The article reports on the tendency of national leaders to chase a stronger currency at the risk of a weaker economy. Topics discussed include the decision of Russian President Vladimir Putin to implement a massive 17 percent interest rate hike on December 16, 2014 and the apparent attachment of national leaders to their currencies. The article also recommends that Russia diversify its economy away from anything that is related to extracting resources out of the ground and isolate energy revenues in a sovereign wealth fund.