What We Need to Think About Today

Dear friends! The impossible has happened. The exposed remnants of the old authorities are fleeing; those who remained in the shadows are repainting themselves and trying to appropriate the victory. Perhaps some centers of self-organization of anti-revolutionary forces (like the Kharkiv organized group “Oplot”) will still manifest themselves painfully. It is easy to fall into euphoria now — but now is not the time. We have inherited a deeply ill country with a ruined economy and governance system. We have inherited a people inspired by victory, among whom there are also many moral monsters. It is clear that the issue is not personalities, but the rules of the game. Even though I am glad Tymoshenko was released, she is a carrier of leader-centered rules, the creator of a leader-centered party built almost exclusively on vertical ties. If the choice is between some regional scoundrel and Tymoshenko, one should choose Tymoshenko. But if we want to change the rules, we need a different choice. By the way, I dislike the obvious pushing of Tymoshenko from Russia. We must choose not a leader but a program, evaluating it by realism and by presence of mechanisms to control implementation. Attitudes toward personalities are too easily manipulated by mass media. For example, among politicians I find Hrytsenko the most reasonable. But voting for Hrytsenko only because he looks good is too risky; we have already been trapped by that game. Incidentally, it is worrying that despite all his persuasiveness, he quarreled intensely with former allies. But if there is a good program, then a choice can be made. Program — expert discussion of its realism — choice. Only this way. I have just seen a Facebook idea I like: a program should characterize not one president but at least a “president-prime minister” pair. And it is desirable that at least one of them not be perceived in the East and South as... ...we urgently need to stabilize the East and South. Do not despise people who think they will now be forbidden to speak Russian or visit relatives in Russia. Their brains were polluted for years, and in many social groups conformist adjustment has worked. If all neighbors say Banderites will come and beat those who speak Russian or walk the streets, then there is supposedly no reason to doubt it. These people are genuinely frightened. Who is to blame and why they have “chicken brains” are long-term issues. But right now we must calm them urgently! New challenges require new tools. To show the goats who gathered to declare separation from Ukraine that Kharkiv does not support them can be done through a rally. But frightened people require a different approach: they need explanation of what is happening. And at the same time, real power must be taken. Oh, how much remains to be done...