Copernicus
Industrial Grade Linguist
In America, public opinion can change things. In Russia, it cannot
Maybe not directly. General discontent can be disregarded, but when economic interests are threatened by social upheaval the rich have the most to lose. Problem is, Russians have been upheavaling for centuries, and have yet to realize any capacity for self government. They always need or want or at least allow, a dictator, preferably a violent one with low regard for human lives other than their own.
I don’t get the appeal.
I think that public opinion in Russia is very important to its leaders, and that is why they go to such extreme lengths to manage it through censorship, intimidation, and propaganda. The same is true of China. As for the character of the Russian people, my impression is that they are really not all that different from Americans, and those who immigrate here seem to fit in quite well. They aren't more or less criminal. The difference, IMO, has to do with the existing social institutions and traditions that shape group behavior, not individual character. Russians are even more similar to Ukrainians than Americans in their group behavior, and I think we all have a great deal of admiration for the courage and fortitude of Ukrainians. Russians are just in a much worse place when it comes to changing the social barriers to progress. Ukraine was lucky to get a leader like Zelensky at the head of the government, and Russia very unlucky to get Putin. America was very lucky to get Obama, and very unlucky to get Trump. It happens.