Potanin's 30 billion: why Russian oligarchs still irritate

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Billions of Vladimir Potanin became the reason for active public discussion. While the rest of the Russians were struggling to make ends meet in the "coronavirus" 2020, the oligarch earned them as much as 30,2, naturally, in dollars, becoming the richest man in our country. The State Duma voiced a proposal to tax his income with 50%. Sounds attractive at first glance, but what is wrong with this proposal?

Let's be honest, this is populism of the purest water. The oligarch Potanin, who in recent years has been trying to avoid unnecessary publicity, has himself set himself up. Due to the negligence of the notorious "effective managers" of the metallurgical company "Nornickel" belonging to him, a real ecological catastrophe occurred in the Krasnoyarsk Territory. They saved on what cannot be saved on, as a result of which diesel fuel spilled from the tank got into the surrounding rivers and water bodies, destroying the local flora and fauna. The damage to the state is estimated at 146 billion rubles. Punishing a billionaire for this seems like a good idea. However, everything is much more complicated.



Against poverty?


Let's be honest. In this matter, they are trying to make a "lightning rod" out of one particular oligarch, to which social tension will be dumped. But that won't solve any real problem. Today the country is in an extremely difficult economic situation, while ordinary people are only getting poorer, and a narrow circle of the “chosen ones” is only getting richer. The demand for justice is growing, and personal sanctions against Potanin will not change anything. What are ordinary Russians waiting for?

At first, very many are still not satisfied that almost all of these domestic oligarchs from the Forbes list became billionaires overnight through the privatization of the former public property. The same Potanin was the deputy prime minister in the government under Yeltsin, where he actively promoted the idea of ​​loans-for-shares auctions. As a result of this extremely “muddy” scheme in all respects, Norilsk Nickel, Sibneft, YUKOS, Lukoil, Yuganskneftegaz and other state-owned enterprises passed into private hands for symbolic money. This is how all our main oligarchs came out of nowhere.

Many Russians still dream of revising the results of that unjust privatization, but if this is done, then it must be carried out in a comprehensive manner, and not selectively, with respect to only Potanin and Norilsk Nickel, right?

Secondly, it would be naive not to notice that many Russian laws are written in favor of a narrow stratum of the super-rich. For example, the 1993 Yeltsin Constitution stipulated that land and other natural resources may be held not only in state and municipal ownership, but also in private and other forms of ownership. By the way, during the recent "Putin" amendments to the Basic Law, for some reason these norms were not rewritten. We can also talk about the tax rate, which in recent decades has been the same for everyone, amounting to a modest 13%. For comparison, in Germany, Austria or Sweden, which we usually nod at as the correct example of developed countries, the upper limit of taxes for the rich can exceed 50%. Is it fair? Yes. And here the super-rich paid as much as the super-poor. This year alone, the personal income tax rate has increased from 13% to 15% for those whose income exceeds 5 million rubles a year. Apparently, this is a special tax for the "dying out" middle class.

For some reason, the idea of ​​introducing a progressive taxation scale is constantly torpedoed. If the government is for a just society, then let's increase taxes specifically for billionaires, up to 20%, 30%, 50%. Then it will be easier for everyone else to "hold on". And if not, then one should not be surprised at the growth of discontent and protest moods. Many people take to the streets in unauthorized rallies not so much in support of Navalny as against injustice in the distribution of public goods and wealth. This should not be forgotten.

Against the rich?


Also let's try to separate flies and cutlets in this controversial issue. There is nothing reprehensible in wealth in itself if the owner of an outstanding fortune can account for every million of his, even for the very first. Millionaire Millionaire strife.

Why domestic oligarchs cause much more irritation among the people than foreign ones like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg? Probably because the latter earned their billions, first developing something, creating and selling to everyone. Our Forbes billionaires became super-rich only because they served in the KGB at the right time, worked in the government, owned banks that participated in loans-for-shares auctions, or practiced judo in Leningrad.

As for Musk, Gates, Bezos and others. These are also people who have studied at the best universities in the world: Harvard, Stanford, Princeton and others. Education in them costs a lot of money, but the best minds and the best laboratories are concentrated there, where advanced technological development, there are direct connections to potential investors, etc. The success of these billionaires in life is largely due to their entry into the American elite. This is also a kind of club for the elite, which is difficult to get into from outside. But you can. With a strong desire, competent financial planning and diligence. In the United States, there is still a working social lift to super-wealth.

