russia is a good example of Communism

@Vivaci I thought the size of Russia remained constant before, during and after being a component of the USSR, like all the other "republics" in the USSR? In any event, it is bizarre to see Europeans being the dominant demographic in North Asia today, seems like another relic of colonial imperialism.

Are you saying the dictatorship of the Soviet Union caused the dictatorship of post-Soviet Russia?

@SW-User Exactly! russia (pitin) is trying to build back ussr…

I don’t get it…what has communism given to russia? Why can’t he let the democratic countries thrive and understand that it’s a more stable and prosperous govt than whatever it is that his autocratic ass wants to enforce?

@BlueVeins indeed sir. communism or any other alternative will fail if it is force used to achieve it

@sarabee1995 Oh yes, but pretty much every social/economic system experimented so far will be exploited by criminal organizations in one way or another, Soviet era communism represents no exception.

Running the government is one option, but that'll only work in deeply flawed democracies or fully totalitarian states, as the risk of being voted out by the population in an actual democracy would be too high. In the democratic world, they generally tend to either organize themselves as secret societies (think of south-Italy mafia clans, the Mexican drug cartel, etc.) or as above-the-law corporations/organizations, both of which are capable of bending the elected government either (and respectively) via bribery/corruption, or via "donations"/lobbying.

@Elessar Soviet/Russian-style "Socialism/Communism" is very much an exception to the modern world. To claim it is no exception is insanity. The level of corruption in the former SSRs was so pervasive that a new word had to be created: Kleptocracy.

One by one, they are throwing off the shackles of this Kleptocracy and Ukraine is only the latest to reject it and this rejection is at the true core of Russia's feeling threatened.

And equating "donations"/lobbying with bribery/corruption is absurd. I'll be the first to admit that lobbying is not perfect, but before you equate the entire concept with bribery/corruption take a look at the various ways lobbying is regulated around the world. Lobbying is (mostly) above board and transparent; bribery and corruption never are.

@sarabee1995 I'm saying it's no exception when it comes to being infiltrated by the mafia, not in a general sense; I'm no defender of the USSR political system let alone modern day Russia's pathetic imitation of it (minus for the different ideological alignment). The concept of Kleptocracy isn't something new nor unique/specific to the USSR system, let alone coined for it, the term was already in use in the first quarter of the 1800s to describe Spain(!). Philippines' Ferdinand Marcos regime, to name another, is a perfect example of a kleptocratic regime, a right/far-right one that has nothing to do with USSR-era socialism/communism.

Yes, I agree, I think the reasons for the current Russian sh*tshow in Ukraine are multiple; the fact Ukraine is moving towards a west-type democracy government system as opposed to becoming a new Belarus certainly is* one.

I know, not really equating them, just saying they're both ways with which criminal organizations, individuals and hostile foreign actors can successfully manipulate an elected government.

* edit: "is" not "isn't", my bad

@PicturesOfABetterTomorrow Dude, I don’t have so much time to argue with you.

You are just exposing what you do when you post.

I am sorry to disappoint you…I’m glad I’m not how you’re portraying me to be.

God! Why don’t you just stop saying such vile accusations? 🤔 Are you alright?

@PicturesOfABetterTomorrow I’m sorry I don’t want to argue with you anymore

*Blocked *

@Vivaci
Tu sum it up in one word: NO. 🤣

@Vivaci Well it wasn't that easy here either since we got split up in west Germany (BRD) and the communist east (DDR). The west influenced by the US and the east by soviet Russia

@Vivaci Thank you I do believe my country made the most progress as part of the European Union

@SW-User Indeed. Running a democratic country is no easy feat…but the blessings of prosperity and happiness run to the root level…and that is why it’s more powerful and long lasting.

@BohemianBabe I beg to differ. China calls itself a communist country till today…they have a totalitarian govt. so you can’t say that there’s no govt. but yes, whatever the façade, it only exists on paper. To this date, their GDP & other data is not disclosed openly to the rest of the world…everything is fabricated so the lies are the foundation of such govts.

@Vivaci Well China isn't communist either. Their government is fascist with communist imagery.

@BohemianBabe Yes, you’re absolutely right…but don’t forget that

They shape-shift to suit their needs…but as long as this party has ultimate power and authority over state and govt, they’re totalitarian. (Fascism? Not that visible at all times). Again, all we know is what we are told by their govt. so there’s that.

