2020 Electoral Map | 2 Weeks Until the Election

Putin is backing off now that he realizes that his heavy-handedness is likely what allowed Democrats to defeat his objectives.  Since we don't put much emphasis at all on teaching civics, there are fewer people who know how a democracy/free country really works.  How you have to give freedom to others to get freedom for yourselves.  You want, for example, freedom of religion?  Then you have to allow others to practice their own religion of choice.  You want the right to speak freely?  Then you have to accept and support the right for others to exercise their right to speak freely, even no matter that you find what they're saying objectionable.  Your speech may be just as objectionable to them.  So, tolerance is a big key to keeping a nation free. 

Putin didn't realize how poorly so many Americans were in understanding how democracy works, so that was why he believed a heavy-handed approach could succeed.  A lighter hand would have allowed Republicans to appear to be more reasonable or trustworthy and practical, which would have made their defeat more difficult indeed.  He should not have believed he could overturn a 200 plus-year-old democracy in just 3 or 4 years.  He has done quite a remarkable job on us in such a short time.  He has ruined our world standing, rendered our foreign military missions of extremely questionable value.  (Realize I'm not writing a book here, I'm just hitting the top points that need to be looked at.  There is a need for a more concise 2 million or more word volume which I'm not in the mood to write).