Why near-totalitarianism looks downright tasty to some
On multiple occasions, people who know of my Russophilia and my sketchy acquaintance with the language have expressed shock that Putin wins elections by such a wide margin. They tend to take it as evidence that the elections are fixed. It is natural for us to look at a former-KGB despot and cringe. I have tried to use what I know to counter that the shit doesn't surprise me at all, and that considering the alternatives or lack thereof which face them, the people of Russia sort of know what they're doing when they vote for the little weasel-- wait, I like weasels... the dodgy little twerp. But this does a very good job of explaining the phenomenon, and I take too long to explain stuff. So if you've ever wondered, you should read it. It's Washington Post, no popups and not too many cookies.