Do you think Russians have a better life today to then they did under communism?

Answer 1

They were better off under communism.

Russia was the most backward country in Europe economically and socially under the Tsar. Communism (under Lenin) did wonders for LGBT rights and started the process of rapid industrialisation. While human rights were severely restricted under Stalin, the economy boomed under his command, and after his death the Khrushchev Thaw brought many of these rights back.

Regarding Stalin's murders, while unexcusable, one must objectively see them as a necessay prerequisite for fast progress. The capitalist countries industrialised over hundreds of years and killed many millions more in their empires than the Soviet Union. A quick look at British rule in India for instance reveals masses of unecessary bloodshed. As Stalin said, the USSR had to make a 50-100 year idustrial jump in 5 years or it would be crushed/invaded. For that to be possible all oposition had to be crushed. Had their been a concurrent socialist revolution in economically advanced Germany in the late 1910s, allowing for friendly trade between the two countries, perhaps the horrors of Stalinism might have been avoided.

By the 1970s and 80s the Soviet Union was becoming more liberal. Had some clever reforms been made at that time, such as a renewed focus on producing consumer goods to boost the economy and a move away from bureaucratic to worker control of industry, the USSR might still be around today, instead of the gangster ruled Russia where people still 'disappear', women can make a better living taking their clothes off than working hard towards a meaningful professional job, and LGBT rights are non-existant (compare that to Brezhnev's 'fraternal kiss'). Sadly, Stalin's purges and changes to the party structure meant that any fresh talent found it difficult to reach the centres of political and economic power.

Overall, the Soviet Union was not perfect, but taking into account the difficult circumstances and of its creation, and the prolonged witchhunt it was subjected to by the industrialised western nations, it provided a more egalitarian, meritocratic and respectable society than Russia under the Tsar or currently under Putin. Long live its memory. May we get it right next time.

Answer 2

Under the Bolsheviks, Russia was state capitalist, not Communist.

Answer 3

no i do not think so, because communism is the best thing that ever happened to Russia no i do not think so, because communism is the best thing that ever happened to Russia