Be careful what you wish for
In medieval times, there was a Russian, more-or-less democratic republic. The Novgorod Republic lasted from 1136-1478 of the Common Era. It was the easternmost outpost of that great medieval trading empire, the Hanseatic League. It gained its independence after deposing its hereditary prince, deciding that the citizens could do a better job of governing themselves, rather than subjecting themselves to whomever won the spermatozoic lottery. The legendary Alexander Nevsky was one of their elected princes, putting the Teutonic Order to flight in what made for a smashing film by Sergei Eisenstein. This state of affairs, as is common in Russia, was brought to an end by conquest. The Grand Princes of Muscovy, ancestors to the Russian Tsars, conquered the Republic. And Russia's only real experience of people's rule came to a sad end. I mention this history as a prelude to this piece, fronted by the graphic above. With all the turmoil in our nation, I've neglected my passion, writi...
