Stupidity in Yerevan
From time to time fellow blogger Garo (aka Christian Garbis) at Notes from Hairenik and I joke with each other that nothing can surprise us anymore. We’re used to such stupidity or the unexpected in a country that pretty much anything is possible even if it defies all common sense and logic. This also extends to the insane amount of construction under way in the city and the fact that it is all being undertaken at the same time even if it creates only anarchy and chaos on the roads and at times can be life threatening.
One rumor going around is that the construction is being done now so that the authorities can spend as much money as possible in the shortest amount of time and siphon off much of it as has always been the case even during the Soviet era. The Mayor’s name has specifically been mentioned, and to be honest, there seems to be no other logical reason for why Yerevan has become a dust bowl and the scene of so much construction work that it can be virtually impossible to travel in the city.
Yes, I know, such rumors even from seasoned and well-respected analysts and journalists are only just that, but what can you think when you come across stories such as the one carried by A1 Plus today?
Cars and gazelles ascending the stairs near Vardan Mamikonyan’s statue are at the peril of turning upside down. Because of the current construction, drivers had to pass around the pavement to get to the destination in time. The pavement is presently closed down, so they have to ascend the nearby staircase.
Ludicrous. Absolutely plain stupid and one that can only surprise even in a county full of idiotic urban planning and municipal development decisions. You have to look at the story if only for the photos and video. This city is controlled and run by retards and imbeciles. Unfortunately, one response to this story from a friend was simply that city is also inhabited by idiots too. The roads are certainly full of them.
How long before those stairs and the basalt ground are badly badly damaged and require an expensive overhaul? This should have been predicted and concrete barriers installed to prevent cars going on the pedestrian areas (we know the selfishness and the vochinch mentality of the population).
Comment by nazarian — October 1, 2007 @ 10:54 pm
I was going to write something here, but I am speechless. There’s nothing else to say, is there?
Comment by Christian Garbis — October 2, 2007 @ 1:09 am
In contrary, there is only one thing left here to say …
We must congratulate our fellow drivers of mini and maxi vans since in the near future our request to be taken to the second floor of any particular building might be quite possible to fulfil.
Comment by Tigran Khanzadyan — October 2, 2007 @ 2:56 am
Other stupidity is that they spent God knows how much money to lay a double layered asphalt all along Khanjyan street just to dig deep into it several months later. I just hope those subways or whatever they construct will not collapse one day.
Comment by Zara — October 2, 2007 @ 2:32 pm
One rumor as I said is that all of this construction is occurring because it is the last chance for the Mayor to spend money before he will be replaced. At any rate, I’m told that the Mayor will be “elected” next year albeit probably by a city council.
Anyway, if that’s the case, the allegation is that the municipality is spending as much money as it can now on construction projects that SHOULD NOT be conducted at the same time so that some can benefit financially by it all, if you get my drift. Read between the lines.
Comment by Onnik — October 2, 2007 @ 3:06 pm
Why doesn’t Sksela try to kick the stupid mayor and his corrupt ass out of office then?
Comment by Armen Filadelfiatsi — October 2, 2007 @ 3:57 pm
Armen, more to the point is why doesn’t EVERYONE…
Comment by Onnik — October 2, 2007 @ 4:19 pm
Nazarian, not long at all according to the report and photographs just posted by A1 Plus:
Personally, I think that the drivers of any vehicles photographed or videoed behaving like morons should be prosecuted.
Comment by Onnik — October 2, 2007 @ 6:53 pm
morons. what can i say.
Comment by artyom — October 3, 2007 @ 12:24 am
Garo now has a post here.
Comment by Onnik — October 3, 2007 @ 4:34 pm
These people are not stupid. They’re stealing money while you’re calling them stupid. So who is really stupid or retarded? And lest you think that it’s different in Britain, I suggest reading about the recent scandal involving the Olympic commitee. The only difference between corruption in Britain and Armenia, is that the people who do it in Britain steal less in terms of % and do it more cunningly. Given time, I’m sure the Armenian officials will catch up.
As for why Armenians are not revolting against this corrupt and incomptent government, you have to ask the same question about people in US, Britain or EU.
Comment by dude — October 3, 2007 @ 10:29 pm
Dude, you clearly do not live in Armenia and have no comprehension of how and to what extent corruption manifests itself here. Corruption exists everywhere, of course, but in Armenia it is at a level that affects the lives of every single citizen.
The only difference between corruption in Armenia and elsewhere such as the United Kingdom is that I have never ONCE come across corruption that affects my life and that of my friend in England. In Armenia it happens on a daily basis and actually represents one of the greatest threats to the future of this country.
I’m still amazed at how Armenians in the Diaspora, which I can only assume you are, have such little understanding of how life is here. Almost every single Armenian here would think you’re living in a dreamworld and I would have to agree.
Comment by Onnik — October 3, 2007 @ 10:58 pm
I do live in Armenia. No doubt corruption is evil but it is a part of life of everywhere, and especially in Armenia. One cannot fight corruption with utopian slogans like you’re doing. It takes generations, strong political will and good economic and geopolitical conditions for corruption to decrease. Middle East has been rife with corruption for thousands of years. Do you think that any foreign induced political reform has a chance to change that? How are your beloved Westerners faring in Iraq with fighting the corruption? Actually I think they’re stealing more than Iraqis at this point.
And can we blame Armenian government stealing money while WorldBank has been doing that for years here (or elsewhere)? And can you blame a low paid government worker for wanting a bribe to do his/her work? As for the stupidity in Yerevan, this just shows the incompetence and greed of the government. And it’s only a part of things this government is F ing up. See also exchange rate, new taxation laws, foreign policy. But there is nothing unique about incompetence of our government when you look at other governments elsewhere.
Instead of blaming corrupt officials and launching idealistic slogans like “Corruption must be stopped” I suggest you propose realistic solutions to quickly decreasing corruption in Armenia, taking into account the very adaptive nature of Armenians, and thousands of years of tribal thinking? Also, please name one country where short term fight against corruption has resulted in anything long term?
As for your British friend, there are dozens of other problems that he has to face in Britain - up to 50% taxation, rampant illegal and legal immigration, runaway urban crime, a bureacratic apparatus that would put Soviets to shame, a woefully incompetent government that is afraid of its own people (see EU referendum). By the way, the huge taxes that he’s paying can be likened to bribes, as it takes a lot of money to keep bloated government apparatus like British have.
As for corruption being a threat to our country, that is indeed true. But so long as the military balance holds, corruption is not an existential threat. Given time, as generations change and economy improves we will see less corruption here.
Comment by dude — October 24, 2007 @ 10:36 pm
Dude, very few people would agree with you on this. In fact, the only people I can think of who would are those in the Diaspora who have no intention of living in such a “utopia” despite declaring it to be so much more wonderful than their host countries in the West.
As for your legal and illegal immigrants entering not just into the U.K. but also elsewhere, surprise, surprise. They’re all from countries such as Armenia. And while we can understand those who steal to survive, most don’t. They steal because they’re greedy.
Anyway.
Comment by Onnik — October 25, 2007 @ 1:52 am