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Samizdata quote of the day – imperialism is good ackshually

I would agree that Ukraine also has the corruption but nowadays it’s much lower compared to what it was before because our Western allies are controlling us and it’s great. Honestly I am so tired of Ukrainian corruption that I would be glad to have the external control over our country – as what Vladimir Putin says – just temporary to provide reforms and institutions and to make our society better but you know we have what we have. I am OK with the President Zelenskyy but not OK with the current Ukrainian Parliament. OK it seems like I am deviating from the topic.

Denys Davydov. Crimean-born, former commercial pilot turned war blogger.

6 comments to Samizdata quote of the day – imperialism is good ackshually

  • Nicholas (Unlicensed Joker) Gray

    Read something similar about India- The Indians liked independence, but also liked the British tradition of incorruptibility, and wanted that part of The Raj back!

  • Paul Marks

    Mr Putin is not going to reduce corruption in the Ukraine – the Russian government of Mr Putin and his associates is itself very corrupt.

    As for Western rule being good for the Ukraine – in practice Western rule means rule by the institutionally corrupt European Union and the institutionally corrupt American government.

    Ukraine should sort out its own corruption – and the way to do that is to restrict the size and scope of government, admittedly very hard to do in-the-middle-of-a-war.

    If the war is one – then the Ukraine should most certainly not join the European Union, as that would mean a continuation of the regulations and subsidies that produce the corruption.

    Ukraine should have a limited government, limited in its spending and not going in for economic and social regulations. A limited government devoted to the defence of the country.

  • Mr Putin is not going to reduce corruption in the Ukraine – the Russian government of Mr Putin and his associates is itself very corrupt.

    Bizarrely, indirectly Putin kinda sorta has actually. By virtue of all the oversight & strings attached pertaining to western (particularly US) aid to Ukraine. People previously untouchable have ended up in the jug since the war started that would have been unthinkable even in 2021.

    in practice Western rule means rule by the institutionally corrupt European Union and the institutionally corrupt American government

    These things are relative & magnitude matters.

  • djm

    I am so tired of Ukrainian corruption that I would be glad to have the external control over our country – as what Vladimir Putin says – just temporary to provide reforms

    Oh yes.

    Temporary external control of the country………..thats worked so well over the centuries in so many countries….

    Hangings of proven corrupt officials would be a start, Denys. start from there

  • Paul Marks

    Perry – I think you underestimate the degree of corruption in the American government. Radically underestimate it.

    The United States political and economic system has been getting more and more corrupt for a very long time – and is now rotten to the core.

    As for the European Union – it is a sick farce.

  • Paul Marks

    To reduce corruption in the Ukraine government spending and government regulations need to be radically reduced – a very hard thing to do in the middle of a war.

    Western subsidies and demands to join various international regulatory agendas are not part of the solution – they are part of the problem.

    When and if the war is won, the Ukraine must reject all Western subsidies and pull out of all international social and economic agreements and agendas (and the international organisations that push them – World Bank, IMF, United Nations, and so on, not just avoid the accused European Union) – that is the only way to radically reduce corruption.

    In reality the very international organisations that present themselves as “anti corruption” are the source of the worst (institutional) corruption – which is vastly worse than having to pay bribes and so on (and it does not stop the payment of bribes anyway).