Russians are the most valuable asset Russia has. Russia government should really make sure Russian people can expect a better life standard for themselves and their children. This is a key factor which unfortunately sometimes is missing, I personally noticed. Corruption is killing small-medium enterprise and small-medium investments; it pushes the best people out of the Country. Russia people have a very high standard of culture and ability, it should not be lost by copying the worst habits of capitalism. A good example could be the Veneto region in Northern Italy, made up of a lot of small businesses of various kinds (5 to 20 employees) but very productive and very flexible. Something like this together with Russian culture, Russian tradition and Russian creativity could really give a big push to a great Country. Russia needs to have its people to feel well, safe and with a future! Luca

Luca, well said, and that is exactly what we are trying to do. Over the years, I have seen our younger people steadily and steadily enjoy a much more affluent life. But it hasn't been easy for everyone, because we have a bit of an inversion, where our old, who gave so much, are struggling to make ends meet. But the government is trying to address this one. In terms of corruption, we do have this problem, but it is a different type of corruption to the west. In Russia, it is a bottom up corruption, a few payments here and there to officials, it is an everyday way of life. In the west the corruption is heavily top down, with the government officials and friends stealing from the people, like the banks in the US or parlimentary members in the UK or Brussels. This doesn't mean there isn't top down corruption as well here. It just means that the average citizen touches the bottom up corruption everyday, so its part of life. However, I must say I do see a will to change things, I can't see huge actions yet, but I do believe we are going in the right direction. I do have faith, that we will improve things dramatically in not so many years. Quality of life, should definitely be our focus, I have had the experience of living in the US, the privelege of living in Canada and the misfortune to live in the UK and some europeans countries over the years. You are quite right, we need to be careful what we do. We need our own solution, not copying from one system to another. But we must find our way, and our way must be affluent, more tolerant, more globalized people, born form a strong moral peaceful nation. We had a 'reset', that in vogue word nearly two decades ago. We must make sure, we walk our own path, to create something that we are respected for, and places us as friends amongst the world community. My father always told me, you can help no one, unless you can help yourself. I believe in Russia, we must help ourselves, and become a nation with great living standards for all our people. But we must do this though a free-enterprise, innovative way. Not the nanny european socialist way, that cripples the will and ability of the people. We have lots to do, but having a stable government, that is not like the west, which has descended into a two party mafia, sub-optimised and acting against the people, for the politicians own gains, is not the way for us. I am very happy, with where we are going, I am happy we are being led in a controlled responsible fashion, with stability, it gets my vote every time! Leave the pendulum of failure in the european socialist clock.

oh!! it is like asking for the moon!! the people of russia have lived in 'a command and control' economy for what, the last 75 years??!! Now, a switch to market controlled economy!! with-out the entire paraphenalia the 'west' has so glibly introduced over the years..!! It's asking too much of the russian people and the russian people will definitely not like it when the'chips are down' ..as they say..!! let the leaders find it out for themselves !! the hard way!! its their funeral anyway from ; raaj joshi email;; aventinesylla@yahoo.co.in