Reading Putin

A little communicative sensitivity goes a long way

Pay Attention to What Vladimir Putin Says

(Larry Johnson_

It's a great article—like most of what Larry writes…

But…

One should not only pay attention to what Putin says, but how he says it. Words are not everything, it is not just what you read or hear – it is what you see. Thank you Occupy Schagen)

Albert Mehrabian, a researcher of body language… first broke down the components of a face-to-face conversation. He found that communication is 55% nonverbal, 38% vocal, and 7% words only.

You must also pay attention to the setting – the context— in which communication happens—and shapes perspective. Try and imagine the Mona Lisa without a background!

Larry Johnson offers a transcript of Putin at a hospital talking to wounded soldiers. That's 7%. But how about the rest—the other 93%?

To get that —you have to study the video. And follow Putin's expressions – his body language—as well as the room and the people in it—and their reactions. As my friend Occupy says, we experience the world holographically.

Speaking to the wounded

The video included here does not have a Russian track but, by and large, Putin has a very natural, human style —he doesn't speechify like Western politicians. He speaks naturally and off-the-cuff, with real emotion in his words. He is less concerned about his image than getting his ideas across, person to person.

For self-expression you must first have a self – not just a persona.

What do I get from this video?

That Putin actually cares. Caritas, as St Paul calls it. Western media call this a "photo op"—but it is not "stage managed" or "scripted" as would normally be the case in the West—not political make-believe. Rather it offers insight into Putin's humanity.

Speaking to those who mourn

Here is Putin speaking in another situation. Watch his face – his eyes his mouth. And listen to the tone of his voice. Look at the people he is talking to.

Russia has one of the most stubbornly skeptical, critical, anti-bureaucratic, anti-institutional, culturally diverse publics in the world—a result of the social betrayals that characterized the immediate aftermath of the collapse of the Soviet Union. They have no reason to trust governments or politicians—but 80 to 85% think Putin is an honest man of integrity.

The Presser

Another example of Putin's integrity is his Presser. Over four hours long, it solicited over 5 million questions – from anyone anywhere. Which Putin answered selectively of course devoting and resources to research his answers.

No Russian here. But again” read his lips”. He knew the questions before hand, of course, and was prepared—but he engaged directly with his questioners in language that was off-the-cuff and spontaneous. Riffing, it’s called.

He is unafraid of criticism. Not afraid to apologize.

Complaints and apologies

Irina Akopova: Good afternoon, Mr President, my favourite President,

My name is Irina Akopova and I would like to ask you to intervene. Ten eggs in our region cost between 180 and 220 rubles. Where and when have we ever had such prices? Chicken breasts were 165 rubles per kilogramme, and now it is 350 rubles. Wings were 165 rubles and now they are 250 rubles.

Mr President, have pity on pensioners. Our pension does not run into the millions. Put things in order. There is nobody else we can ask for help. It is not good that you conduct this only once a year, but this is the website we have. We should have such lines three times a year so people can talk to you.

I am very grateful to you and hope you can help.

Answer

Vladimir Putin: Ms Akopova,

You said, “once a year,” but believe me, I spoke to the Minister of Agriculture recently and asked about the egg situation. They told me everything was fine. I told him, and I am being frank with you – this was my direct response: “But our citizens have problems. The price of chicken eggs has increased by 40 percent and even more in some places. Prices are much higher for chicken meat as well.”

(Explanation of Ministry position follows)

I am sorry about this and want to apologise for this problem. This is a setback in the Government’s work. Although they say this is not the case, I still think it is – the problem is related to a failure to increase imports enough. Apparently, they hoped to make more money, but they promised to fix this soon.

The Federal Antimonopoly Service predicts a decrease in the price of chicken eggs within six weeks, as well as a drop in the cost of poultry meat. They are also advocating for a draft law to regulate prices of essential products if they increase by more than 30 percent. These changes are expected to affect other products as well.

Good leaders cannot be politicians

If this were a Western politician, you would expect promises that would quickly be forgotten and broken.

But Putin is not a politician—he is a statesman—a leader.

Not only did Putin keep his promise to do make things right – he apologized – taking personal responsibility. Obviously, he had set things in motion before he answered Ms Akopo: he had already taken directive action exempting eggs from import duties and setting in motion action against price fixers – a warning to other companies in other areas. But he acknowledged this should have been done before.

There is no question about his sincerity.

Russia to exempt eggs from import duties as prices climb, stocks dwindle (Reuters) Dec. 14

Russia Charges 4 Egg Producers With Price Fixing Moscow Times Dec. 15

Russia: The FAS promised a reduction in prices for chicken eggs (Tridge)

Words and eggs must be handled with care. Once broken they are impossible things to repair.”

— Anne Sexton

Imagine….

Imagine any US president attempting a Presser of this kind—four hours long-- answering questioners interactively on the spot, unscripted. It would never happen. Imagine a US president directly implementing policies— with immediate effect—to meet popular demand expressed in such an event?

OK. Joe Biden claimed to have reduced the price of eggs by 22%.

True, but only after eggs had increased in price 300%. And it wasn't his office that did that—it was the market! And Sloppy Joes’ announcement came only after Kraft and Kellog’s 12 year old suit against egg producers came to trial.

Joe had no soul to sell to the devil—so he gave away his humanity. Sincerity is not one of his virtues, if he has any.

How will the price-fixing suit affect the price of eggs?

The 17.7 mln settlement of course goes to Kraft and—not to the public directly—so it is unlikely to affect egg prices very much, keeping in mind that the huge recent increase in prices is not just the result of price-fixing.

Expect Kraft and Kellogg to come up with excuses to keep prices high. After all, Kraft's lawsuit was not about you—it was about its profits. In the meantime, Biden can pretend he did something.

In Russia, public perception is that Putin is keeps his promises. If he says he will do something—he does it.

The 2022 war could have been avoided the West had realized this.

Is America blind, deaf, and dumb?

It is just lazy—feeding its face, sucking up junk food on a plate from a can, on its back in front of the TV, getting canned information, in a room without windows—breathing canned air. Lazy = stupid. Resting IQ, 10.

On a lighter note…

A sense of humor is one of the things that make human beings human. It is a huge evolutionary advantage. And today in an age of genocide and war, we must find laughter where we can. Yet we cannot look away from the horror.

If you liked this article, please support me by buying me a coffee.

You can do that by clicking here.

I respond to each person personally and individually—and now include updates on current events via email from my personal address since the buymeacoffee software is so limited and does not offer formatting.

I think people who support me and encourage may deserve something extra.