Subj : books.. Socialist "Democr To : AUGUST ABOLINS From : Mike Powell Date : Mon Dec 01 2025 10:53:42 > >> I mean, look at Putin.. He was just an upper level KGB soldier > >> when he took over as president and today he is worth as much > >> as $200 Billion, depending on source. (Some say $70 Billion) > MP> Technically, Russia is no longer communist. That said, I strongly > MP> believe that many of the broken things going on over there are because > MP> the people in charge were part of that USSR upper class discussed above & > MP> they've not really changed enough how they do things. > Russia is an oligarchy. > Take a look at "How to Slay a Dragon - Mikhail Khodorkovsky" > or.. "Putin's People - Catherine Belton" > or.. "Once Upon a Time in Russia: The Rise of the Oligarchs-A > True Story of Ambition, Wealth, Betrayal, and Murder - Ben > Mezrich" Yes, I know, but I believe that their problems started because they didn't really change enough how they did things and "oligarchy" is what they settled into as a result. Mike * SLMR 2.1a * Never mind the star, get those camels off my lawn! --- SBBSecho 3.28-Linux * Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (618:250/1) .