1. Are there two groups of Oligarch folks?
It rarely gets brought up, but back around 1989/1990....as the Soviet Union collapsed....a group of Russian guys with various visions of commerce came to be what I'd call group #1 of Oligarch folks.
You can say whatever you want....but this group ended with a under-the-table deal with the Kremlin insiders to run various elements of commerce (basically getting filthy rich)....as long as they didn't dabble in politics.
So around 2001-to-2005....Putin arrived and brought in some additional folks from the old KGB/new FSB to be Oligarch group #2. This group was given something that group #1 didn't really have.....total access to Putin.
People will argue over the two groups, but they both handle business operations....both get filthy rich....both are the ultra elite of Russia, and both have mega-yachts (in case you were interested). I should note....both are hurting with the sanctions presently, but only group #2 can go and whine about it to Putin (in person).
Naturally, you might ask....did Oligarch group #2 have any real business understanding, banking background, or commerce channels? Well....NO. They were KGB/FSB folks, and their understanding of how the money moved around or how deals were constructed.....were marginal at best.
You might ask if the two groups are in competition with each other at this point, but it's anyone's guess how they can compete or get ahead.
2. Was Putin really qualified in 2000 for the job as President of Russia?
Silly question....he was the KGB insider. That's all that matters. No one said much over the CIA's George Bush being selected as a VP....did they?
3. Is there a hostile argument going on about German drones being armed?
Well....the government has no problem in recon drones. But the minute you say that it's armed....the question is.....who gives the command and authorizes it to be 'hostile'?
The SPD government doesn't want to be in the middle of this.
If we were talking about a rifleman, a canon operator, a anti-tank missile guy, or some guy with a mortar.....that's all simple. But the minute you say the guy might be 300 kilometers away and suggest he might be seated in some lounge chair....it freaks people out. You know...it's like voting from 700 kilometers away from Berlin.....that probably would freak out people if they thought about long enough as well.
4. Is it true that the real estate 'bubble' now worries people?
Well....the Bundesbank now says it's fairly risky and they want to change the rules on loans. To be honest, I would have said this in the summer of 2020, but it takes a while for the experts to prioritize worries.
5. On home-office rules.....can your German boss stop by?
This got brought up via N-TV today. The paperwork you sign....to allow you home-office....could have a detail that says the boss could come by your house. If that text is there, and you signed....then yes, they could visit you.
Now, should you worry about this? Well....no boss is going to say anything about your attire, or your dog sitting in the room. Course, if you aren't there....it begs the question.....where are you (sitting at the pub perhaps)?
If you were at the desk, but hyped-up on cannabis (with the scent in the air)? That might be another problem with the visit.
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