Sunday, March 26, 2023

What concerns the average Russian?

 


Russia is a vast country that has been invaded numerous times throughout its history. From the Mongol invasion of the 13th century to the multinational invasion after World War I, Russia's long and rich history is littered with stories of foreign invaders wreaking havoc on its soil. These invasions have left an indelible mark on the psyche of the Russian people, and the fear of future invasions remains a dominant theme in Russian culture and politics.

One of the earliest examples of this fear of invasion can be traced back to Czar Ivan the Terrible, who ruled Russia from 1547 to 1584. During his reign, Russia was constantly threatened by neighbouring countries such as Poland and Lithuania. To protect his kingdom from invasion, Ivan built a massive fortress, St. Basil's Cathedral, which still stands today in Moscow's Red Square. Ivan's fear of invasion was not unfounded, as the Tatars invaded Russia repeatedly in the 16th and 17th centuries.

Another example of Russia's fear of invasion can be seen during the reign of Czar Alexander II in the 19th century. Alexander was known for modernizing Russia and bringing about religious peace. In 1864, he signed a religious peace treaty that allowed for greater religious freedom in Russia, which helped ease tensions between religious groups. Russia was previously invaded by Napoleon in 1812, leading to a devastating defeat for the Russian army under Alexander I.

Even in modern times, Russia's fear of invasion remains a significant factor in its politics and culture. Following the fall of the Soviet Union, Russia faced substantial economic and political turmoil, leading to a rise in nationalism and a renewed focus on the country's history. This focus on history has led to the emergence of figures such as Alexander Dugin, a controversial political philosopher who promotes a "Eurasian" ideology that seeks to unite Russia with its former Soviet neighbours.

Dugin's ideas have influenced the worldview of many Russians, particularly the younger generation, who see themselves as part of a distinct civilization under threat from the West. Dugin has argued that the West wants to break up the Russian Federation and has called for a return to traditional values and a rejection of Western-style democracy.

This fear of Western influence has been exacerbated by Russia's recent history. Many Russians feel the West treated Russia as a defeated nation after the Cold War, leading to economic and political instability. This has led to a renewed focus on Russian identity and a rejection of Western-style democracy.

Russia's fear of invasion is deeply ingrained in its culture and history. From the Tatar invasions of the 16th century to the multinational invasion after World War I, Russia has faced repeated threats from foreign powers. This fear has been amplified by recent events, including the rise of nationalism and the influence of figures like Alexander Dugin. While Russia has had brief periods of democracy, its authoritarian past and fear of invasion suggest that it will continue to be a complex and challenging partner on the global stage.

Should the West ask the question: Was the Russian Federation treated as a defeated Nation after the Cold War, and are there any parallels to the Treaty of Versailles and the German treatment after WW 1? Did the West miss the opportunity to develop Russia into a democracy before Putin?




Saturday, March 25, 2023

No Bail equals Chaos

 





The effects of no bail and how crime has risen as a result have been a significant concern for many communities across the United States. In recent years, many states have implemented no-bail policies, which allow defendants to be released from jail without having to post bail. This has been done to reduce overcrowding in jails and to reduce the financial burden of bail on defendants. However, the effects of no-bail policies have been far-reaching and significantly impacted crime rates.

Studies have shown that no-bail policies have led to an increase in crime. This is because when defendants are released without having to post bail, they are more likely to commit additional crimes. This is because they are not held accountable for their actions and are not required to remain in jail until their trial. As a result, they are more likely to commit additional crimes while out on the streets. In addition to increased crime, no-bail policies have also harmed the criminal justice system. Without bail, defendants are likelier to miss court dates and fail to appear for their trials. This can lead to a backlog of cases in the court system, which can lead to delays in justice.
Furthermore, when defendants fail to appear for their trials, they are more likely to be convicted of the charges against them, which can lead to longer sentences. No-bail policies have also harmed public safety. When defendants are released without having to post bail, they are more likely to commit additional crimes while on the streets. This can lead to an increase in violent crime, as well as an increase in property crime. Furthermore, when defendants are released without having to post bail, they are more likely to re-offend, which can lead to a rise in recidivism. The effects of no-bail policies have been far-reaching and significantly impacted crime rates. While these policies have been implemented to reduce overcrowding in jails and to reduce the financial burden of bail on defendants, they have hurt public safety and the criminal justice system. As a result, states must consider the potential consequences of no-bail policies before implementing them.

