Quote Originally Posted by xXHoax View Post
What do real Russians actually think about communism, and the U.S.S.R's performance/quality of life?
What do you say to: "Communism can never work, because humans do not naturally think altruistically, they think for themselves."
I speak with russians every day and these are the conclusions I ended up:

- Do you liked communism?:
1. Poor Russians feel nostalgic for communism for obvious reasons ...
2. Rich Russians hate communism for obvious reasons ... expect if they feel threaten by Mr. Putin.
3. The middle class is still confused ... but after the sanctions communism gains some of its old glory.

- Why communism is not so popular in our days?
Disappointed ex-communist politicians and supporters advanced a lighter version of communism called democratic socialism or social democrary (based on the contemporary political terminology). This new socialism has moderated all the problems associated with the extremist aspects of communism (e.g.common ownership, elimination of private initiative) by:
(a) suggesting a fair system of redistribution of capitals within the economy through a progressive system of taxation
(b) creating a social net for the poorest (e.g. subsidies, unemployment benefits etc).
(c) condemning monopolies through a strict regulation system
(d) creating a set of rules protecting the rights of workers.
Moderate supporters of communism in the low and middle social classes decided to abandon it by founding a shelter on this more "civilized" and "convenient" ideology called Socialism.

- Why USSR failed:
1. What Russians say:
(a) Unfair economy war from Western World.
(b) Conspiracy (which is usually accompanied by the expression: that a..hole Gorpatsov betrayed us for a buck a dollars!)
2. What westerns say:
(a) Soviets were producing nuclear weapons and sending men to space but on the shelters of their supermarkets they had only 20% of the goods the Europeans had in their supermarkets.
(b) They were bullying all Eastern Europe nations ... what you expected?
3. What the economists say:
(a) Planned Economy has simply failed because was not able to meet the needs of simple people.

If I am wrong on anything please correct me. Simple language please.