The Goose That Laid The Golden Egg
Whoa, that's one boldly enterprising man, that Vladimir. Impaling Russians with the perceived necessity to retain him as the country's premier manipulator. For hasn't it been his bold steps that have restored national pride, security, prosperity to the country? Isn't he the steely-eyed successor to the misunderstood and maligned Joseph Stalin?No one wants to kill the goose that lays golden eggs, even though this one most decidedly is an alpha gander; a big, bold personality in a tight-lipped package. I can't decide whether that patently transparent ploy is purely awkward yet happily acceptable by his adoring public, or cleverly Machiavellian in concept and practicality.
But he's solved his little problem. He won't be stepping down from the helm of magisterial power after all. And who, exactly, expected that he would, since the country would have been content to have him change the constitution in any event, to allow him to remain after his second four-year term?
Doing things this way, in a faint feint at democratic machinations no one in the West appears ready nor likely to protest overmuch. Much good it would do, in any event. What eager little beaver of a petty bureaucrat came up with that face-saving mechanism in support of President Putin's ambitions? He'll go far.
"I gratefully accept your proposal to head the United Russia list", he graciously mouthed to monumental applause. "As far as heading the government is concerned, this is quite a realistic suggestion." Seriously?
It's a neat little trick of musical chairs, isn't it? What.a.solution! Let's face it, this man really could undertake to do anything his great black heart desires; who would stop him? Not his former KGB associates whom he has installed in key government positions, nor former state security officials to whom have been entrusted political and economic influences.
Not even that great Russian population who adore the powerful, succumb happily enough to a totalitarian style of governance that promises security and ensures ongoing economic growth and international respectability. The so very graceful compromise bought at the expense of democracy, clothed in the guise of autocracy solves the issue of control so nicely.
Putin is Mother Russia's great patriot son. He has restored confidence within the country, and without. Russia is once again a great power to be reckoned with. Her military is no longer a pathetic rag-tag remnant of the past, but a resurgent, well-funded machine ready to go on a moment's notice.
The country is flush with the highest growth rates recorded in the G-8, thanks to the clever exploitation of vast natural gas reserves and its position as the world's second largest oil producer. The international debt has been paid, she has the world's third-largest currency reserves. Rivals? Where, exactly...?
Putin has identified and structured the means by which his country hugely benefits from the direction he has implemented; he has guaranteed his longevity through a perceived need to retain him in the position he has groomed for himself; Russians see no need for a more enlightened mode of governance.
So the successful strategy is to step down temporarily as president, assume the soon-to-be augmented power-role of prime minister, then turn the neat little trick of changing chairs when the time is right. And the time will be right when Vladimir Putin deems it to be.
Evil genius?
Labels: Heroes and Villains, Political Realities, Viewpoint
posted by Pieface @ Tuesday, October 02, 2007
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