Is it possible today to become a billionaire in Russia without having close friends or relatives in the government or law enforcement agencies, also calmly reporting for your first million? Do We Have the “Right” Paths to Wealth? Answer this question yourself.
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29 comments
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  1. +3
    18 February 2021 14: 58
    The article is of course correct. But I would say rhetorical. Not that there are no answers to all the questions posed. It's just better to remain silent.
  2. Alf
    +4
    18 February 2021 15: 20
    Due to the negligence of the notorious "effective managers" of the metallurgical company "Nornickel" belonging to him, a real ecological catastrophe occurred in the Krasnoyarsk Territory.

    Yeah, managers are to blame ... And who typed them? Who arranged the company's course of profit above all else?
    1. 123
      -2
      18 February 2021 17: 14
      Yeah, managers are to blame ... And who typed them?

      Disasters happen not only among the bourgeoisie. For example, who recruited "effective operators" in Chernobyl?
      I mean that state property does not guarantee compliance with all norms.

      Who arranged the company's course of profit above all else?

      There is no other way, that's why companies are created. And otherwise they will not survive because they will be crushed by competitors, not local so imported, they will work exactly according to this principle.
      Ensuring control over the observance of environmental safety standards and forcing the bourgeoisie to comply with technical regulations is rather the task of the state, and not just fines when this has already happened.
      Norilsk Nickel was fined 148 billion rubles in court.
      I would like to analyze the activities of environmental structures, for example, the same prosecutor's office. I do not demand blood and everyone on the Kolyma, but to see why the system did not work in this case is necessary and to take measures to bring it to a working state is an urgent need. Norilsk Nickel is not the only one and it does not depend on the form of ownership.
      By the way, it would be interesting to look at the "accounting" justification for the amount of the fine. The number is not round, it must have been counted. Unless of course ... you don't look at the dollar rate. smile This is exactly 2 billion dollars, then most likely the amount was simply appointed and there is no economic justification.
      1. Alf
        +2
        18 February 2021 17: 15
        Quote: 123
        it is rather a task of the state

        Will the state come from the sky? What is it made of? Of the deputies who are paid by the oligarchs?
        1. 123
          -1
          18 February 2021 17: 18
          Will the state come from the sky? What is it made of? Of the deputies who are paid by the oligarchs?

          In 1986, the oligarchs did not pay the deputies, the state worked no better.
      2. Alf
        +1
        18 February 2021 17: 18
        Quote: 123
        There is no other way, that's why companies are created

        But there is “profit” and there is “profit at any cost”.
        1. 123
          -1
          18 February 2021 17: 22
          But there is “profit” and there is “profit at any cost”.

          The plan or record is no better at any cost.
          I have nothing against your political views or preferences, but in this case I do not see the advantages of the socialist approach. Milkmaids and collective farmers in management show themselves no better than effective managers.
  3. -1
    18 February 2021 16: 03
    Our Forbes billionaires became super-rich only because they served in the KGB at the right time, worked in the government, owned banks that participated in loans-for-shares auctions, or practiced judo in Leningrad.

    In addition, I still had to work in the St. Petersburg mayor's office at the turn of the 80-90s of the last century.
    In the summer of 1996, a native of St. Petersburg (the father of voucher privatization) invited his former colleague to be his deputy in Moscow, inventing a new position for the latter - to work with foreign property.
    1. 123
      0
      18 February 2021 17: 35
      In addition, I still had to work in the St. Petersburg mayor's office at the turn of the 80-90s of the last century.
      In the summer of 1996, a native of St. Petersburg (the father of voucher privatization) invited his former colleague to be his deputy in Moscow, inventing a new position for the latter - to work with foreign property.

      Quite typical "reflections" for a person with a chevron of green berets on their avatar. Have you tried to think and compare? Does the forelock interfere? Most of Sobchak's billionaires did not work and they snatched their fortune at the time when the "former colleague" had not even been invited to Moscow.
    2. -1
      21 February 2021 18: 03
      In short, they create very warm armchairs for each other. Of course, with royal salaries + solid allowances. Ordinary people get a hole from a donut. They stopped talking about building a rule of law in the country, it became indecent.
  4. -1
    18 February 2021 16: 39
    And with us the super-rich paid the same as the super-poor

    Let's say my income (salary) is 1 million per year, that is, I will pay 13% per year tax of 130 thousand rubles, and the conditional potanin received 100 million, that is, he will pay 13 million rubles in tax and where is * the same amount * at the same time he and his relatives do not use the services of regional hospitals, schools, etc.
    distortion is obtained, with what is ubiquitous among writers and fighters for justice

    I understand that the rich have something not to love for, and so on, but I remember when all this privatization took place, many state enterprises were breathing their best, the same nickel was gasping for breath due to lack of brains, attention and plans for transformation, the state structures (appointees) drank their juices and stole all that they could, that is, as many said then, an owner is needed, a plant, a collective farm and other enterprises, in my opinion, all this is from the evil one, when they say that everyone was deceived, who grabbed that one (90%) or faded with money long ago, either bankrupt or dead
    I am not opposed to raising taxes for the rich, but also to argue that they need to be stifled up to 50% by the income tax-utopia, in our country with a corrupt management system, this will come out in a nutshell, they will hide the income
    1. -1
      18 February 2021 17: 02
      Eduard Aplombov... Perhaps you are right that the process of forming oligarchs in our country is over and it's time to milk. "oligarchic cow", for the benefit of the whole country.

