Specter of violence in eastern Ukraine keeps voters from polls

[newthinking]

6. Don't be so sure

Because, respectfully, you would be wrong. I don't believe there has been any functioning Democracy since the overthrow. Before that there was corruption but there was also democracy. And it appears there will still be lots of corruption but restoring Democracy will take some time now.

At the same time I am not going to try and argue that in general the East was not opposed to the current government. And in Crimea, while it was not a perfect election (Not just because of Putin but because of Kyiv as well there was no way to express the will of the people with full transparency), but given the general situation there is plenty of other evidence supporting that ultimately this direction was the way the majority wanted.

I mean there was a pew poll taken several weeks later that showed 88% of the population wanted Kiev to accept the ballot results there. polls are not a perfect instrument of democracy but they are somewhat reflective of democratic will. That should be respected.

You might also be surprised to learn that I am deeply disappointed that, basically in their fear of Power in Kiev, Crimea chose Russia. I think that may turn out to be a mistake. But I am not going to debase the people there by making them out to be "Putin's sheep", and where we likely differ is I believe (I know really) that it was ultimately the junta in Kiev and their tolerance of Neo-Nazi militants that brought about the inertia and drove Crimea into Russia.

People react to threat by seeking what they see to be a strong safe hand. Just like after 9/11 where our own people were driven by fear to accept some very bad decisions and we are still living with the results of that. But Crimeans were not afraid of Russia (as the media proclaimed), they were afraid and concerned (and outraged) by the overthrow of the government by a minority made of many who are extremists.