It's a failed state where the tinpot dictator who runs it is also a gangster who runs rackets out of all national industries. That's the only kind of state that Communism has ever produced, so you might as well call it that.

[–] LainTrain@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (2 children)

Putin and the oligarchs were handed all the power they have now by people who overthrew the communist government of the RSFSR, not by the communists at all.

It's present failure stems from the extreme poverty caused primarily by mass sell-off of government institutions and rapid privatisation, otherwise known as shock therapy, a common element in the rise of fascism.

"The 90s" were an absolute hell for a lot of people there. I know, because I was there.

Don't get me wrong, the USSR was shit in many ways and did incredibly awful things in eastern europe, but to ignore the fact that present Russia is a fascist oligarchy and instead call it communism is not only ignorant of history, but it aids Putin sympathisers and fascists in the west, i.e. Musk, AfD, etc.

[–] DrSleepless@lemmy.world 1 points 3 days ago

Oh boy, that’s what’s gonna happen in America right?

[–] pimento64@sopuli.xyz 2 points 4 days ago (1 children)

I think you're talking past me a little. I'm saying the state of Russia now isn't materially different from Cuba, Laos, North Korea et al

[–] LainTrain@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 2 days ago

I mean, yeah? If you generalized enough lots of things can be said to not be materially different, and that's not invalid, but this state has fundamentally different causes and elements and therefore can't be lumped together, lest we make the mistake of ignoring the lessons of history.