# Is Russia's current model unsustainable?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-russias-current-model-unsustainable/701005>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [October 10, 2014, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-russias-current-model-unsustainable/701005 "2014-10-10T23:56:45Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\
**Post date:** [October 12, 2014, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-russias-current-model-unsustainable/701005/21 "2014-10-12T12:46:29Z")

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> [@Hector\_St\_Clare](#):
>
> I nearly spit up my glass of blueberry wine laughing at the idea that American politicians are, first and foremost, responsible to the American people.
> 
> You really don’t think that American politicians respond first and foremost to rich elites, lobbyists and special interests?

That’s not untrue, but ultimately their power comes from their political office. This is very different from a system where titles/offices are self-awarded to people that already effectively have the power. Caesar became emperor because he was the most powerful person in their world; the title was an expression of that power, not a cause. No American public office is analogous.

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