Yes, lets introduce our greed and envy culture so they can explode then implode and be screwed like the rest of us. And of course enforce our brand of democracy, where the cash is king and all that matters. Well done.
Relevance? Answering your question would I rather live in somewhere like Arizona, New Mexico or maybe California to Siberia or Kamchatka? Then it would be the US but if it was being black and poor in Detroit or New Orleans (and a whole lot other places I guess) I think I would be tempted by Russia. The Crimea when all the Hoo Haa dies down is meant to be a lovely spot. Besides neither actually appeals I'd be more tempted by the Nordic countries But what does standard of living have to do with a country's foreign policy? The point I'm just trying to get across is the majority (from perception only) in the UK see US good, Russia bad and its just not that simple when you read accounts of who was up to what.
well that is probabally about as near to the truth as the shit which you are willing to read and accept in the main stream media..
This is an interesting example of policy reversal. Sometimes a policy has been in place for decades, vigorously implemented and strictly enforced; such as being nasty to Cuba, prohibition of cannabis, or discriminating against gays. Eventually it becomes clear the policy is not working, will never work, is increasingly unpopular, and is essentially indefensible. So at some point a leader has to be brave enough to bite the bullet, and reverse the policy. At first there are protests, mainly from people who have invested their careers in the old policy. Then most people realise the new policy is an improvement. After a few years, it becomes impossible to imagine how such a useless policy could have been pursued for so long.
