Confusion of souls, confusion of brands

In Russia, if you are not aware, there is a consumer boom. At least that's what economists and statisticians assure us. They say that the population does not trust banks, is afraid of inflation, and as soon as they have an extra ruble in their pocket, they rush to the nearest store to buy it. And when there is no ruble, he takes out a loan, which he is in no hurry to repay - the same statistics state that debt on consumer loans is approaching a critical point, beyond which a collapse of either banks or the population may occur.

But before the collapse happens, we sweep away everything without looking at the labels and not caring about the price. Well, really, what the hell difference does it make whether this washing machine costs $700 or $1000? We borrow money. And it turns out that in the first case you will have to pay, say, 100 dollars a month, and in the second - 120. So why are we now squeezing for 20 dollars a month? It's funny, honestly. Moreover, if you don’t have either 100 or 120 and where to get them, it’s not very clear. Well, we'll take it somewhere. Or we won't take it. In any case, these are problems of tomorrow, and a luxurious washing machine from the fashionable Pilips brand will already stand in the middle of the hallway today (it won’t fit anywhere else in a small apartment) and please the eye. And we are very pleased that this is Pilips, and not the crappy Sunye, like the Ivanovs. And the fact that in terms of their technical and any other capabilities they are no different from each other, we, excuse the pun, don’t give a damn. We probably won’t connect it, because we don’t really have anything to wash. The main thing is that it is no worse than other people’s.

Recently, in one clever article, I read that the frivolous attitude to life of the average Russian citizen is most clearly manifested not even in everyday life, but in his attitude to politics. They say that when speaking out in support of this or that political force, this very average citizen is guided by anything but common sense. As an example, the democratically oriented author cited the situation with the rating of “United Russia” - it seems that this is not a party at all and it does only harm to the country, but, nevertheless, the people support it, and, moreover, this support is growing and strengthening every day day. The article ended with a pathetic passage about the fact that if we continue to vote without peering into the faces of the candidates and without reading into their programs, then who is to blame for everything that is happening? And how to ensure a future for our children, etc.?

You know, dear readers, I want to speak in support of the average citizen of Russia. Yes, yes, don’t be surprised, exactly that citizen who, at the appointed hour, unexpectedly for himself, made it to the polling station and voted for “United Russia”. Because if he has already become kind, then who do you order him to vote for? He intuitively feels that there is no difference between today's Russian parties. That is, none at all. Because all of them, and not just “United Russia”, are, in essence, not political parties.

Firstly, they do not reflect the interests of the social groups that stand behind them; secondly, there are no social groups behind them; thirdly, all their leaders look the same; fourthly, all their leaders have no faces; fifthly, these parties react almost identically to the surrounding reality; sixthly, the surrounding reality doesn’t give a damn about them all; seventh, none of them can influence the government in any way; eighth, power influences any of them at the very moment when it needs it, etc. I can list these inconsistencies until the evening.

So who do you want to vote for? It is clear that Pilips is better than Sunye, and Sunye is better than Eureka (or is Eureka no longer produced?). It is clear that Gryzlov is better than Zyuganov, and Zyuganov is better than Belykh. (White people, on the contrary, are already being let in.) What’s better? Who the hell knows?.. That is, they all have the same functions, and if in principle I don’t need a washing machine, but need to buy it, then I’d rather buy a Pilips, because everyone does it. And if I don’t give a damn about all these politicians, because none of them solve my problems, then, if I make it to the polling station, I’d rather vote for Gryzlov. Because everyone does it.

When a product or policy that I really need appears on the shelves, that’s when I’ll think about it. In the meantime, leave me alone.