I have a unique view of the crisis in Russia as my wife is Ukrainian and Russian, which is very common. I suppose it’s similar to being from Texas with Mexican/Spanish heritage, as I am. Again, very common. Historically, Russia has been extremely paranoid of the west, with memories from Hitler and Napoleon as part of their painful history. Not so different from Mexican history with their neighbors to the north. It’s all complicated and grudges remain to this day.
The resentment of Ukraine remains in part, due to collaboration with the Nazis and the formation of Ukrainian SS units which were responsible for horrific Russian atrocities.
Fast forward to my time in Russia and St. Petersburg. The Hermitage is arguably, the most magnificent museum of art and culture in the world. Standing in a room filled with Picassos was incredible. The trip to Pushkin, equally amazing, standing in the Amber Room was the experience of a lifetime.
My point is the history and current events in Russia and Ukraine is tragic and extremely complicated and not easy for outsiders to fully comprehend, a dichotomy between beauty and tragedy.
To put in context, what would be our reaction if Texas wanted to secede from the United States? Exactly.
As for Ugandan born, and Democratic Socialist (whatever that means) Zohran Mamdani, is clearly a revolutionary and is a version of Leon Trotsky in training.
He is potentially the most influential figure on the radical left since Che Guevara.
So best get used to it, he’s not going anywhere but up. This is what desperate voters favor, with no chance of ever being able to own the American dream. Kinda reminds me of the despair young voters here in SB must feel?
Despair? Nope! Some young Santa Barbara activist SBCAN, DSA, Democrat voters are angry without proposing solutions beyond “give it to me for free or less”. Create new cities; expand Buellton and other areas; incentivize job growth elsewhere. SLO’s Vision Project is actively working with young professionals to create paths to attract and retain the under 40 year olds. There are countless local smart under 40s, educated here in our public high schools, who make $150-$800K a year, and are positioning themselves for home ownership, families, & community participation. They’re too busy working, earning, and investing to protest & complain. They matter! PLEASE ADVOCATE for these young community assets while they’re busy working to earn to own.
I project the realities of the job will quickly overwhelm Mamdami, who in fact is a child of rather capitalism blessed parents. And NYC will quickly fall back into it normal ungovernable corruption soup, and not miss a beat.
Those are incredible observations, Tim. What a great experience for you to see firsthand the ravages of communism on the common man. I truly hope people wake up and begin to see how far down that road the United States has already moved. Perhaps we should start sending school-age kids Into some of these countries so they can see for themselves and to draw their own conclusions.
“we should start sending school-age kids Into some of these countries”
Not a lot of accessibility to socialist utopias anymore. My Russian friends and I are in constant contact and they seem to have most of the same things we have here. I joke with my Russian friends that they are us; just 50 years ago. And I have been wanting to visit 1975 again anyway. My favorite year in my favorite decade! 😊🥰
So to educate the kids….Maybe just field trips to New York? 🤷♂️
Thanks for the reminder of how fortunate we are; for sharing your 1991 remarkable life experience. No American knows hunger, poverty, deprivation, desperation or uncertainty like in other parts of the world.
What’s the local forecast Tim? How quickly can Mamdani change NYC to create the prototype? Will the local party platforms of our SB Chapters of both the Democrat Socialists of America (DSA) and Democrats continue to blend into one stronger SBCAN political force controlling all government, NGOs, NPOs, and rental housing? Most every local resident is a financial recipient of government, dependent on government via working for our largest ten employers, our schools, clinics, or via their pensions, housing, SNAP, social security or medical care. Will property owners ever unite to push back to protect their assets? Help make sense of the unbelievable. What needs to be our next local play? I prefer offense to defense.
The acid test. How quickly will AOC give up her congressional compensation package to pay for Mamdami's higher taxes, and confiscation of her recent insider trading riches.
The Stalin era of dictatorship had finally crushed any idea of the "Peoples" society. The 5 and 10 year economic plans of the Soviet failures was clear to anyone who lived outside of the Soviet Union.
At the same time Mao was consolidating the last bits of power, the Cultural Revolution was in full swing and the people were told it was for the betterment of the people (gee kind of sounds like things in Santa Barbara). If you did not like it tough, the central government like the Soviets told you regardless of what you wanted they were going to do it.
