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Putin Government Moves To Take Control of Russia's largest space company Energia
schwit1 writes Vitaly Lopota, the president of Russia's largest space company Energia, was suspended Friday by the company's board of directors. From the article: "The move appears to be part of an effort by Russia's government to obtain majority control over Energia, of which it owns a 38-percent share. The directors elected Igor Komarov as its new chairman of the board. Komarov is chief of the Russian United Rocket and Space Corporation (URSC), the government-owned company tasked with consolidating Russia's sprawling space sector." The government is also conducting a criminal investigation of Lopota, which might be justified but appears to be a power play designed to both eliminate him from the game as well as make sure everyone else tows the line so that URSC can take complete control.
Anyone else here miss the 1980s USSR? Looks like Putin does ...
Maybe we'll finally stop relying on Russia for access to space...
This sort of thing is why shares of russian companies trade at a huge discount compared to shares of western and asian companies.
... really... you "toe the line" not "tow the line" as the submitter writes.
Anybody still seriously doubt that Russia is a neo-Fascist country?
I like the "to take control" euphemism for steal.
Putin is stealing private property, that's the actual headline here. There can be no real economic development if private property rights are not protected, specifically not protected from government theft. This wouldn't be the first time Putin stole something, by the way, even before Crimea I mean. Of-course he basically stole democratic elections in Russia, I guess nothing can beat that.
You can't handle the truth.
Administrative takeover of corporations by autoritative central state, with intimidation through abuse of executive power, is textbook fascism. Mussolini would be proud.
Maybe we deserve this world ?
... really... you "toe the line" not "tow the line" as the submitter writes.
Just so long as you remember to toad the sprocket, but only when it's wet.
Aside from its symbolic value, is that really such a scary move? The Russians offer pretty good prices for satellite launches; but are not the only player by any means(and their launch industry can choose between serving as a diplomatic pawn or not scaring customers, so they pay a penalty if they try to push that too hard). For manned launches, their position is better; but those are painfully close to ceremonial, and of limited scientific and less than zero commercial value.
They always one up whatever move you do and the only way to end the cold war was when the US stopped the race and started de-escalating the conflict and offer a treaty after a treaty, until finally Russia felt safe enough to let go.
Erm...
The cold war ended because the Soviet Union was broke and in disarray.
Diplomacy was the only option left to Yetlsin. They couldn't feed an army, let alone civilians.
As it will be with Putin or Putin's successor. Breadlines, not hard-lines with break them.
Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.
"Putin Government" ... instead of just "Government"?
Because it happens right now, yes. 100 years ago it would gave been "Tsar's representatives".
It's exactly why "Obamacare" is mentioned as such, and not simply as "care".
...gis sdrawkcab (usually not responding to ACs; don't bother posting as AC)
Lets not forget that Yeltsin came to power off the back of a semi-failed military coup against Gorbachev.
Sure, the way Russians go about nationalizing companies is not very nice or even subtle. But I wish my government did the same. Services that people need in order to live - energy, water, medical - shouldn't be on the free market. All that stuff should be publicly owned and the goal shouldn't to be to make money but to provide critical services to the people for the cheapest amount possible.
In Soviet Russia, line tows you!
"To be a fascist one has to have support from the far right militancy to be able to exert control over the nation"
In reality the militancys ideology doesn't matter, as long as they help in exerting control. Fascism could be based on far left ideologies as wel las far right. And I guarantee Putin is far right instead of far left himself. I don't see him giving the power to the people any time soon.
It is basically Putin's way of saying: "Look, I am in control of how to get to space."
He's not. I'm pretty sure Chinese, Indians, Americans and Europeans are going to continue to go to space with or without Putin.
US simply does not understand the Russians. Sanctions cannot possibly work against them.
US is not working against 'Russians'. It's just containing a power-hungry dictatorial imperialistic regime. Attacking the wealth of a regime is always a good way to reduce its ability to conquer neighboring nations.
They always one up whatever move you do
Do you seriously think they didn't consider all the options Putin has? Or maybe at least the obvious ones like cutting his exports and imports? It's just a typical reactionary BS
This time it is gonna be played to the utter economic destruction of one of the two nuclear super powers or an all out nuclear war.
