More to think about...

Maybe the ranter had a point. I have been thinking about the top 1% that holds the wealth of the world. Since I am studying Russian history/ politics, why wouldn't I make a parallel to it? Anyway, if you look at the Oligarch class in Russia, they are the wealthiest class, BY FAR!! (Please pardon my propaganda here) They can be equated to the robber-barons in the United States, stealing resources/infrastructure to make themselves filthy rich. The Russian Oligarchs have done just this. In an article from Foreign Affairs in 2000, Lee Wolosky claims that “the tycoon's predation has sucked up the country's wealth and impoverished broad swaths of Russian society.” This is exactly what the ranter was talking about. He made claims that by the top 1% controlling 50% of the world's wealth, it impoverishes much of the rest of the world. The Russian oligarchs constitute the top 1% in Russia. Ironically, while the West was trying to make a demon out of Putin and are still trying to do so with Russia in general, Putin when about systematically redistributing wealth to the poor. He managed to raise the average income from under $100 per month to around $600 per month. He did this by re-nationalizing the oil industry, and taking the oligarchs out of the picture. While this is totally undemocratic, the results are obvious. Yes, this is somewhat socialist, and smacks of the Soviet system, but again, the results for the average person are visible. The other question is, why has the West sought to make enemies of Russia again? Did the West forget that Russia is a massive nuclear power? Did they also forget that Russia gives Europe most of its natural gas, and when the OPEC nations decide to raise the price of oil, Russia picks up the slack so that the West does not have the lines for gas that is did in the 70's? This year should prove to be a very interesting one, as the START I treaty expires in December of 2009. That means that there is going to have to be a new treaty created and signed by both sides. This should make for an interesting political year between Russia and the USA.