Question 1— In many parts of the world, Vladimir Putin is admired for his outspoken defense of national sovereignty. But on the domestic front, many of Putin’s policies seem to align with those of the Western globalists. As you note in a recent post at Substack Putin
just “signed a decree on the creation of a ‘digital’ domestic
passport,” which many people think will pave the way to technocratic
tyranny. Am I exaggerating the risks of digital ID here, or is this development pose a serious threat to personal freedom?
Riley Waggaman— Imagine
if the United States started issuing digital driver’s licenses that
could be used as an official form of ID. What would the reaction be? I
suspect a lot of Americans would feel “worried”, for lack of a better
term. And not without good reason.
The digital passport system being implemented in Russia is deserving of the same skepticism.
First
some context: Russia has a “domestic passport” that basically functions
as a national ID. You use your domestic passport to open up a bank
account, when you have to interact with the local bureaucracy, etc. etc.
It’s an important document that you need to do ordinary, everyday
things.
The
digital passport has been billed as an electronic copy of the domestic
passport, accessible via smartphone (via the State Services portal,
Gosuslugi). The government is still deciding in what
situations/scenarios the digital passport will be accepted as a valid
form of ID.
Proponents
of this digital document say it’s more convenient than a paper ID, and
perhaps they’re right. The problem of course is that modern conveniences
can lead to all sorts of unpleasantness, and with time these unpleasant
things can even become “normal”.
The
fact that this ID will be linked to the State Services portal
(Gosuslugi) is certainly cause for concern and it’s easy to imagine how
digital passports could be used (and abused) by the Russian
government—or any government, for that matter. All in the name of convenience.
Of
course, the authorities promise that digital IDs will never be made
mandatory. Well, I’m old enough to remember when the Russian government
promised that Covid vaccination would be 100% voluntary…
Question 2—
Russia appears to be spearheading the transition to Central Bank
Digital Currencies (CBDC) with its creation of the “digital ruble”. In
your opinion, what are the potential pitfalls of such a plan?
Riley Waggaman— Excluding the possibility of imposing a full-spectrum digital gulag, the digital ruble has no obvious benefits. I would say the same of all CBDCs, of course.
Some
claim that the digital ruble is a very necessary, prudent, and
brilliant way to bypass Western sanctions. This is untrue. The Bank of
Russia has a fully functional Financial Messaging System (SPFS) that
operates independently from SWIFT. Here are a few RT.com headlines for
your consideration:
All
of these articles are about SPFS and were published long before the Bank
of Russia announced its intention to develop the digital ruble in
October 2020.
I’m
puzzled as to why so many westerners who claim to understand the dangers
of CBDCs think the digital ruble is somehow “different”. The Bank of
Russia’s CBDC has been almost unanimously condemned by the country’s
most prominent commentators in the alternative/conservative media space. Even mainstream outlets like Tsargrad have published scathing take-downs of the digital ruble.
Meanwhile, in English-language “alternative media”, we are blessed with the profound postulations of deep thinkers like Simplicius
who write nipple-hardening purple prose about how amazing and
anti-globalist the Bank of Russia is, and why the digital ruble is super
hip and cool.
I
just don’t understand why English-language commentary (all non-Russian
commentary, actually) is so far removed from what patriotic Russians
living in Russia are saying about their own country, in Russian.
By
the way: The Bank of Russia has already reneged on its promise that it
will never, ever “color” digital rubles so that they can only be used to
purchase certain items. The central bank’s deputy chairman recently
said that placing restrictions on how digital rubles can be spent is a
real possibility—and one that will be explored in the future. (link) The
digital ruble hasn’t even entered circulation yet, and the Bank of
Russia is already open to “exploring” how this fun new tool of total
control—endorsed by Davos, the IMF, the G20, etc. etc.–can be used to
curb-stomp basic human dignity.
Question 3— Is Russia moving closer to mandatory vaccinations?
(Note: Here’s a quote from one of your recent posts:
Russia’s Ministry of Health wants to amend the National Preventive Immunization Calendar so that COVID vaccination could be mandatory for “vulnerable categories of citizens”
whenever the country’s benevolent health authorities believe the
“epidemiological” situation warrants another round of coercive
injections…..
