The Ukraine: Don't Be Optimistic

King Banaian has raised some very poignant issues about the changes (and lack of changes) in the Ukraine. Here is just a brief summary of some of them (but, seriously, read the whole thing, especially since it is replete with links to other sources and the links did not transfer with my copying of this brief quotation):

I've written earlier this year that the Tymoshenko cabinet has not moved forward on economic reforms. Anders Aslund sounded the alarm this May. He notes that Tymoshenko has engaged in pure populism, increasing taxes and giving public sector workers and pensioners 60% raises. Inflation is on the rise. Ariel Cohen last week amplifies the point that property rights are routinely violated in Ukraine. It has a socialist privatization minister (take a moment to get your mind around that concept) who thinks we've had enough privatization.