I was thinking....

[DimPrawn]

...how much a government influences the wealth of a country and it's people.

Take Russia. Before the rise of capitalism, where they had state control of everything and policies not dissimilar to Socialism, the people would queue in the cold to buy a potato.

Now Moscow is the most expensive city in the world to live in, the roads are chock with S-class mercs and London's best property is being snapped up by Russians.

The people haven't suddenly gotten better educated and the oil and gas was there before.

It's just a change of government.

[expat]

...how much a government influences the wealth of a country and it's people.

Take Russia. Before the rise of capitalism, where they had state control of everything and policies not dissimilar to Socialism, the people would queue in the cold to buy a potato.

Now Moscow is the most expensive city in the world to live in, the roads are chock with S-class mercs and London's best property is being snapped up by Russians.

The people haven't suddenly gotten better educated and the oil and gas was there before.

It's just a change of government.

Have the people suddenly gotten better off? Do they all have S-class mercs? Or are they poor as ever but now with no healthcare, no job security or pension, higher crime, and a bunch of S-class-driving oligarchs living off their country's wealth?

[Moscow Mule]

Have the people suddenly gotten better off? Do they all have S-class mercs? Or are they poor as ever but now with no healthcare, no job security or pension, higher crime, and a bunch of S-class-driving oligarchs living off their country's wealth?

This is closer to the mark, but Russia's middle class is growing exponentially.

[BrilloPad]

Please dont think any more. Or at least dont think and paste the results here. cuk is the place for those who dont think.

[Cyberman]

Have the people suddenly gotten better off? Do they all have S-class mercs? Or are they poor as ever but now with no healthcare, no job security or pension, higher crime, and a bunch of S-class-driving oligarchs living off their country's wealth?

Swap oligarchs for bankers and that virtually sums up the UK, apart from healthcare.

[DimPrawn]

Please dont think any more. Or at least dont think and paste the results here. cuk is the place for those who dont think.

That's what I thought.

[DimPrawn]

Have the people suddenly gotten better off? Do they all have S-class mercs? Or are they poor as ever but now with no healthcare, no job security or pension, higher crime, and a bunch of S-class-driving oligarchs living off their country's wealth?

Are you seriously saying the people as a whole are not exponentially better off now?

The super rich need cars serviced, food, good restaurants, fancy clothes, staff, etc. It all trickles down.

Nothing changed except the government philosophy.

[Moscow Mule]

Are you seriously saying the people as a whole are not exponentially better off now?

The super rich need cars serviced, food, good restaurants, fancy clothes, staff, etc. It all trickles down.

Nothing changed except the government philosophy.

There is still a humungous underclass who barely scrape by - 12% (IIRC) live in abject poverty.

Most of the oligarchs are rich because they used to be thieves/generally unsavoury in Commie Russia. Yes, there is an increase in jobs servicing the super rich, but I don't think you can blame it all on government philosophy.

[pzz76077]

There is still a humungous underclass who barely scrape by - 12% (IIRC) live in abject poverty.

Most of the oligarchs are rich because they used to be thieves/generally unsavoury in Commie Russia. Yes, there is an increase in jobs servicing the super rich, but I don't think you can blame it all on government philosophy.

What kind of government would be best?? Or no government at all maybe- everyone sorts themselves out??

PZZ

[bogeyman]

Are you seriously saying the people as a whole are not exponentially better off now?

WTF is 'exponentially better off' ?

Why are we not 'logarithmically' better off, or at worst 'linearly' better off?