There are hard times in Russia these days.  President Vladimir Putin is bringing back what amounts to an old communist regime that is destroying the Russian economy.  High on the list of Russia’s economic woes are automobiles.  It seems that Russian auto makers are having a hard time shipping cars out to dealers.  These dealers would rather sell imported cars from such countries as Japan.  This is no mistake because the Russian citizens pine for these imports.  Case in point: the Russian riots.  It seems that Russia is actually in the midst of riots at this very moment over a tariff on foreign cars. 

So far 200 people have been detained in the riots which are thousands strong.  The AFP is reporting the scene of the riots as peaceful and stating the the Russian police went overboard arresting and beating people:

“They cruelly beat, five to eight people against one. They threw people on the pavement and kicked them, including those who simply walked by and had nothing to do with the protest,” he said.

The protest in Vladivostok’s central square was peaceful, he said, adding: “People even danced around the New Year’s tree.”

This riot has everything to do with freedom, namely economic freedom.  Putin is attempting to “help” the sale of Russian cars buy making foreign ones more expensive.  Is this really a good answer?  The only people who suffer are Russian citizens, and why?  To help other Russian citizens who make cars?  This has always been a bad policy, and I hope it is one we do not emulate here in the US.

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