The more things change, the more they stay the same

[Ashock]

Have you read Ivan The Terrible by Isabel de Madariaga?

With all other socio-economic and moral factors held equal why would people change?

Indeed, why? Every Russian or Soviet leader since Ivan, has been in the same category as him, a tyrant. Oh, some a bit better. The commies, a bit worse. Same thing, basically.

Due to the basically slave-like nature of most of the Russian people, I do not expect this to change any time soon. Maybe ever. Russians are not meant to be governed. They are meant to be ruled. They are also meant to be a thorn in other countries sides, possibly due to their severely jingoistic and paranoid nature.

-A