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“Americans have a severe disease — worse than AIDS. It's called the winner's complex. You want an American style-democracy here. That will not work.”
-- Mikhail Gorbachev
Yeah, well, Russians seem to have a fatal disease of their own: Totalitarianitis - the easy susceptibility to totalitarianism.
It is noted in this Claire Shipman report for ABC News that Mr. Gorbachev does criticize President Vladimir Putin as well, but one supposes that it behooves one to only do so very gingerly. At least Gorbachev is not trying to sell the line that Russia has achieved democratic self-governance, but he is not very convincing when he says:
xXx
“Americans have a severe disease — worse than AIDS. It's called the winner's complex. You want an American style-democracy here. That will not work.”
-- Mikhail Gorbachev
Yeah, well, Russians seem to have a fatal disease of their own: Totalitarianitis - the easy susceptibility to totalitarianism.
It is noted in this Claire Shipman report for ABC News that Mr. Gorbachev does criticize President Vladimir Putin as well, but one supposes that it behooves one to only do so very gingerly. At least Gorbachev is not trying to sell the line that Russia has achieved democratic self-governance, but he is not very convincing when he says:
"Vladimir Putin is walking on a razor's edge. Putin has used and he will continue to use authoritarian measures, but Russia will form a democracy. I know Vladimir Putin. He is a moral person."It is a sweet thought, but I think they can use a little more of this American disease.
