"That seems to suggest you think there were positive aspects of the totalitarian governments of the soviet union?"
To be fair, the Soviets shot people for trying to LEAVE, who the heck was trying to ENTER...? ;)
BTW, I spent many months down on the border between West Germany and GDR, and West Germany and Czechoslovakia. Most of it was up against a Russian operated guard tower.
Those guys were prepared to kill me any time they wished, provided they ever got sober.
They hauled bottles up all day long and tossed them down all night long.
This was very, very dangerous duty due to the total incivility of the Russians. Vopos were nearly as bad but drank less ~ they didn't get paid as well, but they did get a bonus for shooting anyone coming or going.