This did not endear him to the Russian government. Putin may not be a Hitler or a Stalin, but Russia very much resembles Weimar Germany right now. A few kleptocrats have grown rich, but Russia's gross domestic product has shrunk by 40 percent during the last seven years. About 80 percent of Russia's farmers are bankrupt. And at least half of Russia's people are worse off than before the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Crime is out of control.
Health is deteriorating to disastrous levels. At such times, even people with strong democratic histories have been tempted by tyrants. Russia's democratic tradition has yet to be born. And the future looks quite bleak. JWR contributor Mona Charen reads all of her mail.