Gee, is that like 7 story buildings in the middle of Santa Barbara and streets that do not work?
Your observations of the amazement of you guest years later was great.
A recent Cato/YouGov survey asked 2000 American respondents a range of questions about US fiscal policy. the survey found that 62% of adults under age 30 favored socialism over free market economies. Just 38% held an unfavorable view.
In another study by the Young American Foundation, more than half the 2,000 students (1,000 College students & 1,000 high school students) could not accurately define Socialism.
Perhaps, these high levels of approval of socialism by voting age students is driven by such facts as Joe Biden's forgiveness of student loans amounting to $188.8 billion over 4 years.
It appears that the illusion of a socialist society among this age group is the illusion of a continuous flow of free services and subsidies from the government, that makes no money but can only tax others and borrows to subsidize the population. As Margaret Thatcher famously said. "The trouble with Socialism in that eventually, the socialists run out of other people's money"
"Perhaps, these high levels of approval of socialism by voting age students is driven by such facts as Joe Biden's forgiveness of student loans amounting to $188.8 billion over 4 years."
No it probably has to do with their own personal experiences and their political associations; these young people don't see things the way *you* do.
Heck, I'm a Carlist who hates democracy, capitalism, republicanism, socialism, fascism, secularism, etc - not every person worships your idols.
My goodness, a Carlist. You must want the return of the monarchy; it is about the only form of government you don't hate. Not sure the students under discussion would agree with you though.
Never said they did. But they still don't share in your idols - that's the point. What you see as common sense they see as "outdated", "oppressive", or whatever other labels they use. They see a world that has failed them and a political and economic order that helps everyone but themselves.
Yeah this kind of rhetoric only makes them detest older generations and their conservative beliefs more. I don't know what your goal is, but you would only further entrench the young left.
What do you think happens when people like you finally pass away?
Tim: Sit down and write a book about your experience, including commentary from your experience in finance and how the capitalist system works. It's timely. Just build on what you wrote above. Here's a story: We lived in East Berlin for 6 months in 1988, the year before the fall of the Wall. My husband had been awarded a Fulbright to teach American Lit at Humboldt University. Our 10 year old was enrolled in an East German public school. One day as Eric walked back to the subway for the 40 minute ride home to our "neuebau" flat,, he saw a queue in Alexanderplatz (central E. Berlin). He didn't know what for, but next day I made my way back there, found the line, stood there an hour, and left with 2 jars of Polish pickles. After just 2 months living under Socialism, we were thrilled with my bounty. Communism in a nutshell. Write the book, Tim.
Had a Second Amendment been in place in Russia and Eastern Europe, history would be dramatically different; "...the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed."
Britain, New Zealand and Australia are current examples of governments taking freedoms from citizens as they have dramatically diminished/eliminated gun ownership. It is no coincidence that those pushing Socialism in this country are the ones attempting to infringe on the right to " keep and bear Arms".
The people of New York City are on the cusp of supporting the aphorism "The masses are asses".
Nonsense. What would have prevented modernity in Russia would have been Peter the "Great" and his father never coming to power- Peter was the very Emperor of Russia who modeled it after the most powerful [but not pious] European Nations [Heretics and "Enlightened" thinkers]. Russia and the Eastern part of Europe were doomed becauae they embraced the same political philosophies as the *Protestant* West, throwing off their traditions for the ideologies that had already seduced Anglo-Germanic people's.
Great article Tim. I remember hosting several of the Ukrainians in our home at the time that they came to play football in Santa Barbara. I remember being astonished that one of the women took a throw away piece of plastic that was used for vegetables from the supermarket and took it home in her suitcase, as if it was a great treasure. I also witnessed the visitors walking through Vons with a video camera as if they were filming with astonishment the inside of Fort Knox. These memories point out in clear relief the difference between the results of socialism and capitalism.
I went to the USSR back the mid 1980’s Among other things, I was a rebellious kid and very “progressive” in my politics at the time. My dad wanted me to see 1st hand what socialism does to people and I was living in Europe at the time and was naturally curious.
The way I usually describe it is It was like stepping into a black&white film noir movie.
In 1990 and again 1991, I visited Russia and the Ukraine to try to develope agricultural business connections. What was clear from the beginning, was just how openly corrupt and scared those countries were. Poverty was the norm and shortages were usual. Fear was palpable.
