Yeah, everything he does is with that in mind.

I suspect he is more or less a traditionalist at heart.

Yes. His personal prestige is entirely wrapped up in the national prestige, so he is doing what he can to boost that.

But would drop all of that in an instant to increase popular support.

hmm

But yeah, it'd be hard not to be a traditionalist cutting your teeth in the late stage Kremlin.

why is it so fucking hard to just get good patriots in leadership positions?

Lol.

Is Putin not a good patriot...?

not if his personal prestige would make him abandon tradition

Most people who seek power aren't good patriots

well fair enough

He'd be following the will of his Volk.

Not only is that inherently good, but is arguably the most patriotic thing a leader can do.

Just have to make sure that acting like a good patriot and their self interest is aligned

gonna be a tall order at the moment short of nuking the whole system

Our current system prevents this

lol

@A. Spader
How is slavish devotion to tradition more patriotic (or wise) than bending to the will of the Volk?

@Unironic Ohio Supremecist no you bring up a good point

https://www.newstarget.com/2020-02-08-do-the-math-china-press-conference-admits-coronavirus-mortality-17-percent.html

@A. Spader
Cool.

I mean, I'm all for tradition, obviously. But tradition is ultimately a vector for order.

Tradition is not an inherent good in and of itself.

that and a leader can't artificially change the nature and virtue of his people

ultimately they are gonna get the governance they deserve, to a degree

disagree with the not changing the people part.

he can move them in the right direction

but a hedonist people ruled by a good man will ultimately wind up with a hedonistic government

@McFansy
Sure. Leaders can, and should, shape the will of the Volk to some degree.

But again, in the interest of order.

Hasn't the 20th Century shown us that leaders move the people not the other way around?

If the Leader is bending towards chaos, he needs to be corrected.

@McFansy they can give a good push, but that's not the same as a total alteration

media influences them to go to war, roads tell them where to build a house

@McFansy
Sure, most people are sheep.

But a flock has it's own will.

One much stronger than a sheep.

A shepherd can guide a flock to a large extent.

Thomas Jefferson would still be a terrible president in our current system

sheepdogs and the shepherd