Was the rule of law strong enough that decisions were being made by the people, or were they being made by authoritarians? Because if key decisions weren't being made by the people, it wasn't socialist.

The Capitalists are the Oligarchs!

The Oligarchs are feudalists, not capitalists.

[–] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Yes, it actually was. The Politburo had outsized power, but the local Soviets ran most things. Again, incredibly flawed, but still Socialist.

Oligarchs are not land owners that take a portion of what food is grown by the Russian people, the Oligarchs are Capitalists.

[–] merc@sh.itjust.works -2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Oligarchs are not land owners

Oligarchs control the exploitation of Russia's natural resources. Can't get much more "land owner" than that.

[–] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 5 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Capitalists can do that as well, without being feudalists. You're tying an ancient peasant-aristocrat structure to modern Capitalism just to avoid acknowledging that Capitalism has failed Russia.

[–] merc@sh.itjust.works -4 points 9 months ago (1 children)

You're trying to pretend that an oligarchy / dictatorship has something to do with capitalism because you hate capitalism.

[–] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 4 points 9 months ago (1 children)

On the contrary, I'm acknowledging that Capitalist business owners have swelled and looted Russia very effectively.

[–] merc@sh.itjust.works -4 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Except it has nothing to do with capitalism.

[–] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 5 points 9 months ago

It has everything to do with Capitalism. When the USSR collapsed and the Russian Federation came into place, Capitalists got much of the Capital, and are now the "oligarchs."