You're such a alleged "smart guy", TJ. (where have I heard that before?
)
Why don't you do some basic research such as avg. income and the buying power of the ruble? The whole Russian economy is equivalent to one state, (California
) and it's been in freefall since Obama and Merkel slapped Putin with a slew of sanctions for invading the Ukraine. The Saudi's are strangling the Rus pigs of any real income from their oil business.
For someone who's allegedly "left", you sure have a strange affinity for oligarchs like Putin and that wannabe oligarch Donny Trump, Joad.