07-21-2016, 06:18 PM
People get imprisoned for breaking the law, not for saying they are not happy. In fact - Russia has a long-standing tradition of bad-mouthing it's government 
The average citizen in Russia will delight in explaining to you how all the officials are crooks, should be fired/imprisoned/summarily executed, and they will do so with no fear of retaliation whatsoever.
It is those people that go beyond talking, and attempt to change things by unlawful means, that get imprisoned. Do not confuse Soviet Union of 1937 with Russia of 2016.
Are there a lot of corrupt officials? Sure there are. Just like in the US. Are there some laws that don't make sense, that appear to actually make life more difficult? Sure, there are. Just like in the US. Will you still get prosecuted for breaking them, like them or not? Of course - just like in the US.
I simply find that there is more honesty in Russia, even in corruption If one must give a bribe to get something done - in Russia he will be practically directly made aware of that fact. In US - you'll have to go through countless officials until this fact finally dawns on you. End result is the same. Do I think this is right and proper? Of course not. But as long as this is he world I live in - I prefer honesty and directness over false smiles and political correctness.
The average citizen in Russia will delight in explaining to you how all the officials are crooks, should be fired/imprisoned/summarily executed, and they will do so with no fear of retaliation whatsoever.It is those people that go beyond talking, and attempt to change things by unlawful means, that get imprisoned. Do not confuse Soviet Union of 1937 with Russia of 2016.
Are there a lot of corrupt officials? Sure there are. Just like in the US. Are there some laws that don't make sense, that appear to actually make life more difficult? Sure, there are. Just like in the US. Will you still get prosecuted for breaking them, like them or not? Of course - just like in the US.
I simply find that there is more honesty in Russia, even in corruption
If one must give a bribe to get something done - in Russia he will be practically directly made aware of that fact. In US - you'll have to go through countless officials until this fact finally dawns on you. End result is the same. Do I think this is right and proper? Of course not. But as long as this is he world I live in - I prefer honesty and directness over false smiles and political correctness.