RE: Russia's imploding.
January 28, 2015 at 9:02 am
(This post was last modified: January 28, 2015 at 9:06 am by Creed of Heresy.)
Well, actually, I think the reason for OPEC's upkeep of supply despite price might be in reaction to this in particular. I don't know much about the oil economy, as I find far more interest in the ideas of solar-panel roads and thorium reactors and Tesla cars and stuff, but given that the EU just introduced even MORE sanctions against Russia, it seems that the reason OPEC has gone for the lower price has been to become an appealing replacement to Russia as far as supply goes. Russia's hold as the majority supplier is now in jeopardy, and Europe will probably need to look elsewhere. Lower prices, coming from nations that AREN'T under sanctions for financing illegal rebel operations in a sovereign nation that is requesting to become the newest member of NATO, with more reliable supply...
OPEC will gladly sacrifice cost-per-barrel if it means having a whole new continent of consumers.
Russia is in serious shit. It's in danger of losing the customers it relies upon to actually be a nation.
I vote we all rush to save the Russian people and bring them over here or at least somewhere in Europe.
Russian accents are sexy~
You'd be surprised. Putin is actually pretty reviled amongst the "common" folk of Russia. It's largely understood by the populace that he rigged the elections and their votes didn't mean shit, but he's using the Russian military not just for foreign defense, but to keep people from breaking out in riots or protests. Russia is basically North Korea, except without the worship of the leadership.
Thing is...the Russian military can only be Putin's pet bulldogs as long as there's money around to finance them. No money, no military. Even if he himself doesn't suffer financially, he's gonna find himself without an army. No army, an angry populace...
What could possibly go wrong?
http://www.ft.com/fastft/268082
The new EU sanctions I mentioned.
OPEC will gladly sacrifice cost-per-barrel if it means having a whole new continent of consumers.
Russia is in serious shit. It's in danger of losing the customers it relies upon to actually be a nation.
I vote we all rush to save the Russian people and bring them over here or at least somewhere in Europe.
Russian accents are sexy~
(January 28, 2015 at 9:00 am)Fidel_Castronaut Wrote: Thing is about Putin, and his oligarch friends, is that they're so rich a massive downturn in Russia's economy won't affect them at all.
Most of them non-dom to London anyway. The entire Russian economy can go to shit and Putin's grip around the population means many of them will still love him and praise him for 'standing up to the western bullies'.
I dread to think what the rich/poor divide is like in Russia having not studied it, but I would it's massive. Wealth concentration there is centered almost entirely around the Kremlin. Even if you're an oligarch, if you fall out of favor, better watch your back.
If people wanted a perfect example of a cult of personality, I think Putin would be it.
You'd be surprised. Putin is actually pretty reviled amongst the "common" folk of Russia. It's largely understood by the populace that he rigged the elections and their votes didn't mean shit, but he's using the Russian military not just for foreign defense, but to keep people from breaking out in riots or protests. Russia is basically North Korea, except without the worship of the leadership.
Thing is...the Russian military can only be Putin's pet bulldogs as long as there's money around to finance them. No money, no military. Even if he himself doesn't suffer financially, he's gonna find himself without an army. No army, an angry populace...
What could possibly go wrong?
http://www.ft.com/fastft/268082
The new EU sanctions I mentioned.
