I remember the pictures of nearly empty store shelves, taken in eastern bloc countries; and commented about them to whomever would listen at Walmart yesterday.
Back then we had a cousin visit from Poland. Every once in a while he would just walk around our local supermarket, marvelling at all the variety and quantity.
My parents fled Europe in 1950 after their government fell to communists. For decades we weren't allowed to visit, but once we could, I went to see my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins every few years. It wasn't the harshest of the communist regimes, but it was very sad to see what had been done to a vibrant central European nation. It was dingy, air quality was poor, and the shops were pretty limited. When people saw a queue, they got in it without knowing what was being sold. The reasoning was that if people were willing to stand in line, there must be something at the other end. They always had food, but variety and quality were absent. The highest quality food production went to the bigwigs in Russia, as did nicer consumer goods. People learned to supplement a lot on their own, whether through windowsill gardening, barter, sewing or pilferage. People who ask for socialism have no idea what they are asking for. One of the few positive things I can say about that time is that for many people, it built strong families. Hardship and oppression can have that effect.