In what way are Dutch and Danish taxpayers being forced to fund said palace? The point of sicaniv’s screenshot seems to me to be that western taxpayers are being given no choice but to fund a war they aren’t involved in, after 10–40 years of austerity and being told the state can’t afford basic services, suddenly there’s a bottomless well of cash for tanks.
What choice do Russians have in either paying for Putin’s palace or dying with outdated equipment?
Suffice it to say, both sides claim they have no money for public services yet suddenly can finance war. The whole war industry is a scam, this has been obvious for more than 100 years now.
I also dislike the military-industrial complex. But that seems to be a different point to the one you made at first. Making it seem as though Russia is at war so that Putin can build a palace doesn’t seem accurate.
Russia is not at war to glorify Putin. Although, his estimation does seem to be rising in the eyes of the global south because he is fighting the imperialists who have long oppressed them.
Again, the point you replied to seemed to be talking about indebting Dutch and Danish taxpayers to pay for a war they’re not part of. Russia is at war, so it would make sense that Russians will be taxed to pay for it. I agree that this is tragic. Much better for that money to be spent on public services.
But in response to your reply: in general, Russians have very little choice because Russia was forced into a corner by NATO. I’m not sure what you mean by outdated equipment. Outdated by whose standards?
Remind me again why were Russians forced to adopt a system were business elites could use their capital to exert political power.
That wasn’t public money.
Erm, Putin made it law in the late 90s that 50% of the wealthiest Russian oligarch’s wealth would be under his control. It was their money, they kept the profits, but Putin directed their spending.
Now, Russian oligarchs invest in political enterprise all over the world, more than almost any other nation (excluding the USA, which is simply wealthier).
houses are generally significantly less expensive than tanks, but in this particular case you’ll have to do the research yourself – feel free to share your findings so we can all be aware of how many parts per million of the annual Russian budget was spent on Putin’s house
Houses, sure. But we’re talking about a mansion the size of a small town where they threw out all the marble they’d already isntalled because it was the wrong colour.
Something which has never been known to happen in the modern west, specifically in the United States or Ukraine. Nope, not ever.
