Comments by "William Masselink" (@williammasselink) on "Econ Lessons" channel.

  1. ​ @rafflesmaos  Orban won't be in power forever, and it's inevitable Ukraine will be the 33rd member of NATO. It will take time, but NATO already has Ukraine on the fast track to join. 8:16
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  2. That's a rosey outlook. Bet Putin wishes it were so.
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  3. Emphatically agree. You said it perfectly.
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  4. I remember "Diplomacy". Wasn't it a orange and black cover 3M bookcase game? I think I had it.
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  5. @SmellySumtom  You certainly made a highly educated and deeply thought out comment here. I do have a history degree and had student deferment during the Vietnam war. I did serve later in the military, but no comparison to yours. Sincere thanks for your service and sacrifice. I can't disagree with anything you say. Mark is a brilliant analyst and I learn from him every day he's on.
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  6. So what happens when the Russia and Elvira resume trading the ruble? What do they gain by this pause. Or don't they?
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  7.  @peterwilliams2152  Well for one thing or two, having free, fair and open elections instead of dictatorship plebiscites, and not being jailed for expressing your opinion. Where is freedom of speech, press and assembly guaranteed by the 1994 Russian Constitution? Not to mention the two 4-year presidential term limitations. Where are the provisions for repressive one party rule and dictatorship for life?
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  8. Phobia means fear. I don't think Mark fears Russia. Nor do I.
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  9. That's how I see it. Perceptive comment.
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  10. That was an awesome statement.
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  11. Can you explain the fallacy of PPP in a future program? Putin likes to brag Russia's economy is like fourth in the world, #1 in Europe, and surpassing Germany and Japan. Obviously total nonsense.
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  12.  @EconLessons  Great. I'll look it up. I didn't think I missed any of your videos. Thanks.
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  13.  @Katrina-mx2sf  Glad you asked. U.S. is ranked #12 in the world, far and away the best for a large population country. India is #52, China #59, and Putin's Russia a dismal #65. U.S. GDP is $28 trillion, Russia $2 trillion or so, or about the size of our New York state. Your welcome.
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  14. Unfortunately the crooked racketeers running Russia have cast the GPE SOP as an existential struggle for Russia, and most of the people seem to have bought into that false narrative propaganda. Some on the street interviewees that will talk do acknowledge the corruption going on as common knowledge, but that they're little people without any say, as you've stated here. So, also unfortunately, this looks to be a long and costly GPE for both sides.
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  15. ​ @smk4902 Which is why 1.2 million of their best and brightest have recently fled the country, and Russia's population is precipitously declining. Because it's such a great place to live and raise a family.
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  16. Enjoyed this episode immensely. I've said for some time Russia's effort is doomed if the west has the political will to see it through. Tucker Carlson seemed to think Putin's Russia was pure paradise. But then again, he's a bonefide nutcase.
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  17.  @TheFrewah  Yup. But the critical stuff and finances are greatly affected by the sanctions.
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  18. Makes you wonder why Germany even wanted the place.
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  19. Outstanding segment. Really updated my knowledge. I like the comparison of Russia as "a mafia state". Incidentally, my maternal grandfather came over from the Netherlands. Always liked to tell stories about "the old country".
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  20. Putin is living on hope that the west cracks first before his entire ststem does. If he wins though, he"ll be that much stronger, like the European dictator before him. And that much harder and more costly to defeat in future. Like the Aamco ad says: "Pay now or pay later".
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  21. "Just as sure as a fart after dinner". (I can't take credit for that one).
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  22.  @SuezWSuezW  Nobody said that. Anyone who tries to predict the future usually ends up with egg on their face. What we can surmise is that Russia's current economic and financial situation is not sustainable in the long run. That there will be economic meltdown at some point does seem inevitable. The numbers do not favor Russia.
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  23. I had to laugh out loud at that comparison. Good on you.
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  24. Agree completely with your assessment as a historian by education (with some economics courses). Our policy should be no reward for the aggressors. Period. Incidentally, saw "Battle of the Bulge" in Holland, Michigan when it first came out. Also, first thing I recorded on my new VCR off TV in 1980.
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  25.  @Odessit657  Not saying that at all.
