The Russian Elite Can’t Stand the Sanctions

theatlantic.com

27 points·gamechangr··5 comments

I pretty much think these people are useless wastes of space. If they are still eating, they should consider themselves very lucky.

I'd love it if we were creative enough to prove me wrong - leave them with the wealth of the average Russian and then turn them loose again. Actually, that might be too fair to them. Quite a lot of that wealth is due to their predation on their own countryfolk. These oligarchs are not nationalists at all. I think they could give two shits about being Russian, or Russians, or Russia. If only 99.999% of their wealth could be put into escrow, intended to be reinvested in Russia (including whatever reparations Russia owns Ukraine). So yeah I'm definitely still in the camp of them being wastes of space.

Is there any difference between them and any other billionaire? At least Russia has free health care (albeit probably not the best in the world), US billionaires pay no taxes, an equal argument can (and has) been made to redistribute their wealth. The best system perhaps is each person contributes and receives according to their ability and needs :-D, of course who determines this? Most oligarchs would say I need a yacht and $20,000 watch!

“Is there any difference between them and any other billionaire?”

No.

“an equal argument can (and has) been made to redistribute their wealth.”

As it should be. We have oligarchs just like they do, and ours are no better.

If other billionaires are propping up this corrupt regime, then no. But by the looks of it, most of the Russian billionaires are in a unique position compared to others.

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/03/russian-sa...

These measures are not sanctions. These measures are just special financial operations.

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