Friday, March 24, 2023

Pandemic - War- Economic Downturn: Welcome to 2020s

 


Throughout history, mankind has faced various challenges, ranging from pandemics, wars, economic downturns, and societal shifts. These challenges have profoundly affected human life, shaping history and defining eras. These challenges have recently begun to converge, with the world facing unique circumstances in the 2020s decade. This article will explore the impact of pandemics, war, economic downturns, and societal shifts on human life and how they converge in the present era.

Pandemics Pandemics have been a recurring challenge for humanity throughout history. From the Black Death of the 14th century to the Spanish Flu of the early 20th century, pandemics have taken a significant toll on human life. In recent years, the world has witnessed the emergence of new pandemics such as SARS, MERS, Ebola, and, most notably, COVID-19. The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the world unprecedentedly, bringing economies to a standstill, overwhelming healthcare systems, and causing widespread social and economic upheaval. The pandemic has also exposed the vulnerability of modern society to such crises, highlighting the need for preparedness and collaboration.

War War has been a constant presence in human history, with conflicts arising from various reasons, ranging from territorial disputes to ideological differences. Wars have significantly impacted human life, resulting in the loss of countless lives, destruction of infrastructure, displacement of populations, and shaping the course of history. Recently, the world has witnessed conflicts such as the Gulf War, the Iraq War, and the Syrian Civil War, among others. These conflicts have had far-reaching consequences, contributing to regional instability, causing widespread suffering, and the global refugee crisis.

Economic Downturns Economic downturns have been a recurring feature of human history, resulting from various factors such as natural disasters, market crashes, and government policies. These downturns have profoundly impacted human life, resulting in widespread poverty, unemployment, and social unrest. The Great Depression of the 1930s, for instance, resulted in overall economic hardship, contributing to the rise of authoritarian regimes and shaping the course of history. In recent years, the world has witnessed economic downturns, such as the 2008 financial crisis, which resulted in widespread job losses, bankruptcies, and foreclosures.

Societal Shifts Societal shifts refer to changes in societal norms, values, and beliefs, resulting from various factors such as technological advancements, cultural movements, and political developments. These shifts have profoundly impacted human life, resulting in changes in social structures, institutions, and ways of life. For instance, the Industrial Revolution of the 18th and 19th centuries brought about significant economic changes, resulting in the rise of capitalism and the decline of feudalism. The world has recently witnessed societal shifts, such as the rise of social media, which has transformed how people interact and communicate.

Hero Generations and Economic Shifts in America America has had a unique history regarding societal and economic shifts. Every 80 years or so, a new generation of heroes emerges, shaping history. The Revolutionary War, Civil War, and World War II generations are examples of such hero generations. These generations have contributed to significant societal and economic shifts in governance, civil rights, and monetary policy changes. Furthermore, America has changed its relationship with money every 50 years since the Revolution. These changes have resulted in economic policies such as Alexander Hamilton's debt consolidation from a collection of State debt to a National debt system, Andrew Jackson's refusal to surrender to a National Bank, Garfield's hard money policy, the New Deal in the 1930s, Nixon removing the dollar from the Gold Standard, the Reaganomics of the 1980s-the result of Nixon's monetary policy, and the current economic policies of the Bush I, Clinton, Bush II, Obama, Trump & Biden administrations. It's telling the American people have had the same relationship with money since Nixon, no matter which party is in power.

A new hero generation will rise in the 2020s with a new money relationship and unique monetary policy.- breaking from the past. What China fears the most from America are its technological innovations and the general free market. All government needs to do is get out of the way - the citizens will figure out how to make the system work again and side-step the dependency and statism. To the Oswald Mosleys of America, no one is listening; please go back to the trash pile of history with your neo-feudalism.