To Stalin or not to Stalin -- that is the question. And apparently, it's almost a toss-up:

42 percent of people asked by a pollster whether modern Russia needs a politician like Joseph Stalin replied in the affirmative. 52 percent said Russia does not need a “new Stalin”.

The survey, carried out by the All-Russia Center of Public Opinion Study on Jan. 29-30, was dedicated to the upcoming anniversary of Stalin’s death on March 5.

Most of Stalin’s supporters are elderly, with 60 percent of the respondents over 60 thinking Russia needs a “new Stalin”. 31 percent of those polled between the ages of 18 and 24 would support such a politician. The figure was 35 percent for people aged 35-44.

50 percent of the respondents view Stalin’s role in the life of the Soviet Union positively overall. The quantity of people considering his role very positively has risen since last year’s poll from 16 to 20 percent.

Someone once said: "Wisdom comes with age." Another, wiser person responded: "No, sometimes, age shows up alone."

I was recently remarking to a left-leaning friend of mine that I thought people, even in totalitarian countries, usually deserved the government they got. To another, I pointed out that even the worst dictators had support from much of the population.

I think this kind of makes my point.

It also explains Russians' failure to freak out or in any way protest or resist Putin's attempt to create another Russian police state.