Yeah, imagine US losing their 28th business partner by volume of trade . Economic destruction my @ss.
It looked like such a smart move by the US state department to take over the Ukrainian government, too bad they didn't understand that the move would inevitably start a war. Now we will all pay the price.
Typical dictatorship thinking - if I lose control over a government it must be because some other country took it. There's no way people would just elect their own representatives...
I see. So if you were privileged or able to work your way into a company supplied med insurance program. You win the lottery and all is well. However, if you were unprivileged or had to work your life away in low, menial jobs to support your poor family and never had a chance to work your way into a company supplied insurance program, then you lost the lottery of life; you should just accept that you will die early. Then there is the lottery of your company shipping your job overseas to some low wage country when you are in your 40's or 50's. You then have little chance of further employment and your insurance is gone with your job. And you might have been allowed to get an medicaid, if you have lost enough of your wealth...except that was made harder by some governors rejecting the wider coverage. So, better hope you stay healthy and employed and aren't steamrolled by corporate America.
Most modern countries have healthcare for their citizens. How is it the U.S. cannot figure this out?
So, it is the Americans fault the new Russian Tsar stole back the Crimea, a piece of Georgia, is threatening a piece of Ukraine, is threatening Moldova, is threatening the Baltic states, and consolidating all power in the Kremlin.
Is there anything else you'd like to blame the U.S for?
Nah - you drag the line
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...
If Slashdot were chemistry it would look like this:Cadaverine
The US has a healthcare system for its citizens as well. Has had it for years and in many ways, though not all ways, it's quite a good system. All sorts of amazing treatments have come out of it in fact. Wait times also tend to be remarkably short with an abundance of treatment options. It is unfortunately rather expensive.
Oh, wait, you mean there's one aspect of the US system that you don't like so you disregard its existence entirely? You know that sort of thing just makes you sound like an idiot, right?
You describe this as a foolproof plan. So all those struggling to support their families are either lazy or millionaires on the wait?
Most scholarships I have come across have involved certain race/sex/religious requirements and an essay. Academic records where usually secondary documentation, and frequently not required.
Life lesson to the young ones: Looking and acting the part is far more important than results. You get hired, accepted, etc... based on how much people feel they like you. Results are something they may or may not prioritize later on. And, hard work is cheap and plentiful in case slavery and the like was not enough of a clue for you.
You are better off working smart over hard when your own performance is necessary. And in general, if who does it is not important, you are better off learning how to get others to do the grunt work for you. Schooling is a bit of an oddity in that your own performance is being tested.
Any sufficiently advanced influence is indistinguishable from control.
"US does not understand russians"? My outside perspective as neither american nor russian is, yes, they do. It turns out Russians are people too!
Sting, is that you?
Jesus was all right but his disciples were thick and ordinary. -John Lennon
no, you walk the line
What the hell are you talking about?
I am Romanian and we have healthcare for all our citizens. Not stellar but it's there.
I merely pointed out that a certain action with big impact is usually named after the high profile person who initiated, oversaw or approved it. It's a fact.
...gis sdrawkcab (usually not responding to ACs; don't bother posting as AC)
Because Bush left us with a strong and well funded space program??
Maybe they graduated from The Derek Zoolander Center for Kids Who Can't Read Good and Wanna Learn to Do Other Stuff Good Too.
Get free satoshi (Bitcoin) and Dogecoins
I know what could be better than that: Hypocrisy. Alexey Pajitnov developed Tetris on such an Eastern PDP clone, yet he goes around and sues anyone who clones his own stuff.
Which includes re-integrating most of the former USSR countries.
But in order to keep their representation in the United Nations, the members of the New USSR would have to remain sovereign states in a confederation analogous to the European Union, not join into one sovereign state like the USA or the old USSR.
I leave you with this vaguely relevant and addicting song.....Energia!!!
http://youtu.be/BVWfqOSdzs4
... the subject of criticism?
It little behooves the best of us to comment on the rest of us.
People are jumping to pull out the false dichotomies.
Are Russia and the US the same? No.
Are Russia and the US completely different? No.
Russia is worse. But sadly not by a lot.