"Lately have been thinking a lot about Russia/Ukraine. Both countries are corrupt as hell, and the Russian mafia/mob has been operating in major cities within the U.S. since the 1970s and 1980s"
So is the US and Santa Barbara becoming more like the Russian Mafia, any violence here in the US? How about Political Assassinations folks like Saint Petersburg Russia back in 1990's?
Howard Walther, member of a Military Family
PS1 - Paul McCartney "Back-In-The USSR", really sing that song in Santa Barbara!
Tim...a very good example and overview of what makes socialism/communism a non-workable ideological construct. In the history of mankind only those forms of goveranance which provide rewards/incentives manage to allow people to create livable societies. None other have worked for any reasonable length of time. You nailed it!
Thanks Tim for sharing such vivid examples of the effect that a political structure can have on the recipients. Another example is the split of Germany into West, a free country, and East, a communist one. In a matter of about two generations, when President Reagan caused the wall to be torn down the results were illustrative. The Westerns were self sufficient and had to support the Easterners. After just two generations the comparison was between a movie in color and one in black & white.
I have a unique view of the crisis in Russia as my wife is Ukrainian and Russian, which is very common. I suppose it’s similar to being from Texas with Mexican/Spanish heritage, as I am. Again, very common. Historically, Russia has been extremely paranoid of the west, with memories from Hitler and Napoleon as part of their painful history. Not so different from Mexican history with their neighbors to the north. It’s all complicated and grudges remain to this day.
The resentment of Ukraine remains in part, due to collaboration with the Nazis and the formation of Ukrainian SS units which were responsible for horrific Russian atrocities.
Fast forward to my time in Russia and St. Petersburg. The Hermitage is arguably, the most magnificent museum of art and culture in the world. Standing in a room filled with Picassos was incredible. The trip to Pushkin, equally amazing, standing in the Amber Room was the experience of a lifetime.
My point is the history and current events in Russia and Ukraine is tragic and extremely complicated and not easy for outsiders to fully comprehend, a dichotomy between beauty and tragedy.
To put in context, what would be our reaction if Texas wanted to secede from the United States? Exactly.
As for Ugandan born, and Democratic Socialist (whatever that means) Zohran Mamdani, is clearly a revolutionary and is a version of Leon Trotsky in training.
He is potentially the most influential figure on the radical left since Che Guevara.
So best get used to it, he’s not going anywhere but up. This is what desperate voters favor, with no chance of ever being able to own the American dream. Kinda reminds me of the despair young voters here in SB must feel?
Despair? Nope! Some young Santa Barbara activist SBCAN, DSA, Democrat voters are angry without proposing solutions beyond “give it to me for free or less”. Create new cities; expand Buellton and other areas; incentivize job growth elsewhere. SLO’s Vision Project is actively working with young professionals to create paths to attract and retain the under 40 year olds. There are countless local smart under 40s, educated here in our public high schools, who make $150-$800K a year, and are positioning themselves for home ownership, families, & community participation. They’re too busy working, earning, and investing to protest & complain. They matter! PLEASE ADVOCATE for these young community assets while they’re busy working to earn to own.
I project the realities of the job will quickly overwhelm Mamdami, who in fact is a child of rather capitalism blessed parents. And NYC will quickly fall back into it normal ungovernable corruption soup, and not miss a beat.
Those are incredible observations, Tim. What a great experience for you to see firsthand the ravages of communism on the common man. I truly hope people wake up and begin to see how far down that road the United States has already moved. Perhaps we should start sending school-age kids Into some of these countries so they can see for themselves and to draw their own conclusions.
“we should start sending school-age kids Into some of these countries”
Not a lot of accessibility to socialist utopias anymore. My Russian friends and I are in constant contact and they seem to have most of the same things we have here. I joke with my Russian friends that they are us; just 50 years ago. And I have been wanting to visit 1975 again anyway. My favorite year in my favorite decade! 😊🥰
So to educate the kids….Maybe just field trips to New York? 🤷♂️
Thanks for the reminder of how fortunate we are; for sharing your 1991 remarkable life experience. No American knows hunger, poverty, deprivation, desperation or uncertainty like in other parts of the world.
