Yushchenko on the Orange Revolution
Ukrayinska Pravda offers Yushchenko's reflections from his interview with Interfax-Ukraine.
With every year, my feelings will get stronger and stronger in their substance, ideology, and morality.Speaking of Ukraine’s post-revolutionary progress, the President stated:
Gone are illusions, gone is naivete, gone are declarations, for there is being formed a more pragmatic vein of values — one for which I, for one, came to politics.
The Revolution showed that our nation has a colossal opportunity. The Revolution does not do all the work. The Revolution gives an opportunity. Our country, our nation, is using all these opportunities.
I’m not ashamed to speak from any rostrum of the world, based on our budget deficit, debt, currency reserves, economic growth, and prices.What about our purchasing power? What about our average life expectancy? What about the AIDS epidemic? What about the casualty rate in the mining industry? What about human trafficking? As always, not a shred of self-criticism.
Sources:
http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2007/11/21/67139.htm
http://www.interfax.kiev.ua/
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2 comments:
Let's be fair here.
What about our purchasing power?
People keep voting for oligarchs. In an oligarchy, what do you expect?
Although if Yushchenko goes for a Kuchma-like "new majority" (remember that one?) or "shyrka", then it is on him.
What about our average life expectancy?
Delivery of medical services - again, people keep electing Zvyahilsky and his ilk.
What about the AIDS epidemic?
What about it? Noone tells anyone to stick needles in their arms, or have sex with infected prostitutes, or unprotected sex.
That's not on Yushchenko - it's on the people who stick their willies, or allow willies to be stuck, whether they shouldn't be stuck.
What about the casualty rate in the mining industry?
Well, there are such things as voluntarily adhering to known safety standards, for the sake of good business practice.
And if oligarchs won't do it - then the government needs to step in.
That one is not totally on Yushchenko, but he's partly to blame for kissing up to Zvyahilsky.
What about human trafficking?
Again, not Yushchenko's fault.
As always, not a shred of self-criticism.
Admittedly, rarely do presidents criticize themselves, eh?
You’re right, Elmer. Self-criticism doesn’t seem to belong in many presidential offices around the world, including the one on Bankova St.
People who voted for Yushchenko in 2004, myself included, did not vote for Akhmetov, Kolomoisky, Pinchuk, or for any other oligarch. Once Yushchenko “votes” for any of these people, he’s no longer the president I voted for. Let’s see how he performs the shyrka test.
Of course, Yushchenko does not bear responsibility for everything that’s going on in this country. But as President, he sets the ethical standard and bears responsibility for fulfilling his campaign promises. A president who prides himself on morality while letting Zvyahilsky carry on with his business is definitely not the president I voted for.
Safe sex is a matter of choice, but the state of Ukraine’s healthcare system is not. Remember that ambulance ad? Why didn’t he say how many ambulances have made it to the countryside?
Human trafficking. Yushchenko promised to create 5 million new jobs. Where are they? In Italy, Portugal, Spain, Russia?
Unfortunately, the President chose not address these issues. Does it mean I made the wrong choice in 2004? No, I made the right choice. Which is why it’s important to distinguish bad choices from bruised choices.
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