Everyone who thinks this is a step towards fascism has it wrong. It's a step even further backwards: Towards monarchy.
Putin wants to be a monarch, he wants to be a king. In the russian tradion that is an Emporer, called the Tsar. Putin wants the russian empire back, with an emperor on its head, not because he is a monarchist but because it simply is the position with the most power for himself. What plays into his hands is the fact that Russia never really pluralised, but maintained a few important centres, while the rest of the giant realm stayed mostly undeveloped and unconnected in regard to governmental power.
Tsar -> A bit chaos -> Stalin -> A powerful party -> A bit Chaos -> Putin.
It's also woefully inefficient with its spending. Its treatments are comparable to many other countries, and in those other countries it's available to everyone without a bill needing to be settled afterwards. A medical system practically doesn't exist if you can't afford to use it.
Yes. My cereal was soggy this morning. That's the fault of the Great Satan, too.
It is basically Putin's way of saying: "Look, I am in control of how to get to space."
He's not. I'm pretty sure Chinese, Indians, Americans and Europeans are going to continue to go to space with or without Putin.
Yes, others have some capability, in some extent. Nobody is close to what the Russians can do at this time. US would have to restart some abandoned programs to get to the same level, but they at least have the potential.
US simply does not understand the Russians. Sanctions cannot possibly work against them.
US is not working against 'Russians'. It's just containing a power-hungry dictatorial imperialistic regime. Attacking the wealth of a regime is always a good way to reduce its ability to conquer neighboring nations.
Attacking someone when your attack is doomed to fail, is never a good policy. Sanctions might have worked against Iran, once Russia and China started to cooperate, but they won't work against Russia. They just shift their economic activity. There is much more dependency of the EU and rest of world on Russia than there is of Russia on the rest of the world. That also plays into it. Iran is not nearly as self sufficient as Russia is.
They always one up whatever move you do
Do you seriously think they didn't consider all the options Putin has? Or maybe at least the obvious ones like cutting his exports and imports? It's just a typical reactionary BS
I seriously think that US makes policy without carefully considering what will happen. Otherwise they could not make such colossal blunders like Iraq most recently.
This time it is gonna be played to the utter economic destruction of one of the two nuclear super powers or an all out nuclear war.
Yeah, imagine US losing their 28th business partner by volume of trade . Economic destruction my @ss.
US economy is very fragile. Look at 2001, 2008 and a crisis like that is bound to come again. They are coming increasingly faster too. Russia would strike at the right time at the height of a crisis like that to push you over the edge. They know what leverage they got and don't. For example I would bet that Putin is just trying to keep the current conflict going till the end of fall, so that some major gas pipeline can be "accidentally" damaged in fighting by Ukrainian shelling just in time for winter. Putin will blame Kiev, will promise to use Northern pipeline as much as possible, but it "just won't be enough, so sorry".
I'm trying to tell you, they are fully capable of doing this without batting an eyelash or feeling bad about it afterwards.
It looked like such a smart move by the US state department to take over the Ukrainian government, too bad they didn't understand that the move would inevitably start a war. Now we will all pay the price.
Typical dictatorship thinking - if I lose control over a government it must be because some other country took it. There's no way people would just elect their own representatives...
US state department worked for 10 years in Ukraine, spending 10 billion dollars, by their own admission, to support and train the opposition. It is not always that if you lose control, someone else helped to make it happen, but in this case, yes, it was the case. It looked like a smart move, but it wasn't.
And they didn't even ask EU if they actually want Ukraine. EU has serious economic issues with several countries that drag everyone down. Portugal, Greece, Romania, Bulgaria. Taking in Ukraine would add economic woes and impoverished population equal to those 4 countries combined. Just dealing with Greece itself almost sent the EURO to tailspin. Imagine adding Ukraine, which was terribly broken even before the current civil war.
If programs would be read like poetry, most programmers would be Vogons.
Well maybe Putin's going around cutting everyone's hawsers. That would leave them towing the line.
Post may contain irony: discontinue use if experiencing mood swings, nausea or elevated blood pressure.
In Russia, government controls corporations. In USA, it is the other way around.
This way we will avoid our planes hit by one of their satellite launchers.
-- 29A the number of the Beast