Adjustable democracy

The transition from a regulated market economy to a regulated democracy.
 "The rising price of gas for Russian consumers is inevitable - said the presidential aide Igor Shuvalov, Russia. - Within the next five years, Russia is waiting for tripling of domestic natural gas prices. Further Igor Shuvalov said: "We proceed from the premise that the gas price should be the same for everyone, both domestically and abroad. Domestic prices will reach the level of external to the year 2010-2012.
What is an ardent supporter of justice! One price for all! Equal conditions for equal! How does it sound! Igor, do not speak so beautifully!
Yes, citizens of Russia would be only too glad if domestic prices are, indeed, to level with the external. But not as selective as the wish of individual officials, but in everything. Including wages.

"The impending increase in gas prices in the first place was supported by the mining companies. So, oil companies, counting on rising prices, are going to increase gas production ", - informs the citizens" Gazeta.ru ".
"Raising prices is dictated by the logic of the gas industry - said the spokesperson of the NOVATEK Michael Lozovoj. - By our estimates, the industry is now needed from the $ 56 billion to $ 71 billion to ensure the development of new deposits, construction of new gas processing facilities (which currently lacks) and the construction of new gas networks.
So, which side do not come over to the theme of gas, rising gas prices, if you listen to our politicians and owners of gas fields, is inevitable, as a rock. Pleases mere fact that even in this we will overtake Europe.
Today, after sixteen years, we can conclude that the concept of transition to a regulated market economy, declared in a 90 - the last century to realize. Now we have both the market and regulated prices, and the promise of prosperity and wealth, most citizens did not happen.
Many adult citizens should remember that period, the adoption of this concept, where ministers and academics suggested that the people vied with each other to cut their own needs, tighten their belts and work harder today, that is, in the 90 years that tomorrow (maybe it had to happen in 2006 ) could live in paradise, called regulated market economy. Who forgot, can look at and read: http://rpr.ur.ru/article/MZpKP.zip
It's time to ask, and those Ministers and academics have already gone. They are well-earned rest. Resting on the laurels of their achievements. Their aides amassed a capital and moved to more affluent countries, but people from that time forced tighter and tighter to tighten their belts and now Russia, the standard of living, with 40 seats has already slipped to 65, with the complete victory of the concept of a regulated market economy.
But let's not rush to conclusions, but you should look into our economy, and examine where we have a market, where the regulated "market" prices to once again prove to be a fool not to be able to assess and those who are willing and continue to hold on to this system of relations.
The first thing to note is that if prices are regulated, that is determined in advance of power, they do not market, as planned. But the plan is not in the interests of all participants in the economic and social relations, as it may seem at first glance, but in the interests of those enterprises for which the power and sets the prices. It is through such regulated prices for goods and services of natural monopolies, and they had the opportunity many times to increase their capitalization, billions of rubles to pay dividends, the benefits of dollar millionaires and billionaires and bribes corrupting the state apparatus.
In late 2005, at a meeting of the government, hotly debated issue of tariffs for services of natural monopolies. Conflict between business and power has been reduced to a discussion of maximum tariffs for services of natural monopolies. Monopolists pressured the government, wanting to raise the bar even higher tariffs, and members of the Cabinet fought feebly, for fear of popular indignation. And if in 2004 the main trouble-a Gazprom does not agree with cuts in their appetites, then at this meeting it successfully replaced the chairman of RAO UES Anatoly Chubais. For seduction, he even promised Mikhail Fradkov to double GDP by investing in energy, as gas workers today promised an increase in gas production, and then Herman Gref has declared that his economic policies - is nothing like a medieval palmistry.
That's really who exactly, there is no palmistry, and net cash interest, so it is with Mr. Chubais. Due to his active work for more than fifteen years, the Liberal Democrats are building this ugly system with a regulated market economy in which they have successfully made a career, totally unaware of people's sacrifices and sufferings.
In keeping with the concept of a regulated market, at this meeting and were presented, the basic parameters of a three-year economic forecast. In this forecast, but rather in terms of the collection arrived, it was stated that in 2006, electricity tariffs will increase by 7,5%, tariffs on railway transport - 8%, gas - 11%, in 2007 for electricity - 6.5%, on a railway transportation - 7%, gas - 8%, in 2008 for electricity - 5.5%, on a railway transport - 5.5% -7% on gas, but now we know that gas prices will triple in five years.
The question is, where's the market relations, for the development of which both championed and advocated by the present leaders? What develops the Ministry of Economic Development, Government and Administration of the President, putting such growth rates? Of course, a plausible answer no one bothered to give, but muddled statements by industry workers, about the logic of production, but Shuvalov, who, judging from the published in the American edition of The Wall Street Journal interview, all someone and something catches up, or smooths .
