Yet they’re heading straight for it again.
Far from it. Read what Putin has said about taxes. Russia, even under Putin, is becoming more open and free. But yet Putin is still willing to stand firm against Islam. He has repeatedly refused all encouragement to raise taxes.
You can have all the democfracy you want but in the end your only as free as your tax burden. By that measure I am about 50% free. I spend half of my life in forced service to my countrymen.