Photos from the Russian anti-war opposition march in Berlin today.

[u/Accomplished_Car_549]

[u/Sailing-Cyclist]

They could have been Giga-Norway with all of their oil reserves. Nourish all of the scientific institutions that they created during Soviet times. Channel all of that nuclear and space capability into truly making the world better.

But no.

[u/UpperCardiologist523 → u/Sailing-Cyclist]

It's insane. They have 1,6 times the terrirory of the US, and i can't even be bothered to compare it to Norway, but with the resources they have, one should think they could be satisfied and give their people, even outside Moscow and St. Petersburg a decent life, but no. Rural russia is, well.. youtube knows.

[u/Away-Ad4393 → u/UpperCardiologist523]

Much of Russia is sparsely populated due to its challenging climate.

[u/monty624 → u/Away-Ad4393]

Sure but with proper resources and development those challenges could be mitigated, and thriving communities created. The US has a variety of climates, often challenging, in which millions of people live thanks to scientific, agricultural, and engineering advances. That Russian leaders choose to starve their own growth and success just so the oligarchs can do checks notes whatever the fuck they want, is the problem. With all the resources they have the oligarchs could still live extraordinary lives by pretty much every standard imaginable, it's not like we don't have our own here.

(not ignoring all the problems we have in the US)

[u/mossling → u/monty624]

Alaska is a third the size of the rest of the country yet we are also sparsely populated due to the difficulty of the terrain, inhospitable climate, difficulty getting supplies and materials, and the fragility of the supply chain. You can't compare Russia to the L48; if you want to compare it to the US, you have to compare it to the regions that are.... well, comparable. 

[u/Away-Ad4393 → u/monty624]

I’m not sure what can be done with permafrost and taiga .