 Maybe they know beforehand that it is in such a proportion would increase costs of enterprises producing and supplying electricity and gas, as well as and the railroad? Of course not. But, for the whole economy of the country and its citizens, the growth rates actually will result in increased production costs, higher prices for all goods and services, and consequently slowing the pace of development, rising unemployment and declining living standards.
Government to take care of profits of these companies, is engaged in pure demagogy, for which there are explicit plans for the enrichment of some and the further deterioration of living standards. And for citizens is planned to raise prices faster than with enterprises.
 The people once again deceived. They say a great blessing for him would be if the tariffs in 2009 will grow at 6 percent rather than 8 as in 2007, and the fact that the 6 per cent in 2009 rubles will be more than 8 percent in 2007 g., no explanation and is not going. Premier Fradkov and his cabinet, such verbal gymnastics seems to be quite satisfied.
These rulers little worried that the sum contradictory situation that exposes their real interests. On the one hand, ministers say the rate of growth of domestic production falling, and, like, worried about the economy, but then, instead propose measures to overcome the crisis, offering even greater strangle domestic producers, an increase in electricity tariffs, the gas, and rail transportation, but even the top cover inflation. Better safe than sorry.
Moreover, it is strange to observe such a fervor of Ministers, in their desire to help our "poor" monopolists, as the increase of these tariffs will not lead to replenishment of the country, but most likely the opposite, in fact drop the profitability of industrial and agricultural producers and, consequently, reduce the taxable base.
As market participants pursue our ministers and lay this growth rate? Naturally, the answer to this question lies in the material interests and the interests of so-called natural monopolies, can be traced very clearly. It is they, the owners of the monopolies, benefit from the growth rates. Without spending a single ruble to improve productivity, or the conversion of production or to improve work methods, or to reduce the administrative apparatus, they receive a significant increase in profits.
And to them and there is no need to do it. They, like any monopoly, sought to increase their profits, not by reducing production costs and prices through regulation, planning for growth rates. And, in this case, do not have the seven genius to guess that our major monopolies in the energy and gas industry, as well, and the railroad, they have common interests with government officials, and had laid a revenue growth. Prepared by, so to speak, the soil, then to explain to citizens that the rates increase according to the approved plan.
 When the people raised questions: why increased food prices and on industrial goods, why is unwound, inflation, the officials say they have nothing to do with, as we have a market economy, and employers themselves set prices for their products (not mentioning that entrepreneurs agreed with the government monopoly). And inflation is, as suggested Alexei Kudrin, the newspaper "Izvestia", because of the rapid growth in tariffs for housing and communal services. However, for reasons unclear to us, due to which prices rise on housing and communal services, the Minister of Finance as a modestly silent. And when people are trying to find out what entailed raising the price of electricity and gas, he said that it planned government strategy.
And where is the present market, in this regulated market economy? I guess - is the sale of labor, uninformed reader might think? But if you look closely at the relationship of wage workers and their employers, to the activities of existing authorities and trade unions, it will inevitably come to the conclusion that the value of labor power is trying to regulate, though not as explicitly as is done with prices for natural gas, electricity , communications, rail transportation.
Monopolies, government, reactionary union leaders serving the media widely used tactic of containment of growth in real wages, disrupting the strike through endless delay and sabotage the negotiations on the conditions kolldogovora, intimidating leaders, threatening fines and dismissals. A truly democratic unions forced underground and replaced by government trade union organizations, which are obedient tool in the hands of the reactionary government, which is clearly visible from the open circulation of oil KhMAO - Ugra to the President.
 "Membership of ordinary workers in unions FNPR is not voluntary, and is caused by the pressure of employers, systematic" depremirovaniyami "coerce employees consist of" their "unions and regional authorities, which budget funding of many social programs through regional bodies FNPR. As a result, trips to children's summer camps for union members FNPR are two to three times cheaper than for non-members of these unions, although all donations come from public sources, etc.
The rank and file members of trade unions discriminated against, their representation in Congress and the governing bodies are not guaranteed.
Combining decades of billions of dollars in union dues (a kind of compulsory tax, is deducted through the accounting department), FNPR bosses do not respond sufficiently to the demands of workers, do not leave their cozy warm rooms, to make life easier for working people. Uses the collected funds to meet their own interests, commercial projects and ambitions.
A prime example: the sharp conflict between management and employees of major oil companies of Russia (Surgutneftegaz, Slavneft, Rosneft ") is gaining momentum. Working in favor of wage increases in line with actual inflation (in prices of housing, gasoline, food) and the real profit of the companies, the abolition of the existing relationship base salary and incentive bonus of 30 to 70, setting the tariff part of wages not less than 80%, severe compliance with labor laws, respect for employees by the authorities and representatives of the state.
