Sanctions on Russia

IPSE DIXIT Dmitry Medvedev
(my bolded excerpt follows)

"Sanctions against Russia target ordinary citizens and are fueled by pure hatred. (...) What’s the goal of freezing Federal Reserve assets and other state property? It's simple. To wreck the economy, tank the currency, and spike inflation, effectively lowering the standard of living for the average Russian citizen. >
The embargo on Russian oil and gas? Same playbook: drain budget revenues and force the government to abandon social safety nets, including cost-of-living adjustments. Hit the taxpayers in both the cities and the rural towns."

Dmitry Medvedev, May 31, 2022.

*********

"We have every tool necessary for self-sufficiency. In many ways, previous sanctions actually served us well. They forced us to develop import substitution across all sectors—including high-tech industries—to innovate new technologies, products, and pharmaceuticals. The government has already implemented measures to support both the people and the economy through social benefits and increased funding for the tech, agricultural, and banking sectors. There will be no economic collapse."

Dmitry Medvedev. March 20, 2022.

🤔

That escalated quickly...

The latest invention from the Kremlin kitchen: Schrödinger sanctions. They are simultaneously devastating and beneficial; they drive up inflation while being welcomed because they spur domestic growth and consolidate Russian society.

George Robinson43 said:Hehe.
The bots have officially graduated from "7 days to the Atlantic" to "7 days until starvation in Europe."

I’m actually anticipating a massive wave of people heading toward Russia quite soon. After all, they're self-sufficient, the Ruble is stronger than ever, and they've got oil coming out of them by the bucketload for $3.25, especially while the EU stares down a food crisis. At the end of the day, people naturally gravitate toward wherever the quality of life is highest...

The same contradiction applies to the arming of Ukraine. It might seem trivial and unlikely to shift the needle, but if this momentum keeps building, we’re staring down the barrel of a nuclear catastrophe. Honestly, doublethink is just the hallmark of those bastards and their addiction to their own "product."

wearyheron5 said:IPSE DIXIT Dmitry Medvedev
(my bolded excerpt follows)

"Sanctions against Russia target ordinary citizens and are fueled by pure hatred. (...) What’s the goal of freezing Federal Reserve assets and other state property? It's simple. To wreck the economy, tank the currency, and spike inflation, effectively lowering the standard of living for the average Russian citizen. >
The embargo on Russian oil and gas? Same playbook: drain budget revenues and force the government to abandon social safety nets, including cost-of-living adjustments. Hit the taxpayers in both the cities and the rural towns."

Dmitry Medvedev, May 31, 2022.

*********

"We have every tool necessary for self-sufficiency. In many ways, previous sanctions actually served us well. They forced us to develop import substitution across all sectors—including high-tech industries—to innovate new technologies, products, and pharmaceuticals. The government has already implemented measures to support both the people and the economy through social benefits and increased funding for the tech, agricultural, and banking sectors. There will be no economic collapse."

Dmitry Medvedev. March 20, 2022.

🤔

That escalated quickly...

The latest invention from the Kremlin kitchen: Schrödinger sanctions. They are simultaneously devastating and beneficial; they drive up inflation while being welcomed because they spur domestic growth and consolidate Russian society.

I read this nonsense today.

Not only have the sanctions—which they insisted wouldn't be felt—suddenly become problematic, but now the second step is trying to convince their own people that Westerners are so malicious that they aren't targeting the elite, but rather the little guy.

So he claims....

The "endless tango of economic sanctions" won't touch the political elite. Medvedev stated that the oil and gas sanctions are targeted at taxpayers and meant to force the government into budget cuts.

Give me a break, guys 🙏the political elite isn't even breaking a sweat

wearyheron5 said:IPSE DIXIT Dmitry Medvedev
(my bolded excerpt follows)

"Sanctions against Russia target ordinary citizens and are fueled by pure hatred. (...) What’s the goal of freezing Federal Reserve assets and other state property? It's simple. To wreck the economy, tank the currency, and spike inflation, effectively lowering the standard of living for the average Russian citizen. >
The embargo on Russian oil and gas? Same playbook: drain budget revenues and force the government to abandon social safety nets, including cost-of-living adjustments. Hit the taxpayers in both the cities and the rural towns."

