You are performing the typical bait-and-switch-Michael-Savage manuever by conflating the issue of the welfare state with the issue of immigration. Immigrants should be breaking our unjust laws to enter our country…let 'em in. I’m all for Yaron Brook’s (somewhat lighthearted) program to fix the current financial crisis: “Buy a house, get a green card.”
“Anti-immigrant” ??? Is that how you describe opposition to amnesty for those who break our laws to enter the country? Anti-immigrant. Huh. My mother was an immigrant, so were my father’s parents. They did not break the law to come here, and they did not expect a free ride when they got here.
2009 and maybe the next decade or so is setting up to be totally retro. The possible return of stagflation, energy shortages, Soviet Union style Russia, and a new FDR is just so groan inducing. Make way for bell-bottom pants, and Mummenschanz, because history, she is repeatin’.
2009 and maybe the next decade or so is setting up to be totally retro. The possible return of stagflation, energy shortages, Soviet Union style Russia, and a new FDR is just so groan inducing. Make way for bell-bottom pants, and Mummenschanz, because history, she is repeatin’.
We may also be in for some Dutch nostalgia (think windmills). But perhaps we can avoid seeing horses and buggies outside Pennsylvania again if we manage to plant the idea that they have a higher carbon footprint per horsepower than SUVs do.