None of the leaders of trade unions FNPR not gone to meetings with workers who had not taken steps to prevent conflict, does not enter into constructive dialogue with neither workers nor their employers nor the executive branch, the parties of the tripartite social partnership, not a single step closer to the Review and resolution of socio-economic crisis. They settled in the offices under the protection of live separate from the working life, because they are satisfied with their own situation, his own salary, multiply exceeds the level of salaries of workers, and their own sotsgarantii.
So, July 16, 2006 about 10 thousand workers of "Surgutneftegaz" in Surgut and Lyantor expressed their protest against the tough anti-social policies of the company. 89 thousand union members FNPR Surgutneftegaz, part of the salary paid every month in FNPR, had and have every right to demand that their union leaders wage protection rights violated by the employer, require compliance with tariff agreements on conditions of life, work and pay. But no functionary did not appear at events, has claimed responsibility for the situation. Oilmen humiliated by hunger and poverty, bonded labor is being paid for 7 rubles per hour, and FNPR show calm in a protracted conflict.
Numerous treatment of workers remain unanswered.
Hope to reform the trade unions crumble from within.
Any attempt by union members to assert their rights is encountering stiff opposition union leadership. FNPR took a compromising position with employers. Workers lose their enthusiasm, lose confidence not only to trade unions, but also to any other institutions of civil society.
Workers were left alone with the owners, employers, containing staff of lawyers, and are unable to protect themselves from direct discrimination in the distribution of results of joint work and massive violations in the workplace. Workers have only one option: to unite in the new trade unions or other forms of struggle for their rights, raise political demands, organize spontaneous strikes, hunger strikes, road closures.
Working Russia (even oil) are not provided with the cost of living, social guarantees northerners, pensions, etc. We are convinced that this is the result of the treacherous policy guidance FNPR for the past 15 years. "
So, where is the much-vaunted social partnership and equal relations of the employer and employee? None. There LZhEprofsoyuz serving the owners of enterprises and government.
In September 2006, Rosstat published a study on wages, which clearly stated that the robbery of the people continues. The gap between the 10%-paid and poor, even in the official sphere of income, has increased considerably, and today the income of the rich at 25 times greater than the income of the poor. If we add bureaucratic extortion, the difference will be measured by three-digit number. How would say a well-known movie hero: "He who does not work - he eats."
Just Rosstat noted that the salary of regional officials as early as 1.5 times higher than the national average. In developed countries, the gap between rich and poor in the order below, for example, in the U.S. - 10, Germany - 7, Japan - 4,5. But no one from the government and presidential administration in no hurry to declare that the wages of Russian workers must be equalized with salaries in Europe. It seems that they do not want, because they are not profitable.
So, where is in Russia, such a coveted market, which in words, so tried to half-baked liberal Democrats? Perhaps in consumer goods? But even here, a careful approach, we did not observe. Rather, find the invisible, but clear, the official hand regulating prices in their favor.
Summer house price growth in most major cities in the country, caused mass discontent among citizens, questioned the implementation of the Kremlin project "Affordable and Comfortable Housing - to citizens of Russia", and clearly showed that the market relations in this sphere there.
National project "Affordable and Comfortable Housing", has led to the fact that housing has become even more inaccessible. Mortgage fell by 1-2% increase in new housing was no more than 2%, and housing has risen in price by 30 -50%. As for the availability of mortgage loans ", the situation has not improved. Average cost of credit for today - 10 - 12% in currency and to 18% in rubles. That is, by installment for 10 years, citizens are invited to buy an apartment at the price of two.
Builders, frightened by this situation does repudiate from this growth. "The dynamics of profitability of construction companies over the years, only falling, - assured Izvestia Corporation President Leonid Kazinets Barkley. - The price increases do not earn that those who build and those who give the opportunity to build. In March alone, the proportion of the city officially increased by 30%. During the six months increased by 2 times the cost of connecting to the networks of natural monopolies. As a result, the investor's costs are rising faster than prices. Besides pointless to accuse us of high prices.
As President of the Association of Builders of Russia (RRA), Nikolai Koshman, housing costs include the cost of developers on land acquisition, design and approvals, construction materials, connection to the electric, gas and other networks. He is confident that these amounts greatly increase construction costs.
And this situation not only in housing construction. In all spheres of economic activity, under one pretext or another, the official is a master and regulates the prices based on their selfish interests. In all kinds of services and products available bureaucratic delta, which consumers should not help pay. Peculiar form of collecting tribute.
Unprecedented profits of the monopolies and the powers that be, from the robbery of the people, can not see really that blind. Against the background of growing poverty and desperation the main part of Russia's population, with their miserable wages, more cynically and shamelessly manifest itself the ruling "elite" and its surrounding nouveaux riches. The number of millionaires in the country is rampant. In the early 1990's in their country, there were 10 thousand, and today - almost 90 thousand Moscow ranked second among world cities by the number of billionaires: here are 25 more just in New York - 40.

Vitaly Glukhov