There is no bullshit in my last sentence. I sincerely hope most of my readers feel Russia is moving in the right direction, and that they are happy there. You clearly feel this, and I'm glad you're content with life. Because to feel otherwise becomes very depressing. However, I can tell you that a lot of my Russian friends do NOT feel the same as you. About Boston - well, I've been there many times and to over half of the States in America, including many ghettos. It doesn't impact how I feel about my country. Most Americans are not living in ghettos, but in normal neighborhoods. I wonder how much you've traveled around Russia, outside of its main cities? A lot?

About clothes, well they are still good quality and fairly cheap in America. Each time I go overseas, my foreign friends always ask me to bring jeans. :)