In Moscow, a truer indicator of the state of the country outside is Pharmacy No. 1. It was once the pride of the free Soviet health system. No longer can a citizen go along assured of a decent level of health care. Drugs are scarce and out of reach. Only a few pharmaceutical companies have survived the financial collapse of August 17.
Prices are up three or four times.
A young man in a black parka stands near the pharmacy's doorway. The young man is typical of the parasites infesting Russia. Every owner of a store and kiosk has to pay a racketeer. The Moscow police chief says that 95 percent of his force is on the take. The oligarchs ride the streets in armor-plated cars with armed guards at the front and a following wagon carrying guards with submachine guns.