A key part in Modernization has to be in the are of Penal Reform, in which the U.S. has the worse record and the most expensive and failed system. Last week I ve read in "The Economist" that Russia comes second after the U.S. with the number of immates per 100,000 populartion: 600, compared to just 60 in Japan and 80 in Germany. That is very, very expensive for Government and $billions are spent as a consequence of that failure. The equivalent to Energy Efficiency should be Penal Efficiency....and both Japan and Germany are the most efficient countries on this sector too (like in energy efficiency), saving $billions and, at the same time, guaranteeing a better and more safe society than the U.S. which has a high criminal rate. Russia has to escape from the American way of high crime-high number of immates-high costs. Medvedev is a lawyer (like me) and should establish the bases for a better future for millions of Russians who are losing their lives in prision. France also has a low level of 100 immates per 100,000 people, and Russians are not as different in their behaviour from the French, or from Canadianas who also have a rate of 120 immates per 100,000 population. The same way as with the national goal for reducing car accidents, which has meant during the last years an incredible decrease in the number of car accidents saving the lifes of half a million young Russians during the last decade, and $100 billion to insurance companies and $100 billion to the Government´s Social Security...the next step has to be a National goal for Penal Efficiency: reducing at the rate of immates per 100,000 population to Western European levels (average of 150 immates per 100,000 population) while at the same time reducing the crime rates. Probably Japan, Germany, France and Canada has many things to teach the Russian Federation. That would save $billlions to the Russian Government and woud guarantee a better life to millions of Russian citizens....

Following the topic of modernization and related activities of the government for some time, I see it now as a thing in development, rather than as a program which was created some time ago and being executed consistently and pedantically. Actually, this fact gives me some hope about the future of this program, because in its original form it was too abstract and practically lacking specific goals (and, as a result, specific actions). My another observation is that, the more Medvedev moving this program forward, the closer it becomes to the Gorbachev's "perestroika". Meaning that it has migrated from being technically focused program to having now very broad definition of this term and pretty large scale. The alarming parts of this transformation -- similar to the "perestroika", the "modernization" exhibits such features as -- relatively abstract and not having practical goals limited by certain timeframes, driven from the top without Russians embracing and being actively involved in it, carrying more then necessary political baggage. The history of successful high-scale programs -- the ones which changed countries -- conducted by different countries shows that a) they had very strong initial push from the government (specialists, finances, goals) toward very specific goals which need to be achieved during short period of time and b) involved huge chunks of population of country in this process. For example, the Manhattan Project in the USA, Industrialization and Electrification in the Soviet Russia, reestablishing military power by Nazi Germany to annihilate the humiliating for Germans Versailles Treaty. And this is what the Medvedev's Modernization is lacking -- a) the program specifics and b) massive support from the Russian population, which starts from seeing by them those benefits such execution of such program will bring them in the future.

As the Russian government may comment on what the students with first-year technical schools and colleges are taken into the army? I do not think that it contributes to improving education in the country.

It is great that the President of Russia shows anger to the lack of progress in his modernizing agenda but the means by which goes about expressing his anger suggests evasiveness and lack of leadership to inspire confidence and leadership. President Medvedev needs to know he cannot will modernization of Russia by tweeting it. Modernization is about clean air, safe drinking water, affordable food and housing as much as access to the internet and setting up high tech parks. The president’s heart is in the right place but he needs to do more to inspire people to act.

The joys of democracy it favours the minority over the majority.equality is a word missing in western democracy.social invoirement plays the most crucial part in society.Unfortunately politicans talk the talk ,without substance.

There has to be a beginning! Mr. Medvedev and Mr. Putin it seems are bringing good “common sense” solutions for the Russian people. Look back in Russian History, has there ever been a time of such positive happenings for the Russian people? Russia is able to learn by observing the mistakes of the U.S. via Gluttonous Lobbyists, Politicians, Bankers, Illegal Immigrants, etc. It seems some, in the U.S. are guided by their own desires of greed. - We read of almost 10 Billion U.S. Dollars missing in Iraq (3 cargo plane loads). There is no excitement or dismay as some ask why was new U.S. Money sent, was it even shipped, was it unloaded in Switzerland first, where could 3 plane loads of U.S. currency be safely stored in Iraq? This may be the biggest bank robbery in the History of the U.S. For this to happen, who in the U.S. government could be involved and where do you think the money is now? – I hope good "common sense" can prevail in the future for all of us.

Mr. President, Use the power and influence that you have to move your agenda forward. Your only flaw is that your TOO NICE. I have followed you and it's time that you show the side of you that's not ging to take any SHIT from the bureaucrats. Remember, you are thepredident of the greatest nation on Earth. se your Power to make things happen. Also, since you and Mr. Putin are a team, get his advise. You know he is someone who can make things happen. Let him guide you so that results do occur. I know that sometimes you do not get the credit (for your extremely hard work), but hang in their. I admire you (and Mr.Putin) very much. Lastly, pray for the first black elected official of Russia. Please protect him and give him a chance. One day I want to come to Russia and help and serve the people their. I'm a African American who is so proud of Russia. Mr. Medvedev, you are very smart. I consider you a scholar and servant of Russia. Just keep up the good work and follow your HEART, cause you have a big one. God Bless you.

More demagogy about the abundance of demagogy. Too many words and too few real actions. I really admire people who can read all this and even report. It is such a boredom! Endless meetings, proclamations, lectures... What affordable housing, what quality education, what roads?! Have you seen Russian roads? Do you know how much an apartment costs and what interest rates they charge on mortgages? Come down to Earth, please...

It's an Enormous place with Enormous potential... you've a caring Leadership who aren't half as hamstrung by vested interests as their U.S.counterparts... most essentially, a healthy dose of affection (from the top) should be enough, that and the trust they've worked for, to get this thing 'up + running' ...W O R D :)

I never understood why the government doesn't compete in the marketplace for business. If the government produced potato chips with labor from people on government assistance they could undercut the market and generate money for excellent social programs because people on assistance are already getting subsidised housing, food and transport so they don't need to take home a big paycheck. Their should be all kinds of factories and businesses and everybody should be producing something. Government factories could be the safety net. Either you work in private industry or your working for the government. Why does the government freely give out money and not ask for anything in return? That makes no sense because people need a purpose for their lives. Most everyone can do something. Getting people busy, working, making a little money will keep the country humming and social services and education will only improve.