If you have questions about Russia - come here! (Poll added!)

[Sharu]

[e-mail] said:

Sharu said:

kowenicki said:
How did those oligarchs get away with stealing all the assets of the russian people? I mean, obviously they paid corrupt politicians or were friends of theirs... but why did the russian people roll over and accept it?

Its a hard question. When they was stealing the country our people was cheated by our authorities, and then was too weak. You know, when your main problem is where to get money for food - you don't think about politics. 90s was a very hard times for our country. Then in the start of 2000 everything start getting better. And still getting better - maybe not so good as we want but still! )

In Russia, do you see the world as split into major powers, i.e EU, USA, RUSSIA and China? Or do Russians think more like US citizen i.e they are the best in the world and only the US is powerfu.

EU - Population: 450 Million - GDP: 16.584 trillion $

USA - Population: 315 Million - GDP: 15.68 trillion $

Russia - Population: 145 million - GDP: 2.015 trillion $

China - Population: 1.351 billion - GDP:8.227 trillion $

Is it possible that Russia wants to shake things up? I would also like to point out, that you stated that those eastern European countries were always under the Russian empire. Well empires fall and things change. Scot means Irish in Latin, but you don't see the Irish claiming Scotland because we lost it thousands of years ago. Vlad seems to want Russia to return to the dark days of old, and for me, I feel like maybe that should concern you?

Also, don't be too concerned with the view of Russia in western Minds. Below I have included a picture of Ireland in US movies and then a view of Ireland in reality. Even more interesting is, that Ireland is a western country home to 9 out of the 10 biggest pharmaceutical companies in the world and home to facebook, google, yahoo, msn, linkedin.....etc..... But you know....Horses and buddies.

1. Yes, I think the common position is that a world have some superpowers like USA, EU, China and Russia and a lot of important regional powers.
2. A lot of people in Russia don't treat Soviet/Tzar times as a 'dark days'. Our 'dark days' are from 1989 till say 2004. So it doesn't concern me if my country will be stronger from economic and political point of view. I'll applaud it.
3. I'm not concerned with a 'western view' of Russia. I've spoken with a lot of Norwegean/English guys in real life and i know its not so simple as in movies. 
I mostly made this thread to speak with a people from other countries DIRECTLY (need to put an Iwata pic here) and to practice my English.