What’s the local forecast Tim? How quickly can Mamdani change NYC to create the prototype? Will the local party platforms of our SB Chapters of both the Democrat Socialists of America (DSA) and Democrats continue to blend into one stronger SBCAN political force controlling all government, NGOs, NPOs, and rental housing? Most every local resident is a financial recipient of government, dependent on government via working for our largest ten employers, our schools, clinics, or via their pensions, housing, SNAP, social security or medical care. Will property owners ever unite to push back to protect their assets? Help make sense of the unbelievable. What needs to be our next local play? I prefer offense to defense.
The acid test. How quickly will AOC give up her congressional compensation package to pay for Mamdami's higher taxes, and confiscation of her recent insider trading riches.
The Stalin era of dictatorship had finally crushed any idea of the "Peoples" society. The 5 and 10 year economic plans of the Soviet failures was clear to anyone who lived outside of the Soviet Union.
At the same time Mao was consolidating the last bits of power, the Cultural Revolution was in full swing and the people were told it was for the betterment of the people (gee kind of sounds like things in Santa Barbara). If you did not like it tough, the central government like the Soviets told you regardless of what you wanted they were going to do it.
Gee, is that like 7 story buildings in the middle of Santa Barbara and streets that do not work?
Your observations of the amazement of you guest years later was great.
Now give me grass drills.
Thanks Tim
A recent Cato/YouGov survey asked 2000 American respondents a range of questions about US fiscal policy. the survey found that 62% of adults under age 30 favored socialism over free market economies. Just 38% held an unfavorable view.
In another study by the Young American Foundation, more than half the 2,000 students (1,000 College students & 1,000 high school students) could not accurately define Socialism.
Perhaps, these high levels of approval of socialism by voting age students is driven by such facts as Joe Biden's forgiveness of student loans amounting to $188.8 billion over 4 years.
It appears that the illusion of a socialist society among this age group is the illusion of a continuous flow of free services and subsidies from the government, that makes no money but can only tax others and borrows to subsidize the population. As Margaret Thatcher famously said. "The trouble with Socialism in that eventually, the socialists run out of other people's money"
"Perhaps, these high levels of approval of socialism by voting age students is driven by such facts as Joe Biden's forgiveness of student loans amounting to $188.8 billion over 4 years."
No it probably has to do with their own personal experiences and their political associations; these young people don't see things the way *you* do.
Heck, I'm a Carlist who hates democracy, capitalism, republicanism, socialism, fascism, secularism, etc - not every person worships your idols.
My goodness, a Carlist. You must want the return of the monarchy; it is about the only form of government you don't hate. Not sure the students under discussion would agree with you though.
Never said they did. But they still don't share in your idols - that's the point. What you see as common sense they see as "outdated", "oppressive", or whatever other labels they use. They see a world that has failed them and a political and economic order that helps everyone but themselves.
You seem to be obsessed with idols. I wonder where that came from.
So they think the world has failed.them. Poor Dears. Sounds like overly cosseted kiddywinkles, who have only their cellphones for friends.
Yeah this kind of rhetoric only makes them detest older generations and their conservative beliefs more. I don't know what your goal is, but you would only further entrench the young left.
What do you think happens when people like you finally pass away?
Often, there is a time to end a conversation. That occurs when it is no longer an exchange of ideas.
I think "socialism" means free stuff and I don't have to work, to most young people.
Tim: Sit down and write a book about your experience, including commentary from your experience in finance and how the capitalist system works. It's timely. Just build on what you wrote above. Here's a story: We lived in East Berlin for 6 months in 1988, the year before the fall of the Wall. My husband had been awarded a Fulbright to teach American Lit at Humboldt University. Our 10 year old was enrolled in an East German public school. One day as Eric walked back to the subway for the 40 minute ride home to our "neuebau" flat,, he saw a queue in Alexanderplatz (central E. Berlin). He didn't know what for, but next day I made my way back there, found the line, stood there an hour, and left with 2 jars of Polish pickles. After just 2 months living under Socialism, we were thrilled with my bounty. Communism in a nutshell. Write the book, Tim.
Tim, if you decide to write the book you could include testimonials from people like Celeste.
Very interesting and timely Tim. Thanks.
Had a Second Amendment been in place in Russia and Eastern Europe, history would be dramatically different; "...the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed."
