Most people polled in most eastern Europe post-Soviet countries who lived in socialism (except a few like Poland or Estonia) claim that life was better under socialism. Hard to blame them, I can’t imagine how safe and free from anxiety I’d feel if I had a guaranteed job, housing costed 3% of my monthly income, and my neighborhood was walkable and full of affordable canteens with cheap seasonal ready meals. Sure, it would be a small flat, I wouldn’t own a car, and I’d have to wait 4 years on a list to buy a new radio, but those are literally non-issues to me in comparison.
Most people polled in most eastern Europe post-Soviet countries who lived in socialism (except a few like Poland or Estonia) claim that life was better under socialism
I remember the poll you’re referring to. It was click-bait articles that made it sound like that, the actual research stated nothing like this.
They were basically “did you enjoy your life when you were young” kind of questions. And, to the apparent shock of everybody, when you ask an 70-80 year old that question, they’ll answer “yes”.
The only people who think fondly of the times under russian occupation are the people who were a part of the system.
As I said, Balts or Poles don’t count. Your far-right nationalist great replacement conspiracy theories aren’t factual. You’re indistinguishable from MAGA crying about being run over by Mexicans, French far right crying about being run over by black people, or Spaniards crying about being run over by Moroccans.
66.2% of respondents believe Ceaușescu was a good leader for Romania
When asked whether life was better under communism than today, nearly half of respondents (48.4%) said yes, compared to 34.7% who said it was worse. Meanwhile, 65.1% believe there was less corruption under communism than there is now, and 75.1% think public safety was better before 1989.
Some 85.1% believe food was healthier under communism, and 66.4% think the state took better care of its citizens. The efficiency of state institutions is another area where the past is favored: 58.7% say they functioned better before 1989
Education and healthcare are also perceived to have been more accessible during communism. Nearly half of respondents (49.9%) say quality education was easier to obtain, and 48.6% believe healthcare services were more accessible. On economic output, 68.5% say Romania produced more goods and services before 1989 than it does today.
In cultural terms, the communist period is seen in a surprisingly positive light. About 75% of respondents say Romanian films were better under communism, 58% prefer the entertainment shows from that era, and over 71% believe the music was of higher quality. A strong 71.3% believe Romania has lost its cultural identity in recent decades.
Yet awareness of the regime’s darker chapters is widespread. More than 94% acknowledge that basic foodstuffs were rationed, 92.1% have heard about travel restrictions, and over 95% know that television was available for only a few hours a day.
Some 82% are aware that hundreds of thousands of Romanians were tortured or killed in communist prisons, though only 59.2% explicitly say the regime was responsible for those crimes. Just 14.3% believe those responsible were held accountable in court.
So, despite its shortcomings, people say life was better. Who woulda thunk
I updated my prior comment with a poll in Romania.
The fact that you talk of “Russian occupation” tells me you’re likely from the Baltics, where this conspiracy theory is most promoted. Smaller nations are influenced by geopoltical blocks, that’s just how reality works, I don’t see you talking about current “German occupation” due to belonging to the EU, or “US occupation” due to belonging to NATO. People in the Baltics are extremely russophobic, this is where this conspiracy theory stems from.
It’s a historical, provable fact that russia invaded the Baltics, Poland, Czechoslovakia and a bunch of other countries in the East, installed puppet governments, and unified everything as “USSR” (with some countries, like Poland, having a bit more independence, and technically wasn’t a part of the USSR).
People in the Baltics are extremely russophobic
“Russophobic”? We’re not afraid of them, we just don’t like them for the hundreds of years of meddling and suffering they’ve caused us. Again, it’s not a conspiracy theory, it’s history.
I’m telling you guys - life in USSR was much much better than this shit we live in now.
I really hope this is a joke, mate…
If not: no, no it wasn’t. Unless by “USSR” you mean “Petersburg, Moscow, and their immediate surroundings”.
Most people polled in most eastern Europe post-Soviet countries who lived in socialism (except a few like Poland or Estonia) claim that life was better under socialism. Hard to blame them, I can’t imagine how safe and free from anxiety I’d feel if I had a guaranteed job, housing costed 3% of my monthly income, and my neighborhood was walkable and full of affordable canteens with cheap seasonal ready meals. Sure, it would be a small flat, I wouldn’t own a car, and I’d have to wait 4 years on a list to buy a new radio, but those are literally non-issues to me in comparison.
I remember the poll you’re referring to. It was click-bait articles that made it sound like that, the actual research stated nothing like this.
They were basically “did you enjoy your life when you were young” kind of questions. And, to the apparent shock of everybody, when you ask an 70-80 year old that question, they’ll answer “yes”.
The only people who think fondly of the times under russian occupation are the people who were a part of the system.
As I said, Balts or Poles don’t count. Your far-right nationalist great replacement conspiracy theories aren’t factual. You’re indistinguishable from MAGA crying about being run over by Mexicans, French far right crying about being run over by black people, or Spaniards crying about being run over by Moroccans.
Example poll on a less racist territory like Romania:
So, despite its shortcomings, people say life was better. Who woulda thunk
No idea what does that have to do with anything. Please elaborate.
I updated my prior comment with a poll in Romania.
The fact that you talk of “Russian occupation” tells me you’re likely from the Baltics, where this conspiracy theory is most promoted. Smaller nations are influenced by geopoltical blocks, that’s just how reality works, I don’t see you talking about current “German occupation” due to belonging to the EU, or “US occupation” due to belonging to NATO. People in the Baltics are extremely russophobic, this is where this conspiracy theory stems from.
What “conspiracy theory” do you mean?
It’s a historical, provable fact that russia invaded the Baltics, Poland, Czechoslovakia and a bunch of other countries in the East, installed puppet governments, and unified everything as “USSR” (with some countries, like Poland, having a bit more independence, and technically wasn’t a part of the USSR).
“Russophobic”? We’re not afraid of them, we just don’t like them for the hundreds of years of meddling and suffering they’ve caused us. Again, it’s not a conspiracy theory, it’s history.
“Islamophobic”? We’re not afraid of them
Literally MAGA discourse. I can smell Baltic right wing nationalists from a mile away.
You need to educate yourself.
MAGA loves licking the russian boot.
Nobody who suffered under USSR would ever say “times were hard but better”.
Islamophobes absolutely are afraid of them, hence the agression.