Having one of the highest total tax rates in the world kind of suggests it is built-in in the system. Many unique scams from "electricity transfer" fees to taxing neighbor help. Also the most obedient people, so there is never even an argument, when prices are hiked up.
Especially when all the business relations were cut to the biggest trade partner, the bankrupcies keep stacking up and unemployment follows. 1,6 million final social security cases a year within a small population is quite astonishing. Also media scaring with war propaganda like no tomorrow, people likely do not have high hopes for the future tho have some growth.
For sure. The trade-off used to be social welfare - but that is degrading fast. I have my own theories on those things though.
Absolutely! It is insanity. Yet, no one seems that concerned about it.
You have a different relationship than I do with the history - but if Russia has been struggling with Ukraine for three years - are they really a credible threat? (nukes aside - as that is humanity over)
The point is, russia is not a threat and it is just another excuse to rob and control the population. It works, since it has been used as the boogeyman culturally for generations.