Russian Democracy Failing Again?

[Biggie]

In addition to Putin's consolidation of power and control of the media, this really is a sign that something is wrong.

 

http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/internatio...cfm?id=69292005

 

Stalin back in favour as new statue goes up in Moscow

 

FOREIGN STAFF

 

A NEW statue of the Soviet dictator Josef Stalin is to be erected in Moscow, returning his once-ubiquitous image to the streets after an absence of four decades, a top city official said yesterday.

 

Since Vladimir Putin became president in 2000, a number of Soviet symbols - including the national anthem and an army flag - have been restored to use, reflecting widespread nostalgia for the communist era.

 

But the rehabilitation of Stalin - denounced by Soviet leaders after his death in 1953 for encouraging a cult of personality and killing millions of real and imagined opponents - had remained out of bounds. Statues of him were removed from Moscow in the 1960s.

 

Oleg Tolkachev, Moscow’s senator in the upper house of parliament, said a monument was to be erected to Stalin and others who led the war against Hitler. A statue will also be built in the Belgorod region, near the Ukrainian border.

 

In another sign of Stalin’s growing appeal, many prime-time television shows have recently depicted him in a positive light.

[HoboFactory]

When the USSR collapsed, and Russia became more deomcratic, people got various freedoms, such as private enterprise, free(er) speech, etc. But on the downside, society became more chaotic and insecure. The mafia has run rampant, and many people can no longer afford basic needs. So I think alot of people think to hell with freedom of speech and enterprise if we can have peace, stability, order, and security... Which is probably something they can attain from a more authoritative form of government,

[Munk]

He should start taking tips from the US. They have their Republic down pat and media pinned.

[HoboFactory]

What works in some places doesn't necessarily work everywhere else.

[Munk]

The the US' current system?

[Munk]

;) Even those before the US was created?

[Biggie]

Well all other democracy's are suppose to be based off the US system, so I would think all other's are invalid anyway.

What do you mean?

[wonks]

Well all other democracy's are suppose to be based off the US system, so I would think all other's are invalid anyway.

The French Republics were based on the U.S. system in the late 1700s, but I would hardly say that all other democracies are based on the Yankee model.

[BritSavant]

Well all other democracy's are suppose to be based off the US system, so I would think all other's are invalid anyway.

Not necessarily, a lot of countries use government systems based on the Parliamentary system; especially within the Commonwealth.

[Matt]

The British system was around before the U.S. one, the U.S. just modified it to make it less British.

[BritSavant]

It's prestige, boyo.

[Crusader]

A fine dancer.

 

[BritSavant]

He is, after all, the patron saint of Cowbell.

 

But I digress.

 

I've got a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell!

Edited January 23, 2005 by BritSavant

[Crusader]

Is he Russian?

 

*tries to get back on topic.

[Crusader]

That's all they knew how to do and the people were used to it.

[Bizud]

The US was the first modern democracy, but the democracy practiced in many countries, including Canada, descends from Britain, which was on its way to democratization before the American Revolution anyway.

[Matt]

The British system was around before the U.S. one, the U.S. just modified it to make it less British.

As in, get rid of the King/Queen which the commonwealth still has? ;)

The King/Queen has no real power in the Canadian or British system even. I meant modified in how the voting system is done and some of the set up, but it is still somewhat similar too.

[no yu begin wher i end]

I don't think that's power in the political sense.

[no yu begin wher i end]

Probably, but that's more celebrity power than political power.

[Matt]

Isn't that similar to American celbrity's getting behind a cause?

[wonks]

in regards to the queen/king having no power in canada...technically we still need the governor general to sign all our laws. yes it's a figurehead, but still.

[Matt]

If the Prime Minister wants he can replace the Governor General at any time.

[Biggie]

So why have one? It's just a waste of taxpayer money...

[Matt]

Tradition, Canadians should not lose their ways, only expand upon them.

[Biggie]

She should at least be elected by the people if she has to sign bills into law and if she's the commander-in-chief of the military.

 

Our system belongs in 1867, not 2005.