This is an article I read earlier today which makes a number of observations about life in Russia now, and more specifically in Moscow. It is somewhat different than you might expect. Boots on the Ground from Russia | Schiff Sovereign

Interesting story. At the risk of sounding political, I fear that we as a nation will suffer if we continue our policies of widespread economic warfare. It's neither effective nor sustainable. The end result may very well be the fall of the US dollar as the world's reserve currency. That would be very bad for our economic future.

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Or something like that . . .

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

Broken record. We are in grave danger.

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No baby we aint

We are indeed in grave danger if we ignore Russia after they've invaded a sovereign country. We are in grave danger if we swallow Russian disinformation intended to influence us. We are in grave danger if we do nothing about covert Russian efforts to use orbiting nuclear weapons programs.

But hey, they have very low prices on what stuff is available just like nearly all of the smaller prior Eastern Bloc countries because they have low wages, high unemployment, and taxes so high that tax evasion is commonplace. Living was cheap for me in Sarajevo in 2019-20; McDonald's was an expensive restaurant. Living was cheap in Yerevan, Armenia this year; unemployment is very high and wages very low. If one envies the Russians, it is extremely easy to immigrate.

We spend 1% of our taxes on foreign aid.

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

Russia poses NO threat to me.

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Thread Killer.

Without funds and the sacrifices of Americans, good chance the countries in white, see post #3, would be speaking in German, Russian or Chinese.

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Have Fun/Stay Safe

From the article:

Sounds familiar - with our cancel culture, our mainstream media, law-fare, weaponized legalism, anrcho-tyrrany and censorship on the big tech platforms.

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Thread Killer.

The rest simply tax their citizens into poverty.

What this thread proves to me is the pervasiveness and effectiveness of Russian disinformation and propaganda.

It is simply astonishing to see so many Americans parrot Vladimir Putin's talking points, as spread by his American allies and "useful idiots" in public life and certain media outlets, while at the same time denigrating and ridiculing our own government and its policies.

The evidence of Russia's perfidy and malevolence is overwhelming, and has been well-documented by Western governments for years...and yet many of us choose instead to believe the lies we are told, because they are repeated to us over and over again.

From his perch in Hades, Joseph Goebbels is smiling...

GEC Special Report: Russia's Pillars of Disinformation and Propaganda - United States Department of State

BMI - Homepage - Examples of Russian disinformation and the facts

The Russian "Firehose of Falsehood" Propaganda Model: Why It Might Work and Options to Counter It | RAND

Just a moment...

France accuses Russia of disinformation campaign against Ukraine's allies

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/th...geting-the-u-s

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Where Law Ends, Tyranny Begins

The fact that Puti wins another term is a news story, like WOW!!! Who'd a thunk it???

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No baby we aint

If you've ever seen a video of a Russian felon in prison, you'll understand why Moscow is so safe. There is no bail, no appeal, no gym, no TV, no parole and much worse. Surety of harsh punishment is a great deterrent for even semi-rational people.

Sigh. Do you really suppose the Russian government accurately reports crime stats?

Putin was reelected in a landslide and he says that this indicates he's doing the right thing by waging war in Ukraine.


NO political opinion here. Just the fact that he was reelected and what he said it meant.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

Yes, I firmly believe Russia lies and spreads mis/disinformation but OUR government and OUR mainstream news media are the standard of the world for truth and righteous goodness!

I believe what I'm told to believe. I mean OUR government and propaganda arm, I mean, news media wouldn't lie, withhold or even censor info from us, would they? They've NEVER done that before, right?

Yeah, right.

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Thread Killer.

Yep. Put me on the side that believes Putin is a bad guy, that the US has worldwide responsibilities to maintain peace as best we are able, and that my tax money is well spent in keeping bad guys far from our shores, and from our children (fighting as soldiers in foreign wars), by supporting our democratic allies abroad, as in Ukraine, against the aggression of tyrants.

And I lament those who so readily believe Russian disinformation amplified on social media.

Also, while not a practicing, church attending, member of any particular sect of Christianity, I believe in the Christian obligation of the better off to help their less well off fellows, and do not draw the line at our nation's borders.

We are all children of God, I believe, wherever born, and deserving of care, kindness and consideration. (Or retribution, if called for.) I also believe it to be of practical benefit to care for, and support, our allies abroad in terms of our own national security.

No man is an island.

In recounting events so they conform to his version of reality, Putin's no different than politicians in many other nations, including our own.

But the Russian people know better, and Putin's "landslide" wasn't quite the love-fest he would like his citizens to think...

reuters.com

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Where Law Ends, Tyranny Begins

Frankly, sir, I find your attempt to draw an equivalency between the governments and press of the USA and Russia to be reprehensible.

We have many problems in this country, and many challenges facing us, but there is nothing about Russia, its government, its leaders, or its social institutions that I find remotely similar to ours.

