Good President or Cheap Vodka?

[Lilly]

This morning I received a call from my son in Moscow with the latest news. Russia, is really in a turmoil this time!

Vladimir Putin has announced that the price of Vodka in Russia will be raised to 70 roubles per litre!!!!!!!!

The people are ready to revolt! There is talk that the people will not vote for him as a result of this.

Which is more important: a good president, or cheap vodka?

It won't be long before the Ukraine follows with a price increase too.

What is this world coming to!

LillyNomad
~




[This message has been edited by Lilly (edited 21 February 2000).]

[StasUA]

No I dont think Ukraine will follow that, because it is good oppurtunity for Ukraine to make money on our gorilka millions of Russians will come to Ukraine to buy it

[johnstruthers]

You will recall that Gorby tried to change habits there by limiting the supply of vodka. I have an old copy of Krokodil' from that era. The cover shows coiled distilling pipes curling from chimneys in a village, while a truck full of sugar is entering. Someone on a rooftop is looking with binoculars for the militia, which is coming up the road. This action by Gorby caused an immediate sugar shortage, as everyone went to making "samogon." I came up the stairs with about five kilos in a sack once, when my neighbor said, "When you and your wife are through baking all your tortes, be sure to invite the neighbors to sample them."

[This message has been edited by johnstruthers (edited 21 February 2000).]

[Lilly]

John,
Even when I sink to the deepest depths of despair and unhappiness, you always manage to put a smile on my face and make me chuckle. I am going to need it in the next few months to follow. Thank you and bless you.

Lilly

[andrewblow]

Lilly,
May I ask what you would define as 'a good President'? This morning's English "Daily Mail" has this header to a full 2-page spread -

VLAD THE DESTROYER
Teenage prostitutes, brutal assasinations and a war of unspeakable atrocity. These are the stock-in-trade of Vladimir Putin. Next month he becomes Russia's president. Here, in a chilling despatch,(*) warns that even by the snake-pit standards of Kremlin politics, this is a very dangerous man indeed......
So who is this secretive little man called 'the grey cardinal'? and should we fear him?
The article then explains that Putin was a KGB man who retains his KGB mindset, is surrounded by and full of corruption, is anti-western, paranoid and deeply intolerant of dissent"

Where have I heard all that before????

For me, Gorbachov has been the only man that I could ever start to trust, but that is (as they say) history......
My friends in the 'Stroggino Estate' area of Moscow don't worry about vodka, but they would follow any man who could control corruption.

[johnstruthers]

Andrew, you are so correct. I have to qualify my anecdote in its light: I really like Gorby, and believe his place in history is secure. His decency, his essential character, is what required him to invite the entire Soviet continent to "open its eyes" and then to "restructure." Corruption emerged amid a fundamentally trusting and decent people who were prepared for something better. Gorby was recently honored by the Church. I suspect there is a comfortable place prepared for him on the Other Side, too.

[andrewblow]

John, re: Gorby-
My entire interest and introduction to eastern Europe was through a guy called VALERI BARINOV, who was (still is) a christian rock guitarist and singer. He wrote a gospel rock opera called 'TRUMPET CALL' and 4 guys and me in England got a copy, learnt it off headphones and played it to good crowds in England. At this time Valeri was still serving 2.5 years hard labour in Siberia because of his faith (around 1984/6), but it was Magie Thatcher and Gorby who arranged for a bunch of 'prisoners of concience' to be released. This rock opera linked me to a Moscow girl, and then an American youth worker, who invited me to join him at a youth camp first in St Petersburg ('94) and then Chernovtsi (Ukraine) in '95. Since then it's been all action - and long may it continue.
So: I agree - God bless Gorby.
By the way, the actual music of 'Trumpet Call' is absolutely unique, being a blend of western rock and blues, with eastern harmonies -which make for exquisite music.
(Valeri's tapes still available in Russian and English)