I know your reply is to Strac6, but like to say that you’re correct on a couple of things, not others. At any rate, this type of argument requires context, and can apply to USA too.
Best starting point, imo, is Russia and USA are rivals or competitors (think someone said as much already, in this thread too).
I think the context is what a human needs to survive.
Russian high school teachers are pissed because suddenly they earn only 150$ a month and are told to hang in there. Teacher and teacher are similar, but I believe the unionized teachers complaining are making only $4000 a month HAVE NO IDEA what it is like to live on $150.