I read that our authorities are considering lowering the threshold for duty-free purchases from Western online stores from 1000 euros to just 22. They say it will kill online trading and all that.
It’s quite interesting that whenever there is talk of a new law, 9 out of 10 people from Russia, Ukraine, or Belarus will automatically think about how to circumvent this law. Under that topic, nearly all the comments are about this. Well, so as to “kind of legally”, of course. Or “slightly illegally”. Some just think about it, some will do something for themselves, and some even for others.
The typical American wouldn’t even think about circumventing the law. From school, they are taught to blindly follow the laws, no matter how (both of them) bad they may be. And if the law is truly stupid, an American would be outraged, but the thought “how to not follow it” just doesn’t come to them at all.
Partly for that reason, our engineering specialties are valued in the USA. Because we live our lives with cunning. Our traffic rules are among the best in the world, but on the road, most drive “by understanding” (in a good sense). Therefore, people in general are indifferent towards corruption. Of course, it’s possible to rant about it in the kitchen, but as for taking it to the square – no. That’s why scandals with American politicians are totally baffling in Russia.
Hi, I'm Rauf Aliev. 