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rodroidrx 🇨🇦

@yogthos USSR nostalgia doesn’t necessarily mean return to the old Soviet days, as per the Moscow Times article. I think Russia can do better without an oppressive centralized government but that’s just my opinion as a Canadian

13 comments
Yogthos replied to rodroidrx

@rodroidrx right, it's important to keep in mind that USSR was under duress its entire existence. It was invaded by capitalist powers in 1918 only a year after its formation, then it was plunged into WW2 a couple of decades later, and then US started the Cold War after.

USSR was never allowed to develop in peace. Vast majority of negative aspects of USSR can be traced directly to the fact that it was under siege.

Yogthos replied to Yogthos

@rodroidrx Yet, despite that people were much more free than people living in the west today in many respects.

For example, nobody in USSR worried about losing their job and ending up on the street or that they wouldn't be able to retire in dignity.

Nobody was worried about becoming homeless or not being able to afford the basics.

Everyone had access to education, and was able to pursue their interests without worrying whether they're marketable. Here's one example:

youtube.com/watch?v=SWqvaMEFId

@rodroidrx Yet, despite that people were much more free than people living in the west today in many respects.

For example, nobody in USSR worried about losing their job and ending up on the street or that they wouldn't be able to retire in dignity.

Nobody was worried about becoming homeless or not being able to afford the basics.

Jiri Jerabek replied to Yogthos

@rodroidrx @yogthos Context is the king.

People had access to education, but had to follow the state ‘truths’ otherwise were persecuted.

Nobody worried about losing their job, because it was illegal to not work.

The Soviet Union achieved a thing or two, but the *how* and the amount of suffering they caused completely negates that.

We have a saying in the Czech Republic: “Se Sovětským Svazem přišla bída na zem” - Soviet Union brought poverty to us all.

And that’s how it was.

Yogthos replied to Jiri

@jirijerabek @rodroidrx anti communists love to spin this yarn, but of course when you look at the conditions prior and post USSR it's pretty clear that everything you've said is utter nonsense.

The fact of the matter is that there is far more suffering under capitalism than there ever was in the Soviet Union. However, people like you don't care about that because you've got yours and fuck everyone else.

rodroidrx 🇨🇦 replied to Yogthos

@yogthos @jirijerabek fair objections from both your point of views. However, in the end communism crumbled. China is barely a communist nation its more autocratic / capitalist under the disguise of communism.

Of course, contending views will argue the West was responsible for political interference, etc etc, ultimately leading to the fall of communism- but why then wasn’t the USSR robust enough to outmaneuver the Wests meddling?

rodroidrx 🇨🇦 replied to Yogthos

@yogthos I can’t comment on who started what or why the Cold War persisted the way it did, that’s debatable. I can say that USSR did develop a world ending arsenal and this was perceived by US as a threat. So one nation under duress is questionable. With two nuclear powers in frequent confrontation the entire world was under duress.

Yogthos replied to rodroidrx

@rodroidrx it's not debatable who started the Cold War. The fact that it was the west is a well documented fact. US was also the first country to develop nuclear weapons and use them on civilian population of Japan to send a message to the Soviet Union.

Meanwhile, USSR always tried to come to treaties to disarm and deescalate, the west was never interested.

Highly recommend watching this documentary imdb.com/title/tt1494191/

Yogthos replied to rodroidrx

@rodroidrx I grew up in USSR, and I live in Canada today. I think that the central government was far more functional than the Canadian system. Especially so when it comes to delivering large public infrastructure projects.

Of course, nobody is advocating for simply restoring USSR exactly as it was. I think it should be used to inform what's done in the future taking the good aspects and improving the bad.

Real Quack replied to Yogthos

@yogthos @rodroidrx

#Capitalism is obviously broken.

Your thread reminds me of the Minneapolis #ACAB saying #GeorgeFloyd had a medical condition.

Capitalism is not inherently better than everything else, it simply is in the business of killing off competitors.

Yogthos replied to Real
rodroidrx 🇨🇦 replied to Yogthos

@yogthos to be completely honest I’m socialist to the core. But the engine that drives socialism in Canada is unfortunately capitalism. A functioning government is arguable too. Our system is less than perfect, with many obvious gaps that need to be filled, but for the most part it’s working. Again, pros and cons. Canada’s system isn’t a one size fits all solution but it is popular and provides a status quo (if not better) quality of life to many that live here.

Yogthos replied to rodroidrx

@rodroidrx Canada doesn't have socialism. Socialism fundamentally means worker control of the means of production and the economy. Canada is capitalist to the core, where the capital owning class owns everything.

Socialism doesn't mean just having a social safety net. This is a very good explanation of the actual meaning of the term

versobooks.com/blogs/3228-leni

Yogthos replied to Yogthos

@rodroidrx
also, our system is absolutely not working. Over half the population has no savings indicating that they're being paid subsistence wages.

Meanwhile, just 87 families own more wealth than around half of the population of Canada. These people have become rich by exploiting the rest of the population, and that's who benefits from all your hard work.

The wealth gap only keeps growing with each generation. This isn't sustainable.

globalnews.ca/news/3434447/ove

theguardian.com/world/2018/jul

@rodroidrx
also, our system is absolutely not working. Over half the population has no savings indicating that they're being paid subsistence wages.

Meanwhile, just 87 families own more wealth than around half of the population of Canada. These people have become rich by exploiting the rest of the population, and that's who benefits from all your hard work.

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