Question by Walloon: Do modern Russians look favorably or unfavorably towards the Soviet Union?
Also is life generally better for the average Russian than it was during the soviet days?
Answers and Views:
Answer by Derek
From what I’ve heard, they look at it unfavorably and life is better now.
Read all the answers in the comments.
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Ianja says
UN
xamaliaisgone says
They both have their good and their bad and views differ among various people. During the Soviet Union everyone had jobs, long payed leave, good education, and decent safety. Everyone was considered an equal, even if you were an Uzbek living in Russia, there would be hardly any discrimination. According to my parents, getting a career those days was more about your interests than the money since everyone got paid roughly the same. With the social economic gap and the growing discrimination now in Russia you can see why some would miss it.
Yet many like the new Russia. It is more up to date, and has civil liberties such as freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom to move between classes, ex.
Putin once said "Whoever does not miss the Soviet Union has no heart. Whoever wants it back has no brain.”
Street Spirit says
Favorably. At least most of my friends (25 y.o. on average) have communistic views. And they are not 'stupid', all of them are intelligent and thinking people – artists, musicians, etc. (who you would call non-conformists), who just don't like and accept the capitalistic way of life. And there are many of them among the youth over the country.
Nikolay says
Life in USSR was not better or worse it was just different.
If you wont to spend your time in queue for bread , meat, milk – go back to USSR.
If you want to live stable life without any trouble, – go back to USSR.
No cars, no modern goods, no freedom of speech.
but it was free flats in USSR. You just receive it from the state for free.
Usually it was after 5-10 years you work for State company.
But no( or in more times less) robbing, raping, kidnapping.
Children was Absolutely SAFE in USSR all day and night.
If you have had degrees in USSR or high level of professional education your salary was enough to live.
But you would never bay car (you would have to wait for 10 eayrs)
I speak perfect Engl says
There is too much corruption in modern Russia. There are people in parliament who make billions through corruption and then fuck off abroad and spend the money there. Prior to contrary belief, during the Soviet era people were a lot more honest and decent.
polynesian says
There are 3-4 serious benefits that modern Russia has
(and Russia now is a hard-core capitalist country, more capitalist than US or Europe)
1) freedom of speech
2) freedom to go anywhere
3) access to much more consumer goods and services (provided you have money for that)
Soviet Union was better in the following
1) culturally & spiritually
2) social benefit-wise: free dwelling, free medicine, free education for all, more or less decent retirement pension
3) being itself a mighty empire to counter-balance the other World power centres like US
I personally like in better in the modern Russia, but I can also understand those missing Soviet Union.
Vulgar Display of Po says
Ever since the Soviet Union fell apart Russia has been in turmoil. Making a switch from a purely socialist state where everything is government owned to hardcore laissez-faire capitalism causes big ripples in the economic system . During the soviet era every citizen was guaranteed a job, an apartment, free medical care etc. Now that the system is going through drastic changes that stability is lost and corruption is more common place. I guess that's why some people from the older generation reminisce about the way things used to be.
Glenn Gould says
Some aspects of the USSR seem to have a desire to be preserved.
I agree with the nostalgia factor.
kate says
the way I see it there are people who are nostalgic.
vlad says
From my parent's perspective, it was better to live during the Soviet Union. If by better life you mean having more stuff, then no, it was not better. There was less access to consumer products than there is now. Though not to say that people did not have enough things, or that they were not happy. Social benefits were also higher than they are now, and of higher quality.
Most other Russians I know look favorably towards the Soviet Union.