Friday 27 November 2009

A Quote



OK it's a quote from Vladimir Putin but it's worth reading ( sent by a lovely reader of this blog):

"Excessive intervention in economic activity and blind faith in the state's omnipotence is another possible mistake... Instead of streamlining market mechanisms, some are tempted to expand state economic intervention to the greatest possible extent...

In the 20th century, the Soviet Union made the state's role absolute. In the long run, this made the Soviet economy totally uncompetitive. This lesson cost us dearly. I am sure nobody wants to see it repeated...There is no reason to believe that we can achieve better results by shifting responsibility onto the state...

And one more point: anti-crisis measures should not escalate into financial populism and a refusal to implement responsible macroeconomic policies. The unjustified swelling of the budgetary deficit and the accumulation of public debts are just as destructive as adventurous stock-jobbing."

-- Vladimir Putin, Russia Prime Minister
Feb 2009 Lecturing the U.S. on the dangers of socialism.

10 comments:

Nikostratos said...

From a man who takes Stalin as his role model.

although we do not know if he made the quote.Him being a moronic gangster who has Journalists murdered.

subrosa said...

For all that he has power Niko.

Clarinda said...

Good heavens - Vladimir and Vince, separated at birth!

Difficult to trust these sentiments from the chap (ex-KGB)whose terms of premiership have left Russia as a "criminal state" according to leading political writers eg 'Darkness at Dawn'. He may kill tigers and ride horses without the aid of hard hats or high-viz jacket which I suppose does make him more Macho than Gekko.

Off topic - Lord Falconer was harpooned on the sharp end of the Edinburgh QT audience last night - and most of the panel - as, in his blubbery attempts to defend his flatmate Tony Blair, he gave a master class on incrimination - "The (Lord) doth protest too much, methinks".

Vronsky said...

Funny to see a former communist advocating laissez-faire capitalism. Given recent events in the world of finance, I assume it's not a recent quote.

Over at Cynicus Economicus, it's being pointed out (by Lord Keynes in a comment) that the communistic command economies, e.g. China, were unaffected by the banking crash owing to their tight regulation. Canada also has very tight regulation, and escaped harm (apart from knock-on damage from the US economy).

Unusually for me, watched QT. Yeah, 'Lord' Falconer came across as a blustering twit. Interesting was the unanimity in the panel (Lord Falconer, David Davis, Nicola Sturgeon, Melanie Phillips and Marcus Brigstocke) that the Scottish parliament should have greater tax-raising powers. Davis repeated his previously stated preference for full fiscal autonomy. Best was Brigstocke (a comedian, FFS), but Nicola strong as always.

BTW, sr, Melanie Phillips agrees with you that global warming is a scam - if that doesn't convince you that it isn't, then nothing will!

subrosa said...

It is difficult to a degree Clarinda but then Putin does a reasonable balancing act playing to both sides of the coin.

I watched QT and of course Charlie would defend his old flatmate. It was the manner in which he swept aside any criticism of Tony which irritated here.

Then of course, everyone was convinced of climate change. Strange that not once did anyone say that what they really mean is man-made climate change which now we know is so minimal it's not worth talking about.

subrosa said...

February 2009 Vronsky so it's not that old. Have you noticed the west cuddling up to the Chinese even more since the banking crash?

Now, now Vronsky, I never said there's no global warming. My belief is that most of it is natural process and not made by me using hairspray.

Crinkly & Ragged Arsed Philosophers said...

Regarding QT, Falconer had to use all his Pavlovian training to maintain his denial mode.

But the clever thing was his use of 'Tony' to both extricate himself from blame while giving a sly hint he was more in the know than others.

I thought the debate was of a pretty good standard and amongst the politico's Nicola lead, Davis talked sense and Falconer blustered.

The strange thing for me was the lack of MSP's from the other parties on the panel. Or is this just another version of an unbiased broadcast, where the panellist are not 'pre advised' as to the questions and Ms Phillips exposed her encyclopaedic knowledge of the global warming debate.

So were left with a question on Question Time. Is it baffle, bullshit or brains?

Apogee said...

Hi SR
Fascinating to read what Putin says and then read the comments.
That he was part of the Communist system and a member of the KGB (shock, horror) seems to be of more interest than what he is saying; we made these mistakes in Russia in the 20th century and no one wants to repeat them.
UK under nulabour seems to have done in the last 10 years all the same things that Putin says, from experience and hindsight, are not good ideas, to get the UK into the mess it is in, something it took the communists in Russia 70 years to achieve, so I guess that's efficiency, of a sort.
But it has been revealed recently that most of our current leaders were Communists since they went to university, and only became nulabour later in life.Could the early indoctrination of marxist philosophy be the reason things followed a similar path.It is logical,is it not?
And is not the actions he warned against in the third paragraph,exactly what we are doing now? Remember that he speaks from hindsight!

subrosa said...

Crinkly, I read on Caron's blog that the libdem, who had been booked to appear, was told at the last minute they weren't required.

Like you I found it poor they or the tories weren't represented. I prefer balance and fairness and a comedian plus a journalist doesn't give the political balance.

I've always found QT more of a lightweight political programme which seldom treats any subject in any depth.

subrosa said...

Hi Apogee, good summary, very good and you're right - there's still much of the old Commie within the labour party. Beliefs don't just vanish in the shower.

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