Of course, any new mandatory vaccination decrees would also apply to state employees, including teachers, doctors, military personnel, etc. Edward Slavsquat, Substack
Riley Waggaman—
If Russia’s enterprising health ministry—which works tirelessly to
safeguard public health—decides that “Covid” is “spreading” at an
unacceptable rate, various categories of citizens will have to choose
between getting vaxxed or losing their jobs. This is of course still
voluntary vaccination because Russians get to choose whether they want
to be employed or inject themselves with an unproven genetic goo
developed in cooperation with AstraZeneca.
There are many highly intelligent intellectuals—like Aussie Cossack —who continue to pretend that Russia never had mandatory Covid vaccination, which is very brave considering that as of January 2023, there were still hundreds of Russians who were barred from working because they refused to be injected.
The Gamaleya Center continues to “update” its Covid vaccine, and the Russian government continues to shill this dangerous and barely tested trash to children
Whether Covid vaccination will become as ubiquitous and “normal” as
the annual flu shot (which is even shoved into the little arms of
Russian children every year; I know because I had to sign a document
forbidding the kindergarten nurse from injecting my 6-year-old son) is
an open question. But you have to be impressively credulous to believe
that the Russian government wants to keep Covid vaccination a purely
voluntary affair. Russia’s health bureaucracy has a very poor track record when it comes to calling out Big Pharma/WHO scams. Did you know that you have to get an HIV test (an old school 80s Fauci scam) to get a work visa in Russia? Well, now you know.
Question 4— Here’s an excerpt from one of your recent posts that will surprise many readers who think that President Putin actually opposes the Davos crowd and their globalist agenda:
“To defeat globalism, Moscow is reluctantly but responsibly adopting the globalist agenda….
There
is no way to stop the technological “progress” promoted by Davos, the
G20, the IMF, the World Bank, the UN, and the WHO, which is why Moscow
must closely collaborate with all of these globalist organizations in
order to maintain globalist parity with the Collective West—otherwise Russia won’t be able to protect herself from the globalists.”
And, here’s more from another post:
“…almost every joint declaration Moscow signs (whether it be a G20 Declaration, a BRICS Declaration, or just some word salad authored with the help of Beijing)
includes a passage praising the vital roles of the World Health
Organization, the World Trade Organization, and the International
Monetary Fund? This seems like relevant information.
The
Russian government has repeatedly said it has no intention of
withdrawing from the WHO, the WTO, or even the IMF. It would be nice if
Cerise could update his article to reflect this undeniable reality. Edward Slavsquat, Substack
You appear to be saying that—even
though Russia is fighting the western oligarchy in Ukraine—it is still
marching in lockstep with the globalists on matters of social policy.
Can you expand on this a bit? And how does Putin fit in with all of
this? Is he an unwitting accomplice or an eager participant?
Riley
Waggaman— Is Moscow fighting the western oligarchy in Ukraine? Gazprom
has been pumping gas across Ukraine since Day 1 of the SMO. And that’s not the only natural resource that Russian “entrepreneurs” are desperately transiting through Ukrainian territory.
I have yet to read about a western-backed Ukrainian oligarch having his home vaporized by a Russian missile.
Actually, it’s a doubtful that a single western oligarch, anywhere, has
been inconvenienced by the SMO. On the contrary, it has been a
wonderful money-making opportunity—for Russian oligarchs as well.
But to address the second part of your question: Anyone
who follows Russian-language media knows that Moscow is in near-total
lockstep with the West when it comes to soul-crushing technocracy and
other forms “safe and convenient” societal progress. Actually, an
objective observer would recognize that Russia is far ahead of the West
in implementing “digitalization” shilled by Davos and other celebrated
anti-globalist organizations.
Putin has done nothing meaningful to slow this process down.
Actually, by allowing glorious patriots like Herman Gref to spearhead
AI, biometrics, QR-coded cattle-tagging, facial recognition systems,
“sustainable development”, and other trendy tech-development in Russia, Putin is an unapologetic accomplice in all the unsavory madness pestering Russia and every other country.