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  26.  gilman2056  I don't see that. According to Legatum Prosperity Index Russia ranks 77th out of 167 countries, or second lowest among upper middle income countries. That factors in such things as infrastructure, social capital, living conditions and healthcare. Where is all this money coming from for this "frantic pace"? 1/3 of the budget now goes for non-productive military spending from a paltry $2 trillion heavily sanctioned economy smaller than Italy's. (Compare to U.S. with 12% from a $28 trillion economy) This is sucking resources away from the productive economy and social spending. Sanctions fuel declining revenues, depreciating ruble, higher inflation, and 16% interest rates to counteract it. (They've just been extended) Sanctions don't just hurt oligarchs, but also the other 15,000 sanctioned entities and individuals in Russia. Putin promised the Russian people his "geo-political adventure" would not affect their daily lives. How did that work out? Don't see how ever tightening sanctions make the Russian people happy. It's great Russians are buying more Chinese EV's. But put it in perspective. Russia says 1.3 million cars will be sold in 2024. AUTOSTAT says just over one million per year through 2026. That's only around 15th in the world. Far less than comparable countries or even those with smaller populations. For example, Australians buy more cars than Russians. UK, France and Germany buy far more. Thank you for elaborating in English. My Russian is severely limited.
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  27.  @terjeoseberg990  I wondered that myself.
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  28.  @letsRegulateSociopaths  Explain. Russian GDP is a paltry $2.25 trillion compared to U.S. $28 trillion. The size of Italy, not even, or New York state.
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  29. Ukraine's "fatal flaw" was in trusting Russia's word with the 1991 Belgrade Agreement in return for their voluntarily giving up the world's third largest nuclear arsenal.
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  30. The irony here is Russia already HAD Crimea. Now they have to expend vast resources and sustain heavy losses just to defend it. And can't even base what's left of their fleet there anymore. It's good that crime(a) doesn't always pay.
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  31.  @volkerr.  Shades of the old Soviet Union.
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  32. "The Russians are Coming! The Russians are Coming!" "Everybody to get from street!" Love it. I caught that right away as soon as I read the title. Still laughing. One of my favorite movies.
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  33.  @halojump123  Slava Ukraina. U.S. Navy veteran. Don't support the bad guys.v
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  34. Some people know their onions. You know your potatoes. And the cracks in the Russian economy.
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  35. A consummation devoutly to be desired, as my econ professor used to say.
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  36. California has 2.5x Russia's GDP.
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  37. ​ @EconLessons  Amen to that. Ukraine is our first line of defense and deserves all our support.
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  38. I love your mission statement. I used to be a diehard Trump supporter. Took in numerous of his rallies on CSPAN. Still think he did a good job as president. But despite my detestation of Biden's illegal immigrant southern border "policy", I emphatically have to support Biden over the Ukraine issue. Only wish he had acted more decisively earlier.
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  39. ​ @rodpanhard  I assume you're being sarcastic here.
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  40. ​ @EconLessons  Exactly.
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  41. Thank you again for your great analysis. Gives me hope for the future. When streets in Russian cities will some day be named after Navalny. Just like Stauffenberg in Germany in his honor.
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  42. Perfectly stated. Great analysis. Totally on point. Couldn't have said it better. I use the phrase "(ha ha) "election" myself.
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  43. You said that so perfectly and well. In total agreement.
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  44.  @johnmccarthy7195  I've been (as in the past) an ardent Trump supporter. You get no arguments from me here.
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  45.  @jarcadipane2849  It doesn't work that way with dictators. Remember Chamberlain waving the piece of paper and declaring "peace in our time"? How did that work out?
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  46. Like Germany in WW1.
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  47.  @huget00n  Challenge me. I need specific arguments, not inane general statements. Give me your best shot.
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  48. It's funny money strictly for internal use.
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  49.  @jarcadipane2849  Fifth largest in PPP only! Totally misleading statistic that in no way equates to actual economic strength. It means Russia, China and India can provide basic subsistence, and good for them I guess. What is the disposable income in these countries? How many new cars are Russians buying? Hint: less than Australia. U.S. quality of life world index is #12, great for a populous country. Americans earn 5x that of Russians. FYI India ranks #53, China #59 and Russia #65(!) in the world quality of life index. Russia is practically a third world country with pensioners having to make do with about $200 a month, while Putin and his 3000 oligarch cronies own one third of the wealth of Russia, by far the worst disparity in the world. They WISH they were #5 economically in real terms.
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  50.  @jarcadipane2849  I say emphatically no. Can you clarify that? And I don't see where Russia's economy IS increasing except by internal artificial means that are not sustainable. It's a top-down government-spending driven economy. It can't last.
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