Russians go Republican - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

MS Fowler · #31 12-31-2010, 08:00 AM

It is entertaining to watch and read how everyone fills in the missing details with their own preconceived opinions.

Honus · #32 12-31-2010, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MS Fowler

It is entertaining to watch and read how everyone fills in the missing details with their own preconceived opinions.

That's not nice.

Pooka · #33 12-31-2010, 11:59 AM

I have worked with a lot of Russians during my time in the oil biz. I used to be able to handle a bit of the lingo, but that was long ago.

I learned very quickly not to put any stock in their opinions since they had no factual basis for almost anything they said. Did you know that Alaska, Washington State and Oregon are still a part of Russia? It's True!

There are two races of people in Russia. Russians and Jews. Yup, There are no other native peoples there at all and never have been.

How do you get a table at a Russian cafe? You tell the doorman, usually a retired military person with a ton of medals, that you are coming in and if you have to go though him to do it then BY GOD that is the way it will be. Then he opens the door. They really do respect that whole totalitarian thing there.

If you ever said you were going to study a problem to determine the best way to deal with it they would not quite freak out but they would get very nervous. If they were presented with too many choices it would cause them to just stop and do nothing.

Another Russian trait is to never say what you really think. You always say what is expected of you. Everyone know someone who was sent to the Gulag for speaking their mind, so why take the chance?

Do you think they would get off the boat and say the Russian way of life was best? They would expect to be given a one-way ticket back to Mother Russia.

And who would think that someone who just got off the boat would know everything about how our Government works?

aklim · #34 12-31-2010, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pooka

Do you think they would get off the boat and say the Russian way of life was best? They would expect to be given a one-way ticket back to Mother Russia.

Sure, few people say what is on their mind but what you want to hear. MAYBE the Russians do it more, IDK. I can't say much about the rest of it but this part makes me curious. Why? It isn't like they simply skipped across the border like the illegals so they must have put some effort into the process. So if they didn't think it was a better way of life, why would they even be here? I'd work in Europe if I had to but why would I bother with the legal hassle of immigration if I didn't think that was the better side of the road?

Pooka · #35 12-31-2010, 03:57 PM

If you lived in Moscow you might not want to move here or anywhere else.

If you lived in, say, anywhere else in Russia you would be willing to walk across broken glass to get out.

There is first world and third world. Then there is the USA. I have never known a Russian, or anyone from what used to be called the East Bloc, yet that did not enjoy living here more than there no matter what their current home circumstances.

MS Fowler · #36 01-01-2011, 07:23 AM

Several years ago I had a Russian Engineer work for at a testing lab. We tested the compressive strength of concrete. Its a simple test, you load the concrete cylinder in a press that can exert up to 250,000 pounds of force, and break it, noting how much force it took.
It is common for "3000 PSI" concrete to break in excess of 4000 PSI. the 3000 PSI mixes are just that forgiving and often the owner of the concrete company will add 1/2 bag or so of cement to the mix--costs him very little and its cheap insurance.
Well, after breaking a bunch of concrete my Russian is a bit apprehensive. He tells me, " In my country someone would be going away for wasting so much cement." ( 3000 PSI design concrete better break very close to 3000 PSI; anything over 3200 PSI was views as a State crime as a waste of valuable resources.)

Another experience that reinforces my apprehension of a too-controlling government.

mgburg · #37 01-01-2011, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Honus

For all the same reasons Congress should have passed the Dream Act, we need to listen to these Russian immigrants. Their credibility takes a hit, however, when they say "that the national Democrats' 'socialistic' policies remind them too much of the top-down oligarchy they fled in their native land." Their use of the word "socialistic" seems frivolous and indicates that they lack an understanding of how Democratic and Republican policies have moved away from the socialist end of the ideological spectrum over the past 30 years. On the other hand, they probably know more about socialism than we do, so we should consider that part of their comment. Where I completely get off the bus, however, is when they accuse the Democrats of employing a "top-down" governing approach. It's the GOP, not the Democrats, who have tried to give more power to the central governments at the state and federal level. That part of the immigrants' comment reveals a lack of understanding of recent American history, IMHO.

For the most part, living OUTSIDE the forest allows one to see all the trees and therefore, allows the observer the right to call it as they see it.

And, I'm sure that having lived under "socialistic rule" for as long as they have, they'd be more than qualified to know a "socialist" when they see/hear one.

.

Pooka · #38 01-01-2011, 04:40 PM

In Russian pipeline operations if they are told to deliver 50,000 bbls of oil to a refinery they deliver 50,000 bbls of oil.

If there is a leak in the line and 100,000 bbls go out on the ground while delivering the 50 then that is OK. They must stick to the plan which comes out of the Central Committee.

This has created the largest lake of crude oil in the world since one pipeline has been leaking for about 25 years without repair.

As far as Russians being experts on any economic system it is best to remember an old Russian saying... 'They pretend to pay us and we pretend to work.'

mgburg · #39 01-02-2011, 04:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pooka

... As far as Russians being experts on any economic system it is best to remember an old Russian saying... 'They pretend to pay us and we pretend to work.'

That line is JUST BEGGING for a comeback. I'll hold back...

MS Fowler · #40 01-02-2011, 06:46 AM

Isn't that the model we've been striving toward since the 2010 election?
The problem with socialism of any type that eventually you run out of other people's money.

aklim · #41 01-02-2011, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MS Fowler

Isn't that the model we've been striving toward since the 2010 election?
The problem with socialism of any type that eventually you run out of other people's money.

Congress has a fix for that. Print more money.

MS Fowler · #42 01-02-2011, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aklim

Congress has a fix for that. Print more money.

That is a solution that solves nothing.

aklim · #43 01-02-2011, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MS Fowler

That is a solution that solves nothing.

Ah but Sir, you are wrong. As your elected official, I promise give you things and you elect me. This printing of more money solves a problem. How do I get re-elected.

MS Fowler · #44 01-03-2011, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aklim

Ah but Sir, you are wrong. As your elected official, I promise give you things and you elect me. This printing of more money solves a problem. How do I get re-elected.

As you know, it simply "kicks the can down the road". All you want is to get re-elected a few times, collect that great pension, and then become a lobbyist for the really big payday.

aklim · #45 01-03-2011, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MS Fowler

As you know, it simply "kicks the can down the road". All you want is to get re-elected a few times, collect that great pension, and then become a lobbyist for the really big payday.

I know that and you know that but the voter doesn't care about "down the road".