Seriously, just look at how the Russian government treats schoolchildren
(like diseased, suspicious cattle), and you will begin to understand
where this country is headed. Children are the future, after all!
Question 5— Can you summarize your views on the Covid-19 vaccine?
It’s bad.
Question 6— You say that “Russians are not too keen on Russia’s Central Bank chief Elvira Nabiullina”.
According to you: “The socialists, the monarchists, the neo-soviets,
the conservatives, the military hardliners—with few exceptions,… all
despise Elvira and her digital rubles.”
Later in your article you say: “(Elvira) Nabiullina is a symbol of pursuing an economic policy contrary to Russia’s interests.”
That’s pretty harsh criticism. Can you explain what’s going on? Why would Putin reappoint someone to such an important position who –many feel– is implementing a globalist agenda?
Riley Waggaman— The second quote is actually from Nakanune.ru, which is a left-leaning independent news outlet based in Yekaterinburg. Excluding
state-funded media, every news outlet in Russia hates Elvira Nabiullina
and thinks she’s a globalist stooge who is actively working to destroy
Russia. The conservatives, the Orthodox hardliners, the Communists,
the Neo-Bolshiviks, the nationalists—they all despite Nabiullina. This
is a fact and why it is never conveyed to non-Russian “alternative news”
consumers is a massive mystery.
I
haven’t the slightest idea why Putin nominated this Yale World Fellow
graduate for another term as the Bank of Russia’s governor, even though
she is awful and nobody likes her. Probably this is part of Putin’s
ingenious strategy to defeat the globalists with a programmable CBDC
100% controlled by an IMF-obedient central bank that operates
independently from the Russian state.
Question 7— In our last interview, you delivered a stirring summary of our current epoch saying:
“I am often reminded of that unsettling line from Alexis de Tocqueville:
“I go back from age to age up to the remotest antiquity; but I find no
parallel to what is occurring before my eyes: as the past has ceased to
throw its light upon the future, the mind of man wanders in obscurity.”
With
each passing day it seems we are being forcibly severed from our own
past. We are being “retrained” to accept a new civilizational model. It’s happening at the local, regional, national and global level. It is tearing apart families.
I do believe we are facing an evil that has no equal in human history.” Edward Slavsquat Substack
Judging
from the response, I think there are a great number of people who feel
the same as you do… My final question to you is this: Do you still feel as pessimistic as you did then?
Riley Waggaman— Mike, I would like to thank you (again) for that interview—it remains the most-read post on my blog. As you probably recall, the realities of Russia’s “public health” policies
lacked “accuracy” (I’m trying to be charitable here) in 2021, and I
think our internet exchange paved the way for a more fact-based, nuanced
discussion about Russia’s “Covid response”.
Actually,
I’m quite optimistic in the sense that I have accepted that there isn’t
a 5-dimensional omnipotent white hat Twitter account that will save me
from the Western Satanists, and I will have to save myself—which is
actually relatively painless, easy, and even fun. I would even describe
my current outlook as hopeful. But
I
fully understand the pessimism of someone who is sick of the US
government, or any western government; someone who looks longingly at
the Russian government as an alternative. The problem with this curious
way of thinking is that according to official data,around 30% of Russians live on less than $10 a day,
Russia is facing a catastrophic demographic crisis (and it’s hard to
think of a more basic metric for gauging the health and of a nation),
and the Russian government is a fanatical proponent of policies that are chipping away at the last vestiges of basic human dignity.
It’s true that the Russian government isn’t on board with the tranny
agenda; that’s a nice footnote to admire as Russia’s birthrate circles
the drain.
But
again, I am an optimist. I have been able to connect with like-minded
individuals here in Russia, and all over the world, and my life has
greatly improved as a result. I am able to live the life I want to live
without having to make obscene excuses for the inexcusable.
We should all be guided by truth, friendship, and love,
and why the so-called “alternative media” is so obsessed with carrying
water for governments who offer the world nothing but more of the same
(sadness) is truly amazing. Enough already. We have everything we need.
Note: Most of the images are from Riley Waggaman’s Substack account Edward Slavsquat
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