Russia - great bunch of lads!

Junkyard Tom wrote: »

Good old USSR where a war hero couldn't get a wheelchair..



while they built nuclear powered subs that could wipe out a country.

That mans name was SparkskiBollockoff.

glen123 wrote: »

However government used to provide disabled with special cars

Yeah you probably had to know the right people and wait about 30 years to get one. Hardly a public service.

Junkyard Tom wrote: »

Yeah you probably had to know the right people and wait about 30 years to get one. Hardly a public service.

Not really. But you had to request one and chase them now and again. Knowing the right people would get you much more than "invalidka":)

Overall services during USSR times used to be way better than these days. People did get housing (again, it had to be requested and chased, of course), free creches, schools and 3rd level education with even average students getting monthly grants enough to buy food and basic clothes.Free sports in purpose built sports schools with top coaches. Many free musical schools or for nominal fee. People had no idea about CVs, job interviews etc. You'd graduate and be given a choice of work places. If the offer was not where you lived originally, you'd be given a place to live should you agree to transfer. Free medical service, no waiting to be seen, etc. You'd go to your GP and then to a surgeon half an hour later if this was necessary. There was order, low crime levels, etc.

There were negatives as well, of course. Certain things were hard to get (you had to know people),the quality of things produced in the USSR wasn't always great, especially clothes, etc. That quality started getting progressively worse in the 80s.Corruption was massive - knowing the right people you could get practically into any university while at the same time taking a place of a really talented person who simply had no connections. Even though a certain number of places was always given to really good students irrespective of their background.

There were many things that were wrong but there were many that were actually pretty good.

Muppet Man wrote: »

Russians not big fans of same sex couples. They have ‘cures’ for that sort of thing. Appalling Treatment by all accounts .

Do you remember the girl band called t.A.T.u? They were marketed as lesbians. Ended up representing Russia in Eurovision. This was 20 years ago.

As it stands, however, older population do not like or accept same sex couples. But it's not only in Russia but in Ukraine too and even Baltic countries which are part of the EU.

Younger generation is a bit more accepting.

I would imagine, it is not that easy to move to Russia. One needs a visa to visit as a tourist even though I think there is some visa free travel to some cities like St Petersburg or smth.

1990sman wrote: »

Seriously moist over these russian military videos, and what with old vlad being a proper man, i mean, would it be possible to defect ireland to russias care and avoid the whole soros agenda thing?

few loose thoughts...

Great place, pity it's a journalist murdering kleptocracy where alcoholism is rampant and corruption is endemic. It's also the largest country in the world yet has an economic output right on par with Italy, a country 57 times smaller. The population is also falling so Russians don't even believe in their own country despite all the jingoistic rhetoric that comes out of the place. All these Russia lovers wouldn't last too long out there I'd say.

glen123 wrote: »

Not really. But you had to request one and chase them now and again. Knowing the right people would get you much more than "invalidka":)

Overall services during USSR times used to be way better than these days. People did get housing (again, it had to be requested and chased, of course), free creches, schools and 3rd level education with even average students getting monthly grants enough to buy food and basic clothes.Free sports in purpose built sports schools with top coaches. Many free musical schools or for nominal fee. People had no idea about CVs, job interviews etc. You'd graduate and be given a choice of work places. If the offer was not where you lived originally, you'd be given a place to live should you agree to transfer. Free medical service, no waiting to be seen, etc. You'd go to your GP and then to a surgeon half an hour later if this was necessary. There was order, low crime levels, etc.

There were negatives as well, of course. Certain things were hard to get (you had to know people),the quality of things produced in the USSR wasn't always great, especially clothes, etc. That quality started getting progressively worse in the 80s.Corruption was massive - knowing the right people you could get practically into any university while at the same time taking a place of a really talented person who simply had no connections. Even though a certain number of places was always given to really good students irrespective of their background.

There were many things that were wrong but there were many that were actually pretty good.

Workers paradise with bags of freedom, you've sold me.

I'll just jump in my time machine and head there.

You should forward your name for one of those medals they were so fond of giving to exemplary citizens.

I love how people think Russians are all one way.

Also, why the suspicion about Russia and the vaccine? It's been 6 months and every bit of effort has gone into finding one, why do people scoff that a country with a huge population with a long history of science, might be the first one to discover and release it. Nobody would be scoffing at it if it was the USA, yet they have a literal imbecile as president? But those Russians, oh god no, we won't trust them.

imme wrote: »

Workers paradise with bags of freedom, you've sold me.

I'll just jump in my time machine and head there.

If Lukashenko manages to hold on to his powers, you can try Belarus - very litte changed there since USSR times and no need for time machines))

glen123 wrote: »

If Lukashenko manages to hold on to his powers, you can try Belarus - very litte changed there since USSR times and no need for time machines))

I might even get a job in one of his state tractor factories.

The only thing is my poor liver will be fooked with all the subsidised vodka.

They achieved a lot of things before the Americans, but failed to put a man on the moon, most of their planetary probes were failures, and their shuttle flew once, unmanned. They're still using Soyuz derivatives which are a design well over 50 years old. Sure, it works, but it's very limited in what it can do.