Britain, New Zealand and Australia are current examples of governments taking freedoms from citizens as they have dramatically diminished/eliminated gun ownership. It is no coincidence that those pushing Socialism in this country are the ones attempting to infringe on the right to " keep and bear Arms".
The people of New York City are on the cusp of supporting the aphorism "The masses are asses".
Nonsense. What would have prevented modernity in Russia would have been Peter the "Great" and his father never coming to power- Peter was the very Emperor of Russia who modeled it after the most powerful [but not pious] European Nations [Heretics and "Enlightened" thinkers]. Russia and the Eastern part of Europe were doomed becauae they embraced the same political philosophies as the *Protestant* West, throwing off their traditions for the ideologies that had already seduced Anglo-Germanic people's.
Great article Tim. I remember hosting several of the Ukrainians in our home at the time that they came to play football in Santa Barbara. I remember being astonished that one of the women took a throw away piece of plastic that was used for vegetables from the supermarket and took it home in her suitcase, as if it was a great treasure. I also witnessed the visitors walking through Vons with a video camera as if they were filming with astonishment the inside of Fort Knox. These memories point out in clear relief the difference between the results of socialism and capitalism.
Wow, Tim, what an experience you had!
I went to the USSR back the mid 1980’s Among other things, I was a rebellious kid and very “progressive” in my politics at the time. My dad wanted me to see 1st hand what socialism does to people and I was living in Europe at the time and was naturally curious.
The way I usually describe it is It was like stepping into a black&white film noir movie.
In 1990 and again 1991, I visited Russia and the Ukraine to try to develope agricultural business connections. What was clear from the beginning, was just how openly corrupt and scared those countries were. Poverty was the norm and shortages were usual. Fear was palpable.
I read this very interesting Russian Article titled "Back in the USSR
By Tim Tremblay and I have another Title as follows "The USSR in
Santa Barbara." I quote from Mr. Trembly "My Soviet Union Experience"
AND "We brought 1,000 Russian Bibles to give out;" AND "Igor’s home
was a small apartment on the 16th floor of a “project.”
Like Mr. Trembly I was in Saint Petersburg Russia in 1998, lived in an apartment
and got to know the folks. Russia was in a deep financial crisis then and the Russian
Mafia was taking over, complete with Car Bombs, assassinations in military precision.
Sound familiar folks? I use to go to the three lakes ,ozera , to get in a swim
that was appropriately named "Dead Mans Lake" for the opposing-parties-bodies floating
therein. Saint Petersburg was literally called the Wild West of Russia where Vladamir Putin
took control with the help of the KGB that he controlled. Violence was common in Russia then.
Now fast forward to good Ole Russia Santa Barbara where Saint Petersburg Mafia
has come to Santa Barbara and they are very, very sophisticated.
https://www.asapdrew.com/p/russian-mafia-mob-united-states-2025
"Lately have been thinking a lot about Russia/Ukraine. Both countries are corrupt as hell, and the Russian mafia/mob has been operating in major cities within the U.S. since the 1970s and 1980s"
So is the US and Santa Barbara becoming more like the Russian Mafia, any violence here in the US? How about Political Assassinations folks like Saint Petersburg Russia back in 1990's?
Howard Walther, member of a Military Family
PS1 - Paul McCartney "Back-In-The USSR", really sing that song in Santa Barbara!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dc2tJqnkLLA
nevsky prospect ring a bell?
I was there around the same time and remember being stopped on the street by two very serious and sturdy police officers.
May I see your paperwork please.
I saw darkness in their eyes!
I was very happy when I returned to US soil.
A LOT of people in this country under 50 years old have NO idea how blessed they are to live here.
Tim...a very good example and overview of what makes socialism/communism a non-workable ideological construct. In the history of mankind only those forms of goveranance which provide rewards/incentives manage to allow people to create livable societies. None other have worked for any reasonable length of time. You nailed it!
Post this in New York!
Thanks Tim for sharing such vivid examples of the effect that a political structure can have on the recipients. Another example is the split of Germany into West, a free country, and East, a communist one. In a matter of about two generations, when President Reagan caused the wall to be torn down the results were illustrative. The Westerns were self sufficient and had to support the Easterners. After just two generations the comparison was between a movie in color and one in black & white.
Well done, Tim. Great story. Thank you for writing this.
Great insights Tim!