Comments on: Gunpowder Economics

By: jose bove

jose bove — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 18:40:31 +0000

Whatever happened to the Chinese ship that was sank by the Russian Navy? (talk about fire and forget). I thought the NeoCon Western news agencies love these perceived breaches in Sino-Russian relations?

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2009-02/21/content_7498828.htm

By: viktor

viktor — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 18:50:33 +0000

Holy Putin! Russia defends intellectual property: Russia Admits China Illegally Copied its Sukhoi Fighter (i guess Russia was previously in deferment mode to give the perception of not severing any diplomatic courtesies and illusions between the two neighbors and trading partners). You would think this is a quote from the RIAA: "The original made by the designer who developed the product is always better, and it is a better start for a new program with the original designer and developer than making a fake copy."

By: Zhann

Zhann — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 10:51:37 +0000

Chris, regarding corruption, being average is not a good sign. Russia should never be compared to Mexico or any other 3rd world country for anything, especially corruption. The education system alone is a sure sign that corruption is rotting the country from the inside. Children are being raised thinking that this is simply the way things should be, paying for their way through school and university, eventually entering the job market. Do you want a doctor operating on you that ‘may’ have purchased their degree?

As for weapons, we live in a vile society where brawn is mightier than the brain. Until governments realize the futility of most wars this is a never ending cycle. Since much profit is to be made from war, there is little chance that manufacturing weapons will soon end. Since the war pie is so great, I applaud Russia for being a key player.

By: Chrisius Courtappointedrussiafriendlius

Chrisius Courtappointedrussiafriendlius — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 23:06:46 +0000

Come to think of it, the reason why the analogy doesn’t work is that the world has no police other than state agents themselves.

By: Chrisius Courtappointedrussiafriendlius

Chrisius Courtappointedrussiafriendlius — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 22:02:20 +0000

“You must be against Russian gun laws then. Following this principal, more guns on the streets would make the job of Russian police easier and deter the high murder rate in Russia.”

Doesn’t work. Individuals and small groups are not analogous to state agents.

By: W. Shedd

W. Shedd — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 21:46:28 +0000

I’m also unsure about what is so awful about selling weapons. It probably deters armed conflict as much as it is the source of it.

NRA logic.

You must be against Russian gun laws then. Following this principal, more guns on the streets would make the job of Russian police easier and deter the high murder rate in Russia.

By: Chrisius Courtappointedrussiafriendlius

Chrisius Courtappointedrussiafriendlius — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 16:55:16 +0000

I’m also unsure about what is so awful about selling weapons. It probably deters armed conflict as much as it is the source of it. Sure these resources could be more “humanistically” spent elsewhere, but we don’t live in central-planning societies.

By: Chrisius Courtappointedrussiafriendlius

Chrisius Courtappointedrussiafriendlius — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 16:51:41 +0000

Actually Russian corruption is about world average. Like Mexico. It’s only “very” corrupt if you are using Germany and Britain as benchmarks.

By: Zhann

Zhann — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 16:43:26 +0000

I would like to expand on Cyrill’s point above … Russia is a very corrupt state. Weapons sales are generally on the books, but a great deal is sold secretively. A very recent example was Ukraine’s sale of Tanks and Arms to Sudan … oh, sorry, Kenya.

These figures will be found no where, and can double Russia’s sales.

Taking into account this financial crisis, many governments aren’t purchasing arms for war but rather to protect themselves from their own people. You will see, small arms sales will have a dramatic increase in 2009, proving quite profitable for Russia.

By: Aleks

Aleks — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 22:00:27 +0000

More importantly, is this true:

The Russian President, school girl and two guinea pigs…
http://timesonline.typepad.com/schoolgate/2009/02/the-russian-pre.html

Dima, what say you?