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Where Law Ends, Tyranny Begins

I don't care.

Are you going to tell me that OUR media and OUR government does NOT lie as much aa theirs?

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Thread Killer.

Yes. I will tell you that.

Sorry you believe otherwise, as I think your belief misguided, but also, with apologies, will not spend time and effort to convince you otherwise.

Too much work for a lazy person like me. (Plus, I doubt if I could effectively convince you to change your beliefs. People believe what they want to believe.)

I find that while in my youth reality, usually, was a consensus view, nowadays people pick and choose their versions of reality and pick their specific info sources accordingly. With all the info sources available nowadays, one can reinforce whatever version of reality one chooses.

I follow the MSM. (Yes, I hear the gnashing of teeth. But I am old school in my perception of reality.)

Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.
--George Santayana, 1905

While that's a well-worn saying, it can be tested empirically by finding a new Neville Chamberlain who will give Putin everything he wants to assemble a new Mother Russia (Ukraine, Poland, the Baltic states, Moldova, etc.). In return, New Neville will get Putin's signature on a document that he can wave in the air which guarantees peace in our time. Santayana could be wrong. It might actually work this time!

However, if Putin also demands the return of Alaska, I hope New Neville responds with a firm, "Maybe."

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What, me worry?

So many words written on this forum about how
bad things are here. That's fine, it's an
American's right to express oneself.

But try making those same objections in Russia.
Try telling Putin you don't like him, don't like
his taxes, his foreign policies, his crackdowns.

And meanwhile, we on this forum honestly
celebrate daily "what's for dinner?" . Maybe
things aren't so bad here.

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Ubi Est Mea

Two points I'd like to bring up on this thread. One; in the Budapest Memorandum, your president guaranteed Ukrainian territorial sovereignty in exchange for giving up it's nukes. Secondly, the vast proportion of the "billions in aid" are actually spent in your own country replacing and replenishing what is (in many cases) old, and sometimes clapped out, stock.

Thought I might add my 2 cents regarding Russia.
I'm actually going to visit Russia hopefully next year. since the war began 2 years ago. I've been doing a lot of research on Russia. and found a lot of similarities between the US and Russia. for one it's easier to buy and own firearms legally than most blue states here in the US. that would include AK's, AR's, and other wicked looking weapons. I wouldn't be surprised if they're isn't some S&W collections there.
also a lot of my research comes from watching YouTube, and documentaries on Russia and from residents, ex-pats and even veterans on the pros and cons of living in Russia. as well on X Twitter with people who live in Russia. I have a co-worker who is a loud talking, Russian born, who sends me texts with comments and pics that must be taken directly from the soldiers themselves on the battlefield (and I mean uncensored pics). they also don't have hundreds of military bases around the world.(waste of taxpayer money)
I've also listened to several of Putin's speeches, press conferences and find the man is very educated, measured, and very intelligent.
and any leader getting reelected to a 3rd term as president with an 87% win in a record election turnout has to be doing something right.
they also have a very healthy religious freedoms too, christian, Muslim, orthodox Jewish just to name a few. they also have very pro family policies in place making it easier to raise families
so I would respectfully disagree with some of the views others may have about Russia.

my plan is to travel across the country by the trans Siberian railway and find out for myself.

I'm curious if anybody here has been to Russia. would like to hear about some of their experiences.

Bryce

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A man with a gun over there

"and any leader getting reelected to a 3rd term as president with an 87% win in a record election turnout has to be doing something right."

SCORE!!!! I found a buyer for that choice ocean front property in Kansas I have been trying to unload!!!!

I think it's time for a forum software update that includes more sarcasm emojis.

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Release the Kraken

You believe that they have open and honest elections in Russia?

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

Dear Smith & Hammer,

I seem to remember Hammer & Sickle.

Any near coincidence?

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Ubi Est Mea

Maybe Putin is just kidding about nuclear war with us.

Map Shows US Cities Russia Would Strike First if War Broke Out

2. Remember- opinions will differ. Get over it. State your opinion calmly, and allow others to state theirs. Discussion will be fine, but there is no need to take a thread into a verbal fistfight or shouting match.

3. Do NOT descend into personal attacks on a member.
Naiveté, or viewpoints different from yours are no reason to call a member an idiot or moron.
If a poster is obnoxious, report him and ignore him.
Do not feed trolls.
NO LYNCHINGS or MUGGINGS

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Sure you did

I agree with a lot of this. But I didn’t realize we had borders???

Boarders, too!

just as much as our own national election system

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A man with a gun over there

my last name is Smith, and I was a licensed carpenter for several years

BTW, the Soviet union fell over 30 years ago

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A man with a gun over there

I'm sorry, but you will find that a difficult opinion to sustain with fact.

