I Saw Democracy Die in Russia | Hacker News Reader

I Saw Democracy Die in Russia

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51 pointsjordigh13 comments

I encourage people to read the post. Whether or not Russia was ever a democracy in recent times, the author draws clear, specific parallels to the erosion of checks and balances that are interesting and informative.

To me the most upsetting part is how half the country sees things in the exact opposite way. Many see the institutions as already captured by an authoritarian party, and think Trump’s heavy handed ruling is stomping out the corruption.

How does one even engage with the other side when two realities are so polar opposite?

Even if Trump’s depiction of some deep state were true, why is replacing our institutions with less democratic ones the correct answer? It’s as if half the country has given up on democracy and has decided a more authoritarian rule will solve the US’ problems. History teaches us over and over again that this does not end well, even when it feels like the most appealing approach.

I don’t know what to do. I never thought I’d feel terrified living in my own country.

> why is replacing our institutions with less democratic ones the correct answer

What do you mean replacing? What the Trump's base mostly wants is getting rid of federal bloat, and transferring power to local government (e.g. education). Very democratic, very decentralizing. Did Trump even create a single "institution" yet?

"Democrats" screech "democracy needs saving" where what they really mean is "our oligarchic bureaucracy needs saving".

This is rich. How's the Kool aid taste?

When was Russia a democracy? [1]

It should also be remembered that Putin enjoyed real popularity, especially during his first Presidency because he brought back order and living standards improved. Regarding Ukraine, the way he took Crimea "back" with barely a shot fired was also extremely popular in Russia.

[1] https://www.journalofdemocracy.org/articles/why-russias-demo...

FTA:

> I vividly remember the sense of possibility in Russia around the year 2000

He means there was the possibility of a different future, with democracy, until Putin step by step took the power.

> Putin enjoyed real popularity,

Trump got lots of votes, isn't that a similarity?

Should have moved to the EU. I lived in Russia and the US and compared to EU countries they both have really huge issues. Both countries could be great places to live but their militarism and "patriotism" makes that impossible. The amount of money their governments suck from society and put into military is crazy. And both countries are not a democracy anymore but an oligarchy, Russia a lot more obviously than the US.

> I vividly remember the sense of possibility in Russia around the year 2000. For someone like the 15-year old me, who had just become politically aware, it felt like we were leaving behind the chaotic 1990s and stepping toward something more stable and prosperous

The best "communism experts" are those who never experienced it. /s

It did die, mostly between 1905 and 1917.

> It did die, mostly between 1905 and 1917.

Yes, because Nicholas was a democratically elected czar. /s

A surface level of understanding of Russian history, at best. If we're going to be pedantic, the Novgorod republic was the last time anything in the modern Russian territory had anything close to a proper democracy anyway, why so angry?

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