Tunnelvision

Russia's wealth is not being made available to western oligarchs.

You are correct, the United States sanctioned Russia as well as the oligarchs. The west basically shot themselves in the foot because without the oligarchs Putin can do whatever within reason.

Who is it being made available to?

This is the part that we will not truly know until the war is over and in my opinion it is going to be the thing that there will inevitably be a struggle session about. It is the reason I brought up the comparison to the new deal because IMHO redistribution in this fashion is not what makes communism. Ive supported Russias position in the war for years now, but I don’t want to say they’re going commie until I see it with my own eyes and a post war new dealish economy, aint gonna cut it personally. Putin has been a straight shooter so far, which is nice when he’s combating western propaganda, but that also means we should probably take him at his word when he says he is the leader of a western inspired bougie economy. Could be wrong obviously, but I’m not holding my breath.

Another thing I think is interesting is that it seems like there is no large movement forcing the redistributive efforts ala the new deal.

This is true, but from what I understand Russia has made pretty good efforts in making the various minority communities feel included in the larger Russia society but also respecting their various cultures. America is just too sexist, racist, xenophobic etc to do that.

Have you ever seen the big turkey breast hunks at the deli section of the grocery store? This is what holds all that meat together.

I sold my soul to the google play store.

Sure, but it is on the same level as claims that the USSR only defeated the Nazis because of the lend lease act. Material doesn’t fight on its own, and wars aren’t won without labor. You need both to be successful.

The DPRK specifically has artillery pointed at South Korea going on 70 years now. Why do you think they haven’t been invaded? The same with Cuba, they defeated the CIA in the bay of pigs. By routing the United States they defacto project power by existing. It’s the same reason Russia was able to park right up next to Cuba (they might still be there idk) obviously Russia is the larger power, but Cuba at the same time is able to say “if you don’t normalize relations, this will be a reoccurring event”

He absolutely was and no I don’t believe Russia is imperial, but it is on the same spectrum as the United States still. I explain this more in a different comment below if you want to see my reasoning.

If the United States decided today that it would bring back a new deal economy and millions of people were given well paying jobs and a comfortable standard of living, would you see that as a step towards communism? Obviously Russias wealth comes from its abundant resources, and I believe the average Russian today sees more of their labor in their pocket than before, but it’s still an economy based on the exploitation of its people. It is miles better than the US new deal economy because that economy was based on the exploitation of its people and also the imperial exploitation abroad, but it’s still on the same spectrum. I think Putin’s correct when he says they are similar to the west.

Hey, at least it’s clumps, could be worse.

Mainly it’s because I do not want to die on one of Americas failing bridges or be crushed by some janky overpass.

Cuba and the DPRK project power by just existing.

I’m confused by this comment because NATO was involved the entire time.

Maybe maybe not, but it’s as true today as it was in the 90’s so that distinction doesn’t really matter.