What are the policies that you think have most driven the US's relatively high levels of inequality?Sy Borg wrote: ↑March 5th, 2022, 2:25 amNow, now. There is no (or very little) "tax evasion" among US corporations. They pay what they legally owe. The Russian economic oligarchy arose with Yeltsin, when he privatized many former State-owned industries --- and handed them over to various political cronies.Ultimately, if Putin is a rational actor, then mutual self interest should prevent WWIII. Still, his nuclear weapon posturing was unforgivable recklessness. I think Putin is rational, but he is also dishonest and corrupt. Based on his nuclear brinkmanship, it seems he is a psychopath, again, like other world leaders and former leaders. Clearly, any national leader that becomes a billionaire while in office as Putin has done has been up to no good. Yet, US is ranked as more inequitable than the US, so Putin's theft is perhaps less problematic than US multinationals' tax evasion.
Yes, it was just shorthand. There will always be a range of views and some polarisation.Sy Borg wrote: ↑March 5th, 2022, 2:25 amIt's misleading to claim "the country" would prefer to side with the West. Some of its people --- a large fraction --- would, mainly because they see it as the route to greater prosperity. But there are also many who feel a kinship with Russia, because of that long history and especially their common fight against the Nazis in WWII. Also, some 18% of Ukrainians are ethnic Russians.Still, Putin should ask himself the question: Why would a country with such close shared history with mother Russia prefer to side with the west? What can Putin do to convince former territories of the USSR that they would be better off joining with Russia - other than with propaganda, white-anting, threats and violence? Not stealing, providing the Russian people freedom of speech and information, and not trying to kill opposition party leaders would surely help. Can't see that happening, though.
I suspect a settlement per which Ukraine could align economically with the West, such as as by joining the EU, but not joining NATO or permitting NATO forces or operations on its territory, would satisfy Putin. But that may be wishful thinking.
I also agree with the idea of NATO compromising with Russia on Ukraine, but it seems the horse has bolted. Not sure that "We will not let Russia dictate who joins NATO" was a smart approach in hindsight, especially given the many gains NATO made close to Russia anyway. Ideally, there would be give and take. Even more ideally, the Ukraine people would decide their own destiny, but it is too significant to Mother Russia and its new powerful friend, America, for that to happen. After all, it's not as though Russia and America have shown similar interest in issues in Africa. I suppose if those warring nations had "abundant reserves of coal, iron ore, natural gas, manganese, salt, oil, graphite, sulphur, kaolin, titanium, nickel, magnesium, timber, and mercury" as Ukraine does, the superpowers would be more interested.