      But our external environment, I think so, is not yet very conducive to such steps. In any case, I trust Vladimir Vladimirovich.
      1. Alf
        +2
        18 February 2021 17: 20
        Quote: isofat
        In any case, I trust Vladimir Vladimirovich.

        Trust. Has he already thrown a five for you? Threw in-Please accept with understanding. It's only the beginning...
        1. -2
          18 February 2021 17: 32
          Alf... I liked that Eduard Aplombov started discussing this issue. I just added that there are more factors to consider.

          PS I answered you out of desire to clarify my comment a little. Before answering, I read yours. You haven’t been noticed in anything constructive yet. Sorry.
          1. Alf
            -1
            18 February 2021 17: 34
            Quote: isofat
            You were not noticed in anything constructive. Sorry.

            What are the apologies, what are you talking about? I respect worthy and intelligent opponents!
      2. 0
        18 February 2021 17: 32
        I'm pezhe even more ku, yyyyy
    2. +1
      19 February 2021 07: 04
      Quote: Eduard Aplombov
      And with us the super-rich paid the same as the super-poor

      Let's say my income (salary) is 1 million per year, that is, I will pay 13% per year tax of 130 thousand rubles, and the conditional potanin received 100 million, that is, he will pay 13 million rubles in tax and where is * the same amount * at the same time he and his relatives do not use the services of regional hospitals, schools, etc.
      distortion is obtained, with what is ubiquitous among writers and fighters for justice

      I understand that the rich have something not to love for, and so on, but I remember when all this privatization took place, many state enterprises were breathing their best, the same nickel was gasping for breath due to lack of brains, attention and plans for transformation, the state structures (appointees) drank their juices and stole all that they could, that is, as many said then, an owner is needed, a plant, a collective farm and other enterprises, in my opinion, all this is from the evil one, when they say that everyone was deceived, who grabbed that one (90%) or faded with money long ago, either bankrupt or dead
      I am not opposed to raising taxes for the rich, but also to argue that they need to be stifled up to 50% by the income tax-utopia, in our country with a corrupt management system, this will come out in a nutshell, they will hide the income

      Why is the management system corrupt? Where will the tax and law enforcement agencies look?
      Where will they hide? Will they be taken out to the West? So there they are already ready to take everything away. Questions, questions ...
  5. +2
    18 February 2021 16: 50
    Can. Only very carefully. Very very. Millionaire. A billion - I can't. The main thing is not to have bank accounts, to be owed, but without the ability to pay; you can have money in the form of bank transfer, with payment of interest for withdrawal. Only very, very carefully. Do you want to know how? I will not say. This is my lifestyle. My digital footprint is on the internet, but not financial anywhere. It was lost in 2008.
  6. +5
    18 February 2021 17: 02
    Until 2009, there was a small hole in the tax legislation, from which, personally, I made a gate. My firm worked well and earned money. The hole was closed - I closed too. A year earlier. Why? To avoid paying taxes. Then it was possible to create and abandon for six months any number of LLCs, OJSCs, individual entrepreneurs and hedgehogs with them. Then Mishustin came to the Federal Tax Service. All holes were closed and until 2014 there were strict checks on everyone who translated something somewhere and received from somewhere. A bunch of my greedy acquaintances ended up with fines and terms - I never understood over accumulation. Me - to eat and travel around Russia.
    Mishustin is a real fellow. Technocrat and just a man.
  7. +5
    18 February 2021 18: 04
    For me personally, very rich - hardcore, what a pity. Why? I don't understand at all, why should I or someone else have more money than can be spent in a year? The family budget is calculated for 4 trips per year with two children, food and rent, plus school fees, extracurricular activities. Separately, there is an airbag in one and a half times the amount of annual spending. Why do you need more money? I feel sorry for those who live for money. Very sorry. They are empty. Albeit smart, cunning, but empty. I have many such acquaintances.
    1. 0
      18 February 2021 18: 13
      but I feel sorry for those who think that Putin is stealing money, controlling 1/7 of the land mass of planet Earth
      they are really pathetic with their pitiful flight of fantasy

      palaces there

      and yes, I did not understand those languishing over gold either.

