It confuses me when people make these assertions. They are "hardy" in the same way a beat dog shivering out in the cold is hardy. From another post I made responding to this:
The Russkie mindset is somewhere between the Goblin and the Orc. Most are low IQ or deranged from drugs and alcohol abuse and are dependent on government subsidies for their existence. Here is a good article from a noble Russian who fled his country discussing this:
"The population at large is, statistically speaking, not very bright. Many are deranged from overuse of alcohol or drugs. A big number are simply aging elderly rooted in USSR-centric mindset who never adjusted to the modern world. Most of them do not “work” in the sense we understand full-time employment here: they occupy placeholder positions sponsored by the government. Being dependent their whole life on government help, they are psychologically unable even to think government can do something wrong."
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/bloggers/3189416/posts
This is what happens after 5 generations of Communism where the best and brightest and most moral are systematically murdered and replaced with sadists and others with clear signs of mental illness to positions of authority.
Russian society is by and large predatory and corrupt. Criminality is normal in Russia amongst every social class. They only seem "tough" because they are used to living as slaves in very pitiful conditions. To this day, in their little apartment complexes, they're still crapping in hallways or beneath stairwells. They make the filth of India look normal by comparison. Here's another thread that also delves into the scary world of Russian society:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3236334/posts
If the Russkies are tough and noble in any way, then our Welfare parasites must at least be growing up to be strong men. Add Communist repression in the USA and they'll become true Russians.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/bloggers/3189416/posts
This is what happens after 5 generations of Communism
Pikers we did the same thing in one presidency.