ALERT: VENT IN PROGRESS...
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Originally Posted by ustwo
It took you this long to figure it out?
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Yeah, I guess I'm a bit slow.
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Originally Posted by Mr Mephisto
That's simply not true.
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Does this make the gist of the matter any clearer? I apologize in advance if it doesn't.
PASSPORTS AND VISAS IN RUSSIA
Carry them with you at all times. When you are out walking and you see some motley looking guys with black leather caps and jackets with dark gray uniforms, these are the police. They listen for English language being spoken and they will love it if they stop you and you are without your passport and visa. If you don't have your visa and passport, they will escort you to the nearest jail and try their best at expropriating whatever funds they think they can get out of you. Usually, the fine (bribe) is $50 and there won't be anything we can do for you to get you out of it. If the cops haul you in and you do have your visa and passport, call us immediately and we will rescue you. Your visas, if registered through us, will be in perfect order. Don't pay them anything if, once again, you have your visa and passport in your possession.
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Hardknock, you sound like a person grasping at straws. One can find fault with Mother Theresa if one so chose to. I also live in the US, and I don't feel that the government is over-intrusive. In all my years, I've never been lectured or reprimanded by my government for my various and sundry beaver-banging techniques. I'm not Christian - the government has never bugged me about it. I don't feel paranoid about being followed (especially since I stopped taking dope). Global warming doesn't overly concern me, overfishing doesn't overly concern me, de-forestation doesn't overly concern me, over-population doesn't overly concern me - except when I'm stuck in traffic. Then, it really bugs me. The US has the finest medical facilities on the planet; I guarantee you that Great Medical Minds are on the case trying to cure diseases. So, if I didn't read the news, I wouldn't even know the government existed at all. I obey the law, pay my taxes, and I never hear a word from them.
All I can say is that, to my mind, the US ranks way, way, WAY down the list of countries in the world that I would characterize as "Oppressive".
Or maybe you're just VENTING. In that case, carry on VENTING. Never mind.