>For instance real wages are up to a somewhat ridiculous degree, home ownership rates are substantially up (now higher than 90%!), and so on.
lol, everyone with half a brain ran from Russia as soon as they could, and they aren't coming back if they can avoid it. And the ruble will continue to sink lower and lower. There's no reason to think it wouldn't and no matter how you try to spin it, that's not a good thing for Russia's economy.
In 2008, there were 68 million employed persons. Today there are 74 million. In 2008 there was a population of 142 million, today it's 146 million. Even their fertility rate is up, after much focus on it. In 2008 it was 1.456, today it's 1.825 [1]. Still far too low, especially for a country with so much land, but this is a struggle all developed nations are currently facing and, by that standard, 1.825 is better than average.
These are simply data. The spin is how the media takes one single data point, and disingenuously frames is as a core targeted effect. The sanctions are certainly having an impact, but in terms of the desired outcome - the destabilization or collapse of Russia - they have been a complete failure. Instead the primary consequence of our actions has been to split the world in 2, almost certainly to our own detriment.
You work hard to serve Putin. Lies are all that Russia has. There is no reason to believe any numbers that Russia supplies about their economy. They lie about literally everything. It's easier than having actual prosperity.
You know you can take a stroll around e.g. Moscow anytime you like? Search YouTube for something like "Прогулка по Москве". That means 'taking a walk around Moscow'. Change москве to Санкт-Петербург for St. Petersburg. Here's [1] a video from a couple of months ago in Petersburg at the tail end of summer. Here's [2] one from literally 2 hours ago in Moscow. That would've been at around 7pm, and in 13C Fall weather, so not the most enticing, but it also gives an interesting perspective IMO.
Russia is the new enemy, or the old one I suppose. We've always been at war with Eastasia after all, right? Perhaps a more appropriate reference would be, "The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command."
Up to you. Personally before deciding to hate something or somebody as much as you seemingly do, based on the words of others, I'd like to ensure that what they're saying is at least true. Otherwise, you risk just becoming a hate fueled tool, literally no different than Germany circa 1935.
I'm certain you've exposed yourself to a quite impressive volume of Irrefutable and Undeniable [1] information. The problem in society is people not learning from the past. What happened yesterday is happening today, and will happen again tomorrow.
Russia doing awful shit and getting sanctioned for it is nothing new. It happened yesterday, is happening today, and will continue to happen so long as they are a mafia state that uses violence to achieve their wrong goals.
So which super-power would you hold up as a model of integrity that Russia ought strive to emulate? The one upon which you are basing your standards of acceptable behavior?
Any one except the thuggish lying mafia state of Russia. It's really not difficult to be better than Russia. Maybe if you get rid of Putin and get rid of the mafia bullshit you'll have a brighter future.
The question I asked wasn't a gotcha, it was an effort to let you realize your own cognitive dissonance - reflected in your inability to answer the question. In other words, if you saw only the behaviors of countries, but without any names associated, would you still judge them the same way? The answer is clearly no.
The irrational level of hate and disdain for a country you know seemingly nothing about is not natural. It's a mixture of endless propaganda, and likely being 'surrounded' (so much as the digital world counts) by other people who also support and encourage such hatred. Again the state of society today is much like a mirror into Germany 1935.
You have no idea what I know about Russia, so do not claim to know that. This is over. Enjoy your declining economy, and your shitty mafia country. FUCK RUSSIA.
Well we can only infer about each other based upon the words of the other, right? You've inferred that I'm apparently an agent of Russia sent to propagandize you in some obscure thread nobody else will ever read. Quite the ego you have there! And I've made my inferences as well. It was an interesting chat and I learned a lot. Thanks.
lol, everyone with half a brain ran from Russia as soon as they could, and they aren't coming back if they can avoid it. And the ruble will continue to sink lower and lower. There's no reason to think it wouldn't and no matter how you try to spin it, that's not a good thing for Russia's economy.