Do you now live a thousand times better than during Soviet times?

[peacetraveler22]

If time travel ever becomes possible, I would transport myself back to Moscow or the province in the 1970's or 80's to better understand the realities of life in Soviet times. Looking at old photos in books or online, I can hardly envision such a system of life where everything is so structured and predestined. This is the eternal debate amongst my older Russian friends and readers - the pros and cons of life in the USSR vs. modern day Russia. Tonight I read an article written by a man who was only nine years old when the Soviet Union collapsed. However, he claims this was long enough to form a strong enough opinion about life in the USSR to know that he never wishes to return. His observations seem a bit shallow and naive on the surface. He takes a few of the most commonly expressed strengths of the Soviet system, and explains why they are misconceptions. Please remember these are not my personal views, but the opinions of a former resident in the Soviet Union. Let's begin with education...

Myth 1: The Soviet education was the best in the world



There's a common belief that education in the Soviet system was good, perhaps even the best in the world.  However, this was largely a result of propaganda, and it's important to ask the primary question of how a "great" education should be measured?  It's clear that scientific progress in the West was no less than in the USSR.  Moreover, if everyone was so smart in the USSR, why couldn't they make good cars and VCRs? Something is wrong here, and doesn't add up.

Myth 2: Soviet medicine was better

Obviously, the quality of medical care was worse in Soviet times.  It has always been worse when compared to decaying capitalist countries. Life expectancy in the USSR was lower than the "enemy" at all times.

Reasons for lower life expectancy are simple - lack of modern medicines and treatments. While every effort was being made to create the next warheads, citizens died without having access to advanced diagnostics or care.

Myth 3: Free housing

A common misconception about the USSR is that everyone lived for free. In fact, there was no free housing but cooperatives, which cost an average sum, payable through reasonable installments for 25 years. Everyone in the USSR had a roof over their head, but the quality of housing was horrible and inferior in quality. After the collapse of the USSR, the owners of these apartments were faced with the need to privatize for big money, otherwise the housing became the property of the city. What, in general, makes housing better during Soviet times? Nothing.



Myth 4: In the Soviet Union, there was no unemployment or homeless

The main problem here was the equalization of labor in low wages, where many people lived paycheck to paycheck, creating a low standard of living for the majority. It's better to provide economic incentives for high quality work, rather than simply handing people wages. The latter creates lazy and entitled workers. Side note from me: I dont' understand employment during Soviet times? How were people hired? They picked their own jobs, or the choice was made by the government?

Myth 5: The most powerful army in the world!

Classic point of discussion for lovers of the USSR! Yes, the Union had a strong army, to the "defense industry" money was never spared. The Soviet forces were greatly feared abroad, but there are two important points. (1) A strong army has no effect on the lives of ordinary people, except in the negative direction (when all power goes to the creation of tanks, there remains no funds for infrastructure and other improvements); and (2) the Armies of Western countries were no less strong.

Myth 6: Products and clothes were better in the USSR


This is complete nonsense according to the author. In Soviet times, everything was worse with clothing and consumer choice. People wore shoes for ten years, and it was the same with all other clothes which were of poor quality. Remember how everyone was so desperate for Levis and other American jeans?

In his opinion, the absolute worst part of life in the USSR was the lack of choice in everything - education, work, food, clothing. Soviet citizens couldn't leave the country or really choose the accommodations which best fit their own personality, goals or comfort.  Individuality was suffocated. The government planned human life from birth to death. In general, it completely ruined the country and strangled motivation.

The author's final words - "God forbid that we all go back. Now we live a thousand times better." Do you agree?

P.S. - is the term "совок" offensive and derogatory, or it's okay to use?

Comments

[buddhistmind.livejournal.com]

Dear Shannon, do you understand, that the Soviet medicine was better than even the MODERN U.S. one? Even the modern Russian medicine is better, than what you've got in the U.S. The health-care system of the U.S. is terrible : everyone says that and I witness and maintain that. Yes, Russian doctors are not very nice and cheerful, but they will diagnose and treat you very well. And in the majority of cases almost for free (relatively). Life expectancy was lower because the U.S.S.R. was waaay poorer.

Soviet education: there were no arts, humanities and social science in the U.S.S.R., but math and science were top-notch. Take a look at the professors, researchers, lab people of the U.S. science and math departments and facilities and the staff of the IT and financial analysis companies: half of them are Russians/Russian Jewish etc. And it's also the case in Europe.

The Soviet medicine and education were 100% free.

So what I'm suggesting is that the very design of your arguments is flawed...

Also, the Soviet army in the U.S.S.R's "prime" was one of the strongest.

The food, clothes etc. were crap-ish. No (really) free housing. A lot of hidden unemployment etc.

Of course, the U.S.S.R. was THE Evil Empire and so on and on. But we gotta stay sober and sharp with regard to what they had succeeded in.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

"Even the modern Russian medicine is better, than what you've got in the U.S." I would strongly disagree that Russian medicine and treatment is better. I've seen plenty of reports about Russian hospitals outside of Moscow and Peter, and there is absolutely nothing comparable to these horror scenes in the U.S. Yes, medicine is expensive in the U.S., but most people with professional jobs have insurance which covers most of it. So, all of the hysteria over medicine and prices in the U.S. is exaggerated. Those without insurance suffer, but under Obama care, everyone should be able to have some form of coverage now. Moreover, there are plenty of free clinics in the U.S., treating the disadvantaged.