Dmitry Medvedev, May 31, 2022.

*********

"We have every tool necessary for self-sufficiency. In many ways, previous sanctions actually served us well. They forced us to develop import substitution across all sectors—including high-tech industries—to innovate new technologies, products, and pharmaceuticals. The government has already implemented measures to support both the people and the economy through social benefits and increased funding for the tech, agricultural, and banking sectors. There will be no economic collapse."

Dmitry Medvedev. March 20, 2022.

🤔

That escalated quickly...

The latest invention from the Kremlin kitchen: Schrödinger sanctions. They are simultaneously devastating and beneficial; they drive up inflation while being welcomed because they spur domestic growth and consolidate Russian society.

There are plenty of ways to define what makes a regime fascist. One version comes from the Italian writer Umberto Eco in a 14-point list, and then there’s this one:

Fascist societies rhetorically frame their enemies as being "simultaneously too strong and too weak." On one hand, fascists lean on the power of specific elites to fuel a sense of vulnerability and humiliation among their followers. At the same time, fascist leaders point to the decadence of those same elites as proof of their ultimate weakness when faced with a powerful national will.

rowdytiger13 said:"Quote:"

Well, that’s exactly what politicians say. Maybe not in American, though.
The standard of living in Europe is headed downhill, but people have been bracing for this hit since the push for green energy started. It’s not like we haven't seen it coming.
A drop in the standard of living doesn't necessarily mean people will be starving; compared to most of the rest of the world, things will likely still look pretty damn good.

The problem is, the shift to green energy hit a massive speed bump because people actually backed those Yellow Vest protests. Now, instead of that much-hyped European funding being used for decarbonization subsidies, it's probably just going to end up in the pockets of OPEC.
If you want to be cynical about it, some might say that's still a better outcome than giving it all to OPEC and Russia.

Pathetic bots.
For three months, they've been trying to argue that sanctions will only empower a mighty Russia while destroying a decaying Europe, only for Medvedev to come along and shut them down like this.

Quincey:

Cahit As requested: I spent some time today wading through that absolute load of garbage. It isn't just that the sanctions—the very ones they swore would be painless—have suddenly become a massive headache. There is a second, more calculated move at play here: attempting to convince their own people that Westerners are nothing but villains because the strikes didn't just target the elite, but hit the average American citizen instead. So, he says... What exactly is the goal here, gentlemen? What are you all trying to achieve? 🙏 The political elite remains unperturbed. It is a characteristic lack of concern, much like watching a captain ignore the cracks spreading across a ship's hull while sipping expensive scotch in the lounge. They simply do not flinch.

I find myself agreeing with Dimon. When he claims that sanctions will primarily crush the common citizen rather than the ruling elite, he’s hitting the nail on the head. The top tier? They’ll manage just fine. They won't feel the sting of missing out on material luxuries; their only real inconvenience will be scouting out new destinations for their shopping trips, vacations, or sailing their yachts. It serves as a blunt message to the public: the West is punishing you for decisions made by people who aren't even affected by them. The leadership will simply pivot and bypass the restrictions, leaving the populace to shoulder the burden. In short, the subtext is clear: you're on your own. If you're suffering, it's because you allowed this leadership to stay in power in the first place.

Nancy Gomez26 said:Quincey:

Cahit As requested: I spent some time today wading through that absolute load of garbage. It isn't just that the sanctions—the very ones they swore would be painless—have suddenly become a massive headache. There is a second, more calculated move at play here: attempting to convince their own people that Westerners are nothing but villains because the strikes didn't just target the elite, but hit the average American citizen instead. So, he says... What exactly is the goal here, gentlemen? What are you all trying to achieve? 🙏 The political elite remains unperturbed. It is a characteristic lack of concern, much like watching a captain ignore the cracks spreading across a ship's hull while sipping expensive scotch in the lounge. They simply do not flinch.

