Crippling sanctions have been levied upon Russia’s economy and its companies, businesses, and leaders as a result of Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. The Treasurer of Pennsylvania, Stacy Garrity, has pulled state money that is invested in Russian companies.
Governor Tom Wolf joined the KDKA Radio Morning Show to discuss how he has asked the Liquor Control Board, Pennsylvania State Retirement System and teachers retirement systems to divest any money from Russian companies. Pennsylvania House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff has introduced a bill to add Russia to the list of nations that Pennsylvanians cannot invest in. Every little bit helps.
The economic impacts of the sanctions that the world has applied will be devastating to Russia. Much of the pain will be felt by the general population. If the regime does not respond to the crippling shortages and freezing of accounts, then the hope is that the people will rise up and demand change or overthrow Putin.
The international community has rallied behind the Ukranian people as they fight for their freedom and their land. On top of all the sanctions and donations, American taxpayers have sent over $2.5 billion worth of military aid to Ukraine prior to invasion.
Yes, we know that any tax money that is charged on what the Russian people buy at home also goes into Putin’s pocket. Plus, I’m sure there are also kickbacks to the boss by any company still open for business in Moscow and beyond. Keeping big brand name electronics, fashion, pharmaceutical, coffee, cosmetic, toilet paper, soft drinks, automotive, oil companies, etc from doing business there is smart. Empty shelves are effective. However, I have to draw the line at food.
I do not believe in starving people because of their vicious leader. A Russian activist group claims that nearly 14,000 people have been arrested throughout the country because they protested their president’s ‘military operation’ in Ukraine. Some of them are reportedly elderly citizens who survived World War 2, Soviet rule, and life behind the Iron Curtain. The long-suffering population is slowly rising up.
Here in America, McDonald’s is being urged to close its 847 restaurants in the former USSR. A major investor in The Golden Arches over there is actually the New York state pension fund.
Instead of divesting, New York state comptroller has sent a letter to Mickey D’s begging them to temporarily shutter their fast food joints in Russia ‘to address various investment risks associated with the Russian market and play an important role in condemning Russia’s role in fundamentally undermining the international order…’ The worry is about the investment - not the human beings.
It would be a good gesture. And, yes, The ruble is only worth about .0076 US dollars. It would take thousands of rubles to buy a Happy Meal. Let’s face it: Not many Big Macs are being sold in Murmansk. However, cutting off inexpensive food options from the general population - regardless to your feelings on ‘fast food’ - only makes those suffering under the regime hungry and weak. It may also save the investment of New York pensioners.
Think about this: The Ukranian people, who faced extermination through famine under Joseph Stalin, provided food to Russian soldiers they captured. In the past, US taxpayers have donated billions of tons of food to populations suffering under brutal regimes.
We have even given North Korea food. And, the western world emptied its collective wallet in 1985 to feed Africans starving because of military policies and drought. We now know that much of the well-intended food and money is usually blocked from the population by the very dictators who allow their people to suffer. So, maybe its OK to just leave the drive-thru open, for now.
I have said many times on and off air that hunger knows no boundaries. Hunger does not discriminate. It does not matter what sex, race, religion, education level, ethnic background, or political party you belong to. Very wealthy, powerful totalitarian oligarchs and their leaders usually do not suffer from starvation or hunger.
They usually block the food supply. Next Tuesday, March 15, all Audacy Pittsburgh radio stations will ask you to restock the shelves of Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank to help our hungry neighbors here in the richest nation the world has ever seen. Talk of starving impoverished citizens who live under the thumb of a brutal dictator in Russia, the world’s 11th largest economy, should not cross our lips.
A listener reached out and said that if Americans really want the civilian population to rise up against the Putin regime then NATO/The US/The World would embargo the import of all tobacco products into Russia. I thought about it for a second or two then agreed. It seems better to withhold an addiction from a society than it would be to starve the general population to death.
Tobacco Atlas reports that less than .01% of agricultural land in Russia is devoted to tobacco cultivation. Russia is the world’s 3rd largest tobacco market - behind China and Indonesia. According to the Foundation For A Smoke-Free World, 60% of Russian men and 22% of Russian women, and 15% of Russian youth smoke.
I believe cutting off the nicotine would be more ethical and effective than blocking the food supply to the commoners. And, if you have ever been on the wrong side of someone jonesing for a cigarette then you know how pissed off they can get. I’ll bet Vladimir Putin would not want the face that angry mob.
Kevin Battle does not smoke. He is the cohost of the KDKA Radio Morning Show with Larry Richert. It airs M-F 5a-9a on Pittsburgh’s 100.1FM & AM1020 KDKA or on the free Audacy app. Ask your smartspeaker to: ‘Play KDKA.’ Thank you.