We can all accept that at the very foundation of a stable society, one not on the brink of revolution, civil war and upheaval, resources is at very bedrock of that.
You can trade for resources though. And the resources that Russia does possess don't exactly go (mostly) to the benefit of its people, because of world-class corruption.
Russia has those all domestically, they are behind technologically don't get me wrong and rely on imports of western tech but at a base level they can survive all of the embargo placed on them. And while they have a lot of corruption the west's "scattergun" approach to demonising not just Putin and his officials but all Russia is making the people side with Putin as better the devil you know than the one demanding you change your entire culture.
I think there was an inevitable rallying around the flag after the shock of 24 February, but you are correct that the Western oligarchies played a great role in consolidating Russian support for Putin and the war.
Banning Russian invalids from competing in competitions does not make Russians hate Putin. It makes them hate you, like we hate you, and rightly so.
But they are HEAVILY dependent on imports, way more than Russia, to the extent that if they started a war with Taiwan and the US navy blockaded the sea imports,
That would be an act of war. I believe the US will defend Taiwan, but it will try to make it a localized war rather than a nuclear conflagration. If the regime in Beijing feels itself to be threatened, it will retaliate with nuclear weapons, same as Putin, same as the US.
That and during border skirmishes with India between troops, the Chinese were getting their asses handed to them, it's all rose tinted glasses with China, the Russian people know how corrupt their government are but then they look at what we do in the west so know it could be worse.
The Chinese have relatively low corruption, a very competent state, amazing economic growth - and no grooming. So I don't see why it's just the Russians who would look at the West and realize it could be worse.
If the regime in Beijing feels itself to be threatened, it will retaliate with nuclear weapons, same as Putin, same as the US.
That one is up in the air, remember the Soviet Union dissolved but with no nukes as they had a way out. America has a history of winning but letting all the people within the regime off the hook or even continue working (Japan after WW2) so China may not go nuclear so long as they know they have an out and a couple of fall guys ready.
And it won't stay local because of Japan in the area, they know if Taiwan falls they're next so the US would be forced to act to defend Japan
The Chinese have relatively low corruption, a very competent state, amazing economic growth
Depends on your definition of corruption, as I said, they have the same problem that the Soviet Union had, the ones lower on the pecking order are reluctant to inform of bad news lest they be next on the chopping block, and this is China, people disappear and in a conflict those kinds of communication delays may mean reinforcements are too late and the enemy already recovered.
And a lot of that growth is artificial, they control their currency to the point that they on purpose make it worth less so that they can fix prices
You can trade for resources though. And the resources that Russia does possess don't exactly go (mostly) to the benefit of its people, because of world-class corruption.
I think there was an inevitable rallying around the flag after the shock of 24 February, but you are correct that the Western oligarchies played a great role in consolidating Russian support for Putin and the war.
Banning Russian invalids from competing in competitions does not make Russians hate Putin. It makes them hate you, like we hate you, and rightly so.
That would be an act of war. I believe the US will defend Taiwan, but it will try to make it a localized war rather than a nuclear conflagration. If the regime in Beijing feels itself to be threatened, it will retaliate with nuclear weapons, same as Putin, same as the US.
The Chinese have relatively low corruption, a very competent state, amazing economic growth - and no grooming. So I don't see why it's just the Russians who would look at the West and realize it could be worse.
That one is up in the air, remember the Soviet Union dissolved but with no nukes as they had a way out. America has a history of winning but letting all the people within the regime off the hook or even continue working (Japan after WW2) so China may not go nuclear so long as they know they have an out and a couple of fall guys ready.
And it won't stay local because of Japan in the area, they know if Taiwan falls they're next so the US would be forced to act to defend Japan
Depends on your definition of corruption, as I said, they have the same problem that the Soviet Union had, the ones lower on the pecking order are reluctant to inform of bad news lest they be next on the chopping block, and this is China, people disappear and in a conflict those kinds of communication delays may mean reinforcements are too late and the enemy already recovered.
And a lot of that growth is artificial, they control their currency to the point that they on purpose make it worth less so that they can fix prices