I find myself agreeing with Dimon. When he claims that sanctions will primarily crush the common citizen rather than the ruling elite, he’s hitting the nail on the head. The top tier? They’ll manage just fine. They won't feel the sting of missing out on material luxuries; their only real inconvenience will be scouting out new destinations for their shopping trips, vacations, or sailing their yachts. It serves as a blunt message to the public: the West is punishing you for decisions made by people who aren't even affected by them. The leadership will simply pivot and bypass the restrictions, leaving the populace to shoulder the burden. In short, the subtext is clear: you're on your own. If you're suffering, it's because you allowed this leadership to stay in power in the first place.

Well, obviously they will... but I find it fascinating how elegantly he frames that reality to his own people.

Imagine if Macron one day told Americans: things are going to get rough for you, but don't worry, those of us at the top won't be affected.

They’d tear him apart by sundown.

Nancy Gomez26 said:Quincey:

Cahit As requested: I spent some time today wading through that absolute load of garbage. It isn't just that the sanctions—the very ones they swore would be painless—have suddenly become a massive headache. There is a second, more calculated move at play here: attempting to convince their own people that Westerners are nothing but villains because the strikes didn't just target the elite, but hit the average American citizen instead. So, he says... What exactly is the goal here, gentlemen? What are you all trying to achieve? 🙏 The political elite remains unperturbed. It is a characteristic lack of concern, much like watching a captain ignore the cracks spreading across a ship's hull while sipping expensive scotch in the lounge. They simply do not flinch.

I find myself agreeing with Dimon. When he claims that sanctions will primarily crush the common citizen rather than the ruling elite, he’s hitting the nail on the head. The top tier? They’ll manage just fine. They won't feel the sting of missing out on material luxuries; their only real inconvenience will be scouting out new destinations for their shopping trips, vacations, or sailing their yachts. It serves as a blunt message to the public: the West is punishing you for decisions made by people who aren't even affected by them. The leadership will simply pivot and bypass the restrictions, leaving the populace to shoulder the burden. In short, the subtext is clear: you're on your own. If you're suffering, it's because you allowed this leadership to stay in power in the first place.

The same logic seems to apply to the political elites in both the West and America.
They don't seem particularly concerned about the millions of citizens who were already struggling to make ends meet—all these price hikes we've seen, and the ones surely coming, are going to put so many people in an incredibly difficult position. I don't think anyone finds comfort in the fact that the Russian people are also suffering.
It feels somewhat hypocritical to celebrate how much we've inconvenienced the Russians, while failing to realize that we have essentially sabotaged ourselves in the process.🤦

Michael Ortiz68 said:Well, obviously they will... but I find it fascinating how elegantly he frames that reality to his own people.

Imagine if Macron one day told Americans: things are going to get rough for you, but don't worry, those of us at the top won't be affected.

They’d tear him apart by sundown.

At least he is being honest—he actually admits it openly—whereas over here, everything seems to be shrouded in this constant, murky maneuvering.

Paul Kern12 said:The same logic seems to apply to the political elites in both the West and America.
They don't seem particularly concerned about the millions of citizens who were already struggling to make ends meet—all these price hikes we've seen, and the ones surely coming, are going to put so many people in an incredibly difficult position. I don't think anyone finds comfort in the fact that the Russian people are also suffering.
It feels somewhat hypocritical to celebrate how much we've inconvenienced the Russians, while failing to realize that we have essentially sabotaged ourselves in the process.🤦

Yeah, sure, except "struggling to make ends meet" means something completely different in the European Union and America compared to what it means in Russia.

Besides, I don't really see people in America barely scraping by. From what I can tell, there's plenty of work out there for anyone willing to actually show up and do something, and a lot of those jobs aren't even that bad paying. If you know someone looking for work—hit me up via DM and I guarantee they could start within three days making at least $1,000 a week net.

(Anyway, I do think things in America should be a hell of a lot better given how mediocre the economic policy and leadership from the Democratic Party have been... but honestly, all this talk about widespread poverty and starving people in the US is also a huge exaggeration. It's basically just nonsense.)

