(07-25-2018, 10:41 PM)mikesez Wrote:

(07-25-2018, 09:29 PM)JagNGeorgia Wrote: It certainly helps but isn't required. You make it sound as though you can't get rich without him, and that simply isn't true.

Um, it is!
If you do anything to embarrass Putin, profess any contrary opinion publicly, he ends you. 
No one gets rich in Putin's Russia.
The very rich don't play fair with the not-rich, so the not-rich don't get fair opportunities to innovate and invest well.
All of the very rich had solidified their gains by getting sweetheart deals during the privatization Bonanza right before Putin came to power.
And they will lose this gains if they stop supporting Putin.

If the United States energy policies under Trump continue, Putin is going to see his influence shrink even further.  Their GDP is smaller than states like California and Texas.  So, when the left goes nuts because Trump didn't dress down Putin in a press conference, they're completely ignoring the actions of this administration that will minimize any influence Russia has outside of their own borders, while destabilizing their economy to the point where Putin will be hard-pressed to remain in control without going full commie again.  Crippling their economy by cutting off the natural gas and oil spigot while applying even stronger sanctions will do a lot more to hurt Russia than words in a press conference.  Deeds, not words.

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