Putin has a pension problem

[ScreamingEagle]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6832952/

A law that gives retirees, the disabled, war veterans and others cash stipends instead of benefits such as free medicine and public transportation took effect Jan. 1, sparking the largest uproar in Putin’s five years in power.

Protest spans the nation
Large protests have spread to numerous cities across Russia’s 11 time zones, including Putin’s hometown, St. Petersburg. Officials said the reform affected about 40 million of Russia’s 144 million people.

Protesters say new monthly payments of about $10 are worth much less than the benefits, forcing them to have to choose among food, transportation and medicine.

The Kremlin has described the social reform as a long-overdue effort to streamline and modernize the economy, but many commentators predict now that Putin may respond to the crisis by firing government ministers.

Putin defended the reform, saying that its general concept was right and that the state could not afford to maintain the unwieldy and inefficient social support system.

 

[onedomino]

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An acknowledgement in the new Soviet Union that services cost money? A police state with cash stipends? Now that's progress.
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[Annie]

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An acknowledgement in the new Soviet Union that services cost money? A police state with cash stipends? Now that's progress.
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Agreed. Don't know that it will save him however.

 

[onedomino]

Agreed. Don't know that it will save him however.

By severely limiting the media, destroying Yukos, and ending the popular election of governors, Putin is consolidating his grip on power and reconstituting the Soviet police state. He intends to weather Russian social storms by force.
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[Annie]

By severely limiting the media, destroying Yukos, and ending the popular election of governors, Putin is consolidating his grip on power and reconstituting the Soviet police state. He intends to weather Russian social storms by force.
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On that we agree. I truly think he would like to put humpty dumpty back together. Just don't think it can be done, tg.

 

[wolvie20m]

Russia is still in a far too shatered state to try and reclaim any previous glory...too bad they could be great they just lack the honest leadership.

 

[NATO AIR]

Georgia... yesterday
Ukraine... today
Belarus... tomorrow
Russia.... ????

Putin's grip on power will not be as strong as he thinks, especially if things like this continue to pop up on the radar screen.