[Sacajaweau]

I'm 70. We provided the Soviet Union with the machines that made the gears for their tractors when I was a kid.

What you learned was part propoganda. Russia has always had plenty of brainpower but not enough resources for their people. Remember the wheat deal!!

[Jacquerie]

My point was at least the Russian communists mandated useful manufactures, like farm tractors.

Our communists mandated the Volt.

[hinckley buzzard]

During WW II we provided trainloads of brand new American tractors to the USSR, FDR's "valued ally," while American farmers had to make do with their older worn out models. Any Russian tractors failing in the 60's were probably thirty year old American tractors.

In fact I have a vague memory about our building a tractor factory for the Russians, back in the day.