I heard something interesting on a podcast today. So many people I’ve talked to including myself can’t wrap their heads around why Putin would do this… we would reason that it was for money or oil etc.

WELL TIL

One of the biggest values here in the US is maintaining our lifestyle and buying goods/products that makes us feel happier and give us convenience. We have no need to expand our land or try to take over other countries, we worry about different things. Russias GDP is comparable to the GDP of Florida alone. Economically speaking Russia is a dump. It’s not a huge exporter to the US except oil (obviously that’s not all but bear with me). Russia knew we would put extreme sanctions in place yet they were willing to get financially cut off from us, which cost them BILLIONS.

So why? It can’t be about money.. not trade or financial or economic gain.. It’s about power and the act of fighting for something fiercely to conquer land, and become a force to be reckoned with in the eyes of the world. They aren’t worried about having nice houses and the latest iPhone. A country that doesn’t contribute any significant wealth or imports to the rest of the world and has a government that doesn’t lose sleep over freedom or human rights like we (U.S.) do, will fight for power. Power at all costs, even if it means bloodshed and violence. Power is Putins currency, and it’s more valuable than any amount of money in the world.