Ok….my observation is based on it’s overall progressive path over the years… @SW-User

@Vivaci You could argue that all former communist (and non-communist) states have the problems that you have listed, so there is nothing unique about Russia in that regard.

@SW-User I could….but I chose the first communist country. China is a close second…although it has reformed its economic policies to suit its capitalist agendas.

@Dshhh My point is this is what happens 100 yrs after a country becomes communist. Obviously it’ll evolve but are you happy looking at its kids and grandkids?

@Reject It’s foundation is based on violence and suppression, and narcissism. …so definitely agree with Andrii Yusov.

Nothing good is going to come out of their senseless wars. They will be remembered for their atrocities just like Genghis Khan and other evil empires that once existed.

@jshm2 China is state capitalism on steroids, what's even "communistic" about it? The flag and the façade they hide behind, at most.

@jshm2 The first communist country was ussr or russia…and yes, it’s a good example of communism in the sense of how badly it has affected a country that was communist for 70 years. Look at it today…even now it’s communist roots run deep….it didn’t survive like china…but that’s becoz china has adapted to a hybrid model where only it’s economic policies are capitalistic.

Long story short…only citizens in democratic countries are truly safe and independent and free in the real sense. I wish more countries looked at success from this angle and worked for the safety of their citizens, vs against it.

@Vivaci Taking the Britannica's definition per good (https://www.britannica.com/topic/communism):

Communism is a political and economic system that seeks to create a classless society in which the major means of production, such as mines and factories, are owned and controlled by the public. There is no government or private property or currency, and the wealth is divided among citizens equally or according to individual need

And still according to the Britannica:

Today communism is the official form of government in only five countries: China, North Korea, Laos, Cuba, and Vietnam. However, none of these meet the true definition of communism. Instead, they can be said to be in a transitional stage between the end of capitalism and the establishment of communism. Such a phase was outlined by Karl Marx, and it came to include the creation of a dictatorship of the proletariat. While all five countries have authoritarian governments, their commitment to abolishing capitalism is debatable.

@smiler2012 I wonder why they don’t learn from their past….I mean 100 years since they first signed up for communista bs! One would hope they’d choose wisely after Gorbs and WWs…but no!! Still ruling as #1 in poor choices 😅

@basilfawlty89 It’s communist principles run deep even today….and I don’t see anything good coming out of it.

@Vivaci there is nothing communist about a state, a dictator, wage labour, or government ownership.
Actual socialism refers to workers collectively owning the businesses.

@Vivaci I really recommend reading this to understand what real Communism is:

https://germinolegrand.github.io/thebreadbook.org/index.html

@CuriousCutie Couldn’t agree more.

They should watch movies like Lawrence of Arabia or the Manchurian Candidate to understand the culture and geopolitical influences on the administration of non-western countries.

@canusernamebemyusername True…textbook definition of it means that it exists under a hybrid context. Always did.

@canusernamebemyusername It has existed in christian communities the bible prescribe communism.

@Heartlander But they’re promised a brighter, bigger piece of the illusionary pie. When in fact, all it does is divide the gap between classes even further…

😂 oh poor Lenin @JoyfulSilence

@Vivaci

Yeah, he is such a stiff !

How come you never shared yours with me? Whatever that is…🤨@Spokeskitties75

@Vivaci funny… there you are with your own bottle…


(Best I could do for a lookalike on the fly)

🥴 I aim to hit. @Quoththeraven

@Vivaci Mommy!

@Vivaci yeah I almost got arrested a few times in Cuba because we didn't want to pay a government taxi and tired to get one cheaper. Also I went on Facebook to post a picture of a park and the internet told me they were tracking me. I turned off my phone and ran. The government has too much control in Communist governments.

Right? They’re more like a Military Republic tbh….reminds me of Indonesia. 😖@empanadas

@empanadas People in the west don't have an experience with pure/unregulated capitalism either, as all west countries (including the U.S.) are essentially mixed systems. I think what you're comparing here is authoritarianism vs. democracy, and not really capitalism/fascism vs socialism/communism. I can assure you, from my family's perspective, that the experience of living in a far-right regime isn't any better nor dramatically different compared to the experience you're describing.

Also worth of mention - the only ones who seem okay with the idea to transition from democracy to a regime, in the modern-day west, to the point of staging and failing a coup, certainly weren't left-leaning, let alone communism sympathizers.