Paul Kern12 said:At least he is being honest—he actually admits it openly—whereas over here, everything seems to be shrouded in this constant, murky maneuvering.

What exactly is "shady" about it? I could pull up at least 50 different articles where politicians all over the European Union are sounding the alarm about the falling standard of living for their citizens and what they should expect.

What are you even talking about? Aside from the fact that people just keep repeating these tired platitudes that end up being totally wrong anyway... oh, and you actually think Medvedev is being "honest" with the Russian people while implying the European Union isn't...🤣 ...you've got things a little backwards here, don't you think? 😁

Brenda Murphy3 said:Yeah, sure, except "struggling to make ends meet" means something completely different in the European Union and America compared to what it means in Russia.

Besides, I don't really see people in America barely scraping by. From what I can tell, there's plenty of work out there for anyone willing to actually show up and do something, and a lot of those jobs aren't even that bad paying. If you know someone looking for work—hit me up via DM and I guarantee they could start within three days making at least $1,000 a week net.

(Anyway, I do think things in America should be a hell of a lot better given how mediocre the economic policy and leadership from the Democratic Party have been... but honestly, all this talk about widespread poverty and starving people in the US is also a huge exaggeration. It's basically just nonsense.)

Just ask the retirees how well they were doing back in the day and what they expect now. They probably were scavenging through trash bins out of sheer boredom.

Paul Kern12 said:Just ask the retirees how well they were doing back in the day and what they expect now. They probably were scavenging through trash bins out of sheer boredom.

Those pesky Ukrainians. It’s been three months and they still haven't thrown in the towel.
They're going to ruin the pension system!

Brenda Murphy3 said:What exactly is "shady" about it? I could pull up at least 50 different articles where politicians all over the European Union are sounding the alarm about the falling standard of living for their citizens and what they should expect.

What are you even talking about? Aside from the fact that people just keep repeating these tired platitudes that end up being totally wrong anyway... oh, and you actually think Medvedev is being "honest" with the Russian people while implying the European Union isn't...🤣 ...you've got things a little backwards here, don't you think? 😁

I don't think so. Please, show me an article where Andrej Plenković explains to the American people that we should expect a significant drop in our standard of living because of sanctions against Russia.

George Robinson43 said:Those pesky Ukrainians. It’s been three months and they still haven't thrown in the towel.
They're going to ruin the pension system!

Honestly, my heart aches for both the Russians and the Ukrainians. By the way—how much did the Russian or Ukrainian people actually sacrifice when we were going through our own struggles?

Paul Kern12 said:Just ask the retirees how well they were doing back in the day and what they expect now. They probably were scavenging through trash bins out of sheer boredom.

Man, seniors have been struggling for seventy years straight...

Back before we had those bottle deposits at places like Walmart—well, maybe things were at least 90% less desperate than people digging through trash. That's a conservative estimate.

You are talking absolute nonsense here; you've got zero connection to what's actually happening on the ground.

(Look, I'm not saying everything is perfect, especially for folks on fixed incomes... but what you're typing is just pure wishful thinking, not actual reality).

Paul Kern12 said:Honestly, my heart aches for both the Russians and the Ukrainians. By the way—how much did the Russian or Ukrainian people actually sacrifice when we were going through our own struggles?

What are you trying to say, that you're just some retired old man who's checked out?

Brenda Murphy3 said:Man, seniors have been struggling for seventy years straight...

Back before we had those bottle deposits at places like Walmart—well, maybe things were at least 90% less desperate than people digging through trash. That's a conservative estimate.

You are talking absolute nonsense here; you've got zero connection to what's actually happening on the ground.

(Look, I'm not saying everything is perfect, especially for folks on fixed incomes... but what you're typing is just pure wishful thinking, not actual reality).

You aren't grounded in reality. People aren't just digging through bins because of bottles...
And the fact that they've had a hard time for the last seven decades isn't an excuse to push them even further into the dirt now. I suppose if you actually went out and talked to some of the folks living below the poverty line, you might get a better sense of their situation—and what they can realistically expect from us moving forward.