International News
See other International News Articles
Title: Libertarians and Putins catastrophic corruption
Source:
humanevents.com
URL Source: http://humanevents.com/2015/02/09/l ... utins-catastrophic-corruption/
Published: Feb 9, 2015
Author: Jon Basil Utley
Post Date: 2015-02-09 13:32:15 by Gatlin
Keywords: None
Views: 1783
Comments: 4
Over 100,000 entrepreneurs and small business owners are in prison in Russia for not paying bribes to assorted inspectors or because parties to business disputes bribe police to arrest them on trumped-up charges. Russia’s private sector has very little security in law for its property rights. Almost everybody dragged before any court is found guilty. The consequences are minimal re-investment, low productivity growth, and owners who seek security by taking out maximum cash and, if able, stashing it abroad. Consequently, Russia depends upon imports for 90 percent of its consumer goods. Its agriculture is still a shambles, with no secure property rights, lousy roads to get products to markets, and younger farm workers fleeing the boredom and poverty of the countryside. Just fly over any Russian city, as I have done, and see how little of the land is cultivated compared to cities in the rest of Europe. Yet many leading libertarians have been very soft on Putin’s elimination of political freedoms and ruination of his country, excusing Russia because of NATO expansion and Western support for the overthrow of Ukraine’s Moscow- backed Yanukovych government. Some conservatives have even argued that Putin is an ally in supporting traditional “family values” because of his public opposition to homosexuality and gay marriage. Ron Paul defends Putin, writing that there was no proof that Russian missiles shot down Malaysia’s Flight 17 over Ukraine. His allies argue that criticism or exposure of Putin’s regime merely strengthens the War Party in Washington, helping it to gain more spending and bring about more wars against more nations. They argue that it was NATO expansion and NATO’s attack on Serbia launched by Bill Clinton that ultimately led to the reactions and new aggressiveness of Russia. This is an argument I once appreciated, but it’s not a reason to whitewash today’s Russian dictatorship and incredible corruption. We–and I consider myself a Libertarian—can still oppose our military- industrial congress complex without excusing or hiding mention of monstrosities abroad. In fact such excuses weaken our moral standing and our competence as “realists.”
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
#1. To: Gatlin (#0)
Every five minutes and 12 hours a day spent typing Libertarians in the google box is a very sad existence. You must be quite scared. Change your depends and do something fun today, and no, I dont mean try and register another handle here. You've been caught doing that five times already, and the fact that you are a very scummy person is becoming noticed.
What do you expect from someone who votes for Democrats and Republicans.
“Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rapidly promoted by mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.”
I consider myself a Libertarian— A communist party, USSR libertarian!
In Russia and eastern Europe, it is considered a sign of police incompetence to arrest innocent people. Therefore, there is a presumption of guilt built in to the system.
#2. To: Dead Culture Watch (#1)
#3. To: Gatlin, back in the USSR, tater tot (#0)
The D&R terrorists hate us because we're free, to vote second party
"We (government) need to do a lot less, a lot sooner" ~Ron Paul
#4. To: Gatlin (#0)
Almost everybody dragged before any court is found guilty.
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
[Home] [Headlines] [Latest Articles] [Latest Comments] [Post] [Mail] [Sign-in] [Setup] [Help] [Register]