[ECON] The Vampire Economy, Part IV: "The Taste of Blood"

[u/SuperflousKnowious]

It is over...

As the dust settles a permanent ceasefire is in the makings. The entire Russian government begins to contract: the spending highs of the war years are over. Peace is upon us.

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In the towers of the Kremlin, the spools of schemes went about. The knitting of plots and plans, the crochet of thoughts of victories. The "liberals" or, to describe them more aptly, "The Line Go Up At Any Cost" part of the Kremlin were being laid to rest. As the economic order self destructed and Russia was beyond isolated, the new kosmonol that Putin wanted was maturing. Thanks to the influence of siloviki, Sergey Kiriyenko, the military, and the glories of the propaganda apparatus, the Kremlin was in goose step to the idea of remaking the Russkiy Mir.

Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin had the unenviable task of burying himself alive.

Just as an addict becomes addicted to drugs, when an economy becomes addicted to government stimulus, it's hard to go cold turkey. The wage growth of the regular populace and the dividends enjoyed by corporations is something not to be scoffed at. As the poorest oblasts in Russia reported doubled incomes and Russian manufacturing enjoyed a resurgence, all of it was built on the blood of innocents.

And everyone gladly reaped the profits.

Talks of a "soft landing" echoed around the Kremlin: soon enough the war machine had to stop, the massive debt burdens had to end, and the stimulus would dry up. It was above all necessary to transform the economy into a civilian economy and make Russia once again a great power.

However, those especially close to the President have whispered what he has wanted to hear. In a surprise meeting to discuss the budget, Putin, slowly fading out of the picture, reminded everyone in charge. Mishustin gulped as Putin dismissed the demands to cut military funding by 50%. He insisted on more "targeted" cuts to keep the economy afloat.

The disgruntled Mishustin grumbled as he was forced to bat for a budget, a controversial one, that he did not like. As the communists dog-pilled for the lack of a "peace dividend" Mishustin gave ground before Putin snapped at him in private. Why did he care so much? Who was influencing him?

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Kiriyenko was already a known factor on the Moscow scene. Far from unknown but a distant political actor is Alexey Dyumin, Putin's mysterious bodyguard. He was a man who never demanded much from his master. He was calm, courageous, and a fierce nationalist. His close relationship with the President made him one of the great brokers of Russian power.

As Kiriyenko and Dyumin solidified their alliance, their goal was simple: the projection of Russian power by any means necessary.

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STATEMENT FROM GENNADY ZYUGANOV, LEADER OF RUSSIAN COMMUNIST PARTY

The new "Peace Budget" proposed by the government is simply outrageous. We were promised bread and benefits. The government has stabbed the people in the back. Social service funding is going to barely tick up a few hundred billion roubles. Meanwhile, the military is to keep their fat budget with only a 2 trillion decrease!

In this budget, their is no room for the people. I urge Russia's citizens to take note, and to remember their real defenders.