The rouble is in trouble

[Balog]

The whole national character has been debased and ruined by the outlawing of religious freedom and the decades of cultural Marxism.

It is a country of lies, deceptions and corruption.

I don't care how hot she is; if she is morally vacuous I'm running away!

Wait, are you talking about America or Russia?

[Ron]

Wait, are you talking about America or Russia?

 

oh wait

 

[Headless Thompson Gunner]

A different perspective on the Russian economy.  Basically, the relative prosperity in Russia recently is abnormal, and the collapse of the economy is reversion to the mean.  Russians expect it and aren't freaked out by it.


http://www.realclearworld.com/articles/2014/12/17/russia_seen_from_within_110862.html

[MicroBalrog]

A different perspective on the Russian economy.  Basically, the relative prosperity in Russia recently is abnormal, and the collapse of the economy is reversion to the mean.  Russians expect it and aren't freaked out by it.


http://www.realclearworld.com/articles/2014/12/17/russia_seen_from_within_110862.html

What he doesn't understand is that Putin's power depends on the support of a tiny handful of extremely wealthy bureaucrats and senior officials. If the sanctions manage to hurt them, it is possible these people will betray him.

[AJ Dual]

Well, if Russia doesn't go completely Tango-Uniform, and we don't see Spetsnaz flying in on fake charter flights from Mexico and parachuting onto the local highschool football field... As a gun owner, I forsee one potential benefit. 



(IIRC, some G-8 or WTO agreement means Obama can't just EO Russian ammo away with his pen, which is why it hasn't happened already... and Russia is naturally going to want any/all hard currency they can get their hands on.)