[OldPossum]

I was in Moscow in 1991 (just in time for the Revolution) and saw first-hand how awful things were.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

"Fundamental change" is coming.

[GOPJ]

Shop shelves were often bare, it was normal to have to join a long queue if you wanted to buy groceries and many of the people looked ground down after a century of desperate poverty.

On the lighter brighter side the USSR showed us how well income redistribution works - how 'from each according to his ability, to each according to his need...' really rocks.

Communists even had an early version of "ObamaCare" and totally disarmed their citizens. Progressives before our time... CNN would of loved them - the old New York Times really did... won a prize for covering their brilliant farming techniques that killed millions of Russians.

Of course Russian leaders did have to build walls to keep citizens in because everyone grew to hat the place... A cautionary tale to our 'leaders'....

[GOPJ]

Shop shelves were often bare, it was normal to have to join a long queue if you wanted to buy groceries and many of the people looked ground down after a century of desperate poverty.

On the lighter brighter side the USSR showed us how well income redistribution works - how 'from each according to his ability, to each according to his need...' really rocks.

Communists even had an early version of "ObamaCare" and totally disarmed their citizens. Progressives before our time... CNN would of loved them - the old New York Times really did... won a prize for covering their brilliant farming techniques that killed millions of Russians.

Of course Russian leaders did have to build walls to keep citizens in because everyone grew to hate the place... A cautionary tale to our 'leaders'....

[null and void]

ping

[Tailgunner Joe]

This can't be true because Putin said that the collapse of communism was a tragedy and led to much suffering and he said they should have done everything in their power to stop it, and I know Putin loves his country because he was in the KGB and he nationalized Russia's energy resources and used them as weapons against America. If only we had a leader who would bravely fight America like Putin does.

[Kartographer]

Coming soon to your town! And the lines won’t be anywhere near as calm or the people standing in them near as patient.

[TADSLOS]

Whaa...no smiles in those pics? I thought hope n change came with lots of smiles...and where’s the unicorns and skittles? I’m confused....

[Chickensoup]

very few thin people. Big difference from the Depression era pictures.

[kaehurowing]

We’re certainly more than halfway there. USA 2013.

[Pilsner]

I remember reading about the contemporary Soviet Army, in the 1980s. Its latest tanks had laser range finders on their main guns. But the crews were issued triangular pieces of cloth to wrap their feet in, because the USSR could not afford to issue socks soldiers who did not have to march...

[Fledermaus]

I like the fact the fall of Russian communism shined the light of truth on their lies and failures.

Sad pictures will not make me compassionate for their plight. FU Commies!

[meadsjn]

Socialism in the USSR benefitted a small privileged minority, at the expense of a vast majority who suffered shortages of everything for 70+ years. For socialists, socialism is not so bad.

When the USSR fell apart, many of those privileged socialist elites were the ones able to migrate to the wonderful USA, where beginning in Nov 1992, socialism was ramping up to cruising speed.

These former soviet socialists love where we're going. They know how to play this game, and they tap into every source of free money available.

[PJ-Comix]

Anybody on those long food lines use coupons?

[GlockThe Vote]

coming to the USA

[ctdonath2]

Now that’s real poverty. Unlike the squandered opportunities and resources in so much of American “poverty”, the people depicted there are clearly doing what they can with what they’ve got. All is tidy and cared for...there is just nigh unto nothing.

And nobody shown is fat.