      Poroshenko has a lot of money, so what? I didn’t see him happy. Well, only when he rolls - he has a glimmer of happiness. But this is all false. Happy do not drink

      1. +2
        18 February 2021 18: 22
        Putin is a thief! - write on the fences those who did not understand that he changed his wife to Russia. Is it symbolic? But no one has ever done that.
        Are these idiots going to dictate something? People who don't have a father to imitate him, people who don't have a mother to love her?
        1. -2
          18 February 2021 18: 24
          Putin is a thief! - write on the fences those who did not understand that he changed his wife to Russia. Is it symbolic? But no one has ever done that.

          drinks wassat

          Are these idiots going to dictate something?

          just groan under our posts and endure the will of the deep-seated Russian people, as they have been suffering for a quarter of a century (well, almost a quarter, there will be an anniversary soon)
  8. +1
    19 February 2021 10: 50
    Therefore, they wet education so that they do not remember: If something arrives somewhere, it decreases somewhere.
    Someone had a profit in the 2020s (+ 15% only officially on the Forbes list in the Russian Federation), which means that someone had this 15% loss. per year.

    And the Government simply camouflaged and stretched everything so that it would not be felt right away ...
  9. -1
    20 February 2021 09: 57
    You just need to take these billions from him and use them to fix the disaster.
  10. +1
    20 February 2021 10: 53
    Potanin did not just set himself up. It turns out that Potanin is actively funding Navalny and FBK. Like Friedman. It's strange that you don't write about it. Potanin completely fell under the United States, and sooner or later, they will deal with all these pods. The faster, the more actively the US and EU will twitch in our direction.
  11. 0
    20 February 2021 14: 57
    No matter what anyone would hang on their ears in the media (Chubais) about the "fight against communism", about the "creation of effective owners" - the robbery of the people through the thieves' privatization of the 90s - it will remain a robbery. When a couple of three people, having practically nothing behind their souls, suddenly, as if by magic by means of paper fraud, become "owners" of state FUNCTIONING assets worth hundreds of billions of dollars ... This is pure theft. The seizure of the economy, natural resources and, accordingly, human resources at the level of slaves, - colonization of the country in the best traditions of the Anglo-Saxon invaders, taking into account the then mentality of the Russians (brought up on the principles of socialism and human morality, faith in the state as a defender of the "native", which will take care of its people from birth to old age). The people were as trusting as a child and really "chose with their hearts", because there were no such brains then. The understanding of this colossal theft came later. Then recently there was a robbery of the elderly. The pandemic showed how the medical supplies of the Russians were actually robbed. And this is all in line with the "new effective managers" that are the fosterlings of the color revolution of the 90s. The same "oligarchs" are among them. Whatever you say there. And the President is simply obliged (given his promises to the Russians) to return to the people his property stolen in the 90s, regardless of the interests of the "family." This is simply necessary if those in power want to really make Russia Great and secure for themselves a calm respectful government for a long time. Otherwise, such as Navalny, with everything behind him and the eternal enemy of Russia, the West, and 5 column of pro-Western liberal democrats who took part in the creation of "oligarchs" and the great robbery of an entire people with the further transformation of Russia into a colony of globalist Anglo-Saxon capital - they will defeat Russia. Colonize her. The brainwashing of the same youth is in full swing! We see it perfectly. Such fake "oligarchs" (not those who have made themselves from scratch by rising, not by stealing from their people) have long given a damn about the country and the people. Only profit, income by any means - even over the corpses! We all know this too. They do not invest in Russia, they invest in Chelsea, vineyards in France, aluminum factories in the USA, startups in Israel ... They are categorically against the introduction of a progressive tax on income (the whole of Europe is advanced, the same China (45-50%)) - and our top is against! No, in one and the same gulp go "national wealth". That the "oligarchs" were not taken to offshores - it went to taxes in the budget - then the bureaucracy and everyone who sticks to the budget is sucked into the same offshores or overseas accounts. And what - to love those "oligarchs"? Consider also that the capital that was earned on the assets stolen from the people of Russia was invested in other assets being created. That is why the people of Russia really own the newly formed assets of those "oligarchs" from the 90s, wherever they are: in Russia or abroad. And this is a fact. (IMHO)
  12. +1
    23 February 2021 17: 47
    People will calmly treat the Aligarhs when their corpses are pecked by crows on the gallows, and their property is nationalized, that is, returned to the PEOPLE
    1. -1
      10 March 2021 15: 25
      and who will return it and take it away from others? you?)

      You should have a bright brigade like Shvonder and Mauser