>  >> I mean, look at Putin.. He was just an upper level KGB soldier
>  >> when he took over as president and today he is worth as much
>  >> as $200 Billion, depending on source. (Some say $70 Billion)

>  MP> Technically, Russia is no longer communist.  That said, I strongly
>  MP> believe that many of the broken things going on over there are because
>  MP> the people in charge were part of that USSR upper class discussed above &
>  MP> they've not really changed enough how they do things.

> Russia is an oligarchy.

> Take a look at "How to Slay a Dragon - Mikhail Khodorkovsky"

> or.. "Putin's People - Catherine Belton"
> or.. "Once Upon a Time in Russia: The Rise of the Oligarchs-A
> True Story of Ambition, Wealth, Betrayal, and Murder - Ben
> Mezrich"

Yes, I know, but I believe that their problems started because they didn't
really change enough how they did things and "oligarchy" is what they
settled into as a result.

Mike

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