As to the Soviet Union, Putin is doing his best to reconstitute it one bite at a time - South Ossetia, Abkhazia, Crimea, Donetsk. Up next is Transnistra. He doesn't care how much blood or treasure it costs other people.

One of Putin's best known statements is that the fall of the Soviet Union was the worst tragedy of the 20th century.

Enjoy your trip.

“First and foremost it is worth acknowledging that the demise of the Soviet Union was the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the century,” Putin said. “As for the Russian people, it became a genuine tragedy. Tens of millions of our fellow citizens and countrymen found themselves beyond the fringes of Russian territory.

“The epidemic of collapse has spilled over to Russia itself,” he said, referring to separatist movements such as those in Chechnya. - Vladimir Putin, April 25, 2005

I seriously doubt that, the KJB never issued him a sense of humor!

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14 S&W Revs none with locks!

Chicago Motto
1948 United States Senate election in Texas


An honest politician is one who, when he is bought, will stay bought. - Simon Cameron



Bekeart

appreciate the post, but we will have to agree to disagree. It is a matter of where you get your facts. admittedly facts aren't always easy to find these days, never trust the news without fact checking them. I've always researched anything of merit, especially things I'm interested in, like S&W's which is why I'm here.

cheers

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A man with a gun over there

The latest from the State Dept. on travel to ruskiville. I'm not brave enough to vacation there.

Russia Travel Advisory

Traveling where Level 4 restrictions are in place is a lot of things, but not brave. I've had to work in three such places since 2013, but always had substantial security support and immediately available evacuation mechanisms in place.

Be careful what you do,
Or Mumbo-jumbo', God of the Congo,
And all of the other
Gods of the Congo,
Mumbo-jumbo will hoo-doo you,
Mumbo-jumbo will hoo-doo you,
Mumbo-jumbo will hoo-doo you."
(Re being spied on)

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and what his trumpet saith

Administrators, lock this one up, please. How could anyone have a positive comment about Russia since the Yalta Conference of 1945. Actually since 1917 they have been butchers.

America First has been tried before.

The America First Committee (AFC) was established in September 1940. The America First National Committee included Robert E. Wood, John T. Flynn and Charles A. Lindbergh. Supporters of the organization included Elizabeth Dilling , Burton K. Wheeler, Robert R. McCormick, Hugh S. Johnson, Robert LaFollette Jr., Amos Pinchot, Hamilton Stuyvesan Fish, Harry Elmer Barnes and Gerald Nye.

The AFC soon became the most powerful isolationist group in the United States. The AFC had four main principles: (1) The United States must build an impregnable defense for America; (2) No foreign power, nor group of powers, can successfully attack a prepared America; (3) American democracy can be preserved only by keeping out of the European War; (4) "Aid short of war" weakens national defense at home and threatens to involve America in war abroad. John T. Flynn played a major role in the organization's publicity campaigns. This included one advertisement that read: "The Last War Brought: Communism to Russia, Fascism to Italy, Nazism to Germany. What Will Another War Bring To America?"

America First Committee was dissolved 4 days after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and the very day Hitler and Mussolini declared war on us.

Please don't make me add the warning about not learning from history.

If you're planning a trip to Moscow,
Seagal pedals a rickshaw for tours around the city.
You can sign up when you buy your plane tickets.

Never met anyone who left a civilized country and
moved to Russia.
Know lotsa former Russians who left and never went back.
Russian commercial vessel Captains/crew would have stayed here
but their families in Russia were kinda like collateral.

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Have Fun/Stay Safe

We just had a moronic Canadian who moved his wife and kids to Russia to be a farmer there. It would seem that things have not gone according to plan and his wife was so unwise as to post some negative things about their experiences with Russian bureaucracies. The authorities made them publish a retraction very quickly! Move to Russia and step back in terms of civilization by about 150 yrs. Oh yes! The big cities are showcases but get into the real rural Russia which is the vast majority of the country and you'll see a standard of living that we in the west evolved beyond over a century ago.

This will leave a mark:

According to Bloomberg, all private and state-run Indian oil companies have stopped taking delivery of Russian crude carried by Sovcomflot’s tankers, including Indian Oil Corporation—the country’s largest.

The oil companies have reportedly been inspecting all ships to ensure Sovcomflot or any other sanctioned organization does not operate them.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/mark...ay/ar-BB1klznV

I have never been to Russia, but my parents were world travelers as were their best friends (people I considered my aunt and uncle). They've all been to Russia and Eastern Europe pre- and post-USSR, and being curious I asked what it was like.

My parents replied that with the exception of Moscow and Saint Petersburg it was like stepping back into the bad parts of the 1950s. Their friends described it as being "unimpeded by progress".

Good luck in your travels.

You might want to do a little research beyond YouTube about that Russian gun ownership thing.