U.S. Expels 14 Cuban Diplomats

[TCO]

USA! USA!

[SlowwHand]

USA! USA!






I posted your pic at another place for you, GP.

[Kidlicious]

The Russian economy has shrunk by -3.7% a year (average) since the experiment in capitalism began. The life span of Russians is down about 10 years. There is no sign of things turning around.

You want Cuba to do the same thing?

[SlowwHand]

Kidicious is a take off of ridiculous, isn't it ?

It took much longer for the USSR to go belly-up than Cuba's even been around.

I know. We can send advisors!

[Kidlicious]

Isn't capitalism suppose to turn the economy around? It's been over 10 years now

[Sava]

Hopefully our country will be liberated in 2004.

[SlowwHand]

Look what we have to work with, a bunch of idiot Russkies.
That's like digging a hole with a teaspoon.

[Dinner]

Originally posted by Kidicious
The Russian economy has shrunk by -3.7% a year (average) since the experiment in capitalism began. The life span of Russians is down about 10 years. There is no sign of things turning around.

You want Cuba to do the same thing?

If you take out the first two years after the break up of the USSR where nearly half of the Russian economy evaporated due to lose to traditional markets, suppiers were now in different countries, and unprofitable businesses had to be shut down then the Russian economy has actually grown.

[Shi Huangdi]

Russia has been a good example of poor transition from communism, the result their has ended up being not so much capitalism but more of a kleptocracy where corruption is undermining the economy. Other countries have fared much better after the transition to capitalism, such as the Baltic States, Hungary, and Poland. Even still with the flawed transition from communism in Russia, the Russians still have not elected a Communist President or majority. The Russians have known Communism and don't want to go back.

[Kidlicious]

The price of oil will cause fluctuation in the Russian GDP, so look at the long run numbers.

[Kidlicious]

Originally posted by Shi Huangdi
Russia has been a good example of poor transition from communism, the result their has ended up being not so much capitalism but more of a kleptocracy where corruption is undermining the economy. Other countries have fared much better after the transition to capitalism, such as the Baltic States, Hungary, and Poland. Even still with the flawed transition from communism in Russia, the Russians still have not elected a Communist President or majority. The Russians have known Communism and don't want to go back.

I give it another 5-10 years.

edit: btw, corruption was a big problem before the collapse of the USSR. After Stalin died things started getting bad.

[SlowwHand]

Yeah. Stalin was the ethical glue that held it all together.

[Spiffor]

One has to admit Stalin wasn't easily bribed. He'd have done anything for power, but not money.

I think it was better after his death : people who'd do anything for money are generally less paranoid / murderous.

[TCO]

People that can't vote, vote with their feet

They had a wall to keep people in. We had one to keep people out. USSR was a slave camp.

[Sava]

Originally posted by SlowwHand
Look what we have to work with, a bunch of idiot Russkies.

Well if Texas could do it...