Be conservative but Agile, we know what the goals are, Medvedev set them out plain and simple, however, the steps needed to reach those goals may change over time, so we need two things; time to test the water, and reach new stability landing zones and the agility to change rapidly in certain areas, to deal with a bad situation developing, or more positively to advance a portion of the nation at a faster rate than the underlying conservative approach. We fortunately have time to get it right, because oil is above the magic 55 dolars, and we know slow gains last longer and are better tried and tested. This does not mean we can sit around, as we did before, but it also means we do not have to run at things in crisis mode. Russia is not a monolith, and improvement stratagies need different time constants, depending on where they are, and the risk on return for change. So for Russia, we must move in a conservative fashion in terms of our national core values,in terms of govenmental orgaisation, in terms of law and order, in terms of military ...... But in private business, we must move quickly, to further reinforce the private business economy, which should be the new renewable 'oil' engine for Russia. Also in terms of infrastructure, providing better hospitals and health care, better housing and a better built environment are items to deal with quickly. People need to feel change, feel the benefit, whislst sitting in political stability and security. We need deliver on stability, prosperity and security. The middle one is the one that should be moving on the fast track, and it should be done by enabling fully a growing private business sector. Thre is no exact script to follow, that is why we need a good management team, and we have that in Medvedev and Putin. So let's deliver quickly on some KPIs, these being connected with personal prosperity. Our people deserve it! We must be united in opportunity!

Count Cash Russia is in a unique position to build a new economic model- which seeks to balance between the needs of the society and that of the private industry. If Russia falls into the trap of neo-liberalist scheme, it will fail. Thus, I am bit suspicious on the ambiguous use of ‘modernisation’ and ‘democratisation’ of Russia coming from EU officials. Russia is a modern society as far as culture, literature and civilisation are concerned. What Russia needs is to figure out how to balance between social responsibility and private wealth making. In my view, Russia should resist unrestrained privatization and put more stress on rebuilding/ “modernising” the public infrastructure such as roads, housing , research centers. These should be Russia’ top priority programs.

Dmitry Medvedev: "Based on intellectual supremacy, the improvement of people, and the creation of new technology we will be able to preserve our world dominating position. If we remain a raw material country we’ll degrade.” "... INTELLECTUAL ...." ALL humans have the multi-billion cannot be reproduced EVER (brain) "computer" and it is this organ which separates the being human simply because of "goal seeking, problem solving" -- equation/s of our most imaginative genius. "... WORLD DOMINATING ...." Who in the world would want to dominate when this behavior can more than be discerned to be what it is: cannibalism. COOPERATION = saner "... IF WE REMAIN A RAW MATERIAL COUNTRY ....” Where in the known and unknown did Russia decide this to already be so? "... As a man thinketh ...?" EMPRESS OF CHINA = silkworms When are human beings to realize that there's no separation. Nature did not co-create with the power of imagination "THEM" only. "Comfortably Numb," appears as an unfortunate degree of intellectualism happening in so-called the highest of our species, a serious disconnect amongst synapses. HOW DOES THE HUMAN GO FORWARD WHEN THE BEST WE GET NOW (whew, thankfully not GWB, Cheney, et al.) ARE RUSSIANS WHO STAND OUT AS THE GREATEST AMONGST THE CRIMINALLY INSANE AND STILL, AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, THINK UNILATERALLY? It is an important decision to step back and reassess the problems because they appear insurmountable AND, obviously ... not one "tribe" of humans can come up with a solution to the mess the miscreant INTELLECTUALLY SUPERIOR purposely perpetrated - how better to manage herds of feral cats (human beings) than to bio-engineer them brain dead and then the obvious - migrate the dumb animals hither thither and yon. We can do better humans doing - we can remember how to be and this not one chosen group entitled TO the ALL, without the all included to be free - what our 21st Century is to succeed in or the whole fails.

Looks like P. M. Putin is a natural born leader. He instills confidence and respect. With his help, Pres. Medvedev may achieve the difficult goals they have set. Good luck.

Sarah, Nice thinking, so let me add clarity by being blunt. There should be no balance, instead there should be absolute demarcation and rules. The state's role is to preserve the state and look after the people within it, so that they have maximum opportunity and are protected when they are vunerable. But in order to do this it needs set the rules of the game, so every body knows them and can play fairly. These rules should minimise the amount of revenue the state takes to ensure its responsibilities are met to the full (read that as low tax) but maximise the overall revenue that the economy is able to generate (read that as maximum private sector income). So in simple terms, set the tax rate (as it is) to be very favourable to business, then let business free to generate more and more revenue; in the end the absolute revenues to government will go up this way, as they will prosper as the private economy prospers. But don't be confused, private economy, does not mean knock down priviatisation. Privitisation can have value, but it must be done at a fair price, and must be done with strategic interests preserved. Finally, there must be NO way for us business people to take the handles of political power, because we would optimise the system to suit our businesses, and this is where it all goes wrong, this is the route where people lose their citizenship and in the end their country. So just give me an equitable space to keep playing in, that is all I ask. Government is for the people, the economy is for business, but the government always has to be the boss, setting rules that will maximise the benefit to the citizens in the long run. In this of course they need to be intelligent enough to realise, they need make a space for business, and they are doing this right now.

It seems to me that most comments are made in reference to materialist priorities. Russia has two main advantages: 1) She has two excellent leaders who know where they go, plus more and more competent auxiliaries in the regions 2) She can see, when looking at western faillures; what must be avoided. Russia must improve her infrastructures, create a dynamic economy; but not rush and work at her own pace; taking into account her culture, her morale values and never fall in the money asservissement' system...As I said many times, she has the opportunity to become the example that the american system has failled to be. Be smart ! Sincerely...Jean-Claude Meslin

Count Cash Minimum government, low taxes and privatization are corners stone moral imperatives of neo-liberalism!