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H. Wood's Reviews > Socialism Betrayed: Behind the Collapse of the Soviet Union
Socialism Betrayed: Behind the Collapse of the Soviet Union
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Overall a useful and interesting read. The authors succeed in drawing a line of anti-socialist policies from Bukharin to Khrushchev and ultimately Gorbachev. They also highlight the role that the second or shadow economy played in the Soviet Union and how this both undermined Socialism as well as provided a class basis for Gorbachev. However, the book lacks theoretical depth and does not provide with a satisfying Marxist answer to the shortcomings of Soviet Socialism. In that it might sim treeply reflect the overall low level of theoretical discussion Marxists in the US. Still, this book is a must read for anyone trying to learn form the experiences of the first socialist country.
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Reading Progress
August 24, 2021
–
Started Reading
August 24, 2021
– Shelved
November 13, 2021
– Shelved as:
geschichte
November 13, 2021
– Shelved as:
sozialismus
November 13, 2021
–
Finished Reading
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Eddie
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rated it 1 star
Mar 27, 2022 12:20PM
If socialism was so wonderful then WHY did a shadow economy need to exist?????? I don't see any shadow economy in USA due to capitalism success.
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Thanks for the comment. I suppose there is a shadow economy in the US. From bootlegged mixtapes to drugs to handyman and businesses not paying taxes or "working under the table". There are estimates of 10-11% of the economic activity occuring in the US shadow economy.
H. wrote: "Thanks for the comment. I suppose there is a shadow economy in the US. From bootlegged mixtapes to drugs to handyman and businesses not paying taxes or "working under the table". There are estimate...""mixtapes"?????? people are buying and selling 'mixtapes'???? Are you serious? "Mixtapes" hasn't been a thing for 30 years and how "big" was it then? Randos who would tape a garage band like the Grateful Dead and sell it for some weed out of the back of a van at ANOTHER dead show. yeah BIG ECONOMY! Show me where the 'mixtape' shadow economy exists bc you can't get FREE music online for over 20 years.
Shadow Economy obviously exists in illegal drugs. "working under the table' certainly exists but who are the 'experts' who 'estimated' bc "there are estimates' as you say of 10-11% US economic activity? Where are these 'Economists" and how was that massive number derived? US economy is over 20 TRILLION. so the under the table economy of SO MANY handymen accounts for 2 TRILLION $$$!
the mixtape market is worth 1 Trillion!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Let's just agree that the shadow economy exists. If you are interested in the mixtape issue, it was a business in the early 2000's. I believe there was a good documentary on Netflix "Hip-hop evolution" where this was explored in more detail.
H. wrote: "Let's just agree that the shadow economy exists. If you are interested in the mixtape issue, it was a business in the early 2000's. I believe there was a good documentary on Netflix "Hip-hop evolut..."ghetto randos selling hippity hop garage rap tapes on a street corner generated how much from the impoverished ghetto do you really think? a Netflix rap Docu isn't the reveal of economics. They'd rather spend their $$ on crak! Sidewalk rap tapes (or burned CDs) is so inconsequential it's a joke. You really think someone is making a living doing this? Yes under the table work has always existed and the market for that is illegal aliens. But it is hardly a fraction of what existed in USSR. The "barter" economy (I'll mow your lawn in exchange for free tax prep lol) is bigger than the auto industry! NOT
I believe you are not really interested on an exchange, so I'll leave it as it is. This is more than rude. In case you are interested you can check Rocque, Saunoris, Marshal (2019) as a starter on the Shadow Economy in the US.
"more than rude" don't get emotional. What is "Rocque, Saunoris, Marshal" to 'check'? are they people? authors? I don't care what you think the shadow / barter economy is or how big it is. I told you what the MAIN DRIVER of the shadow economy is "ILLEGAL ALIENS" that IS the shadow economy bc 99% of what they do is under the table (other parts of the shadow economy are miniscule to the overall US Economy and not game changers). You want an idea of the shadow economy? How many illegals are in USA - TONS for sure but this 'shadow economy' is not remotely the same as that was in USSR (if you are implying that it's a false equivalence). USA shadow economy (illegal aliens) isn't a political game changer apart from highly corrupt leftist politicians welcoming them to USA (see Biden and the WIDE OPEN Border) and paying them taxpayer money (free food and housing) and they can vote (100% will vote democrap to keep their free lifestyle going) and still work under the table and never pay a dime in taxes. So in that sense it is political but the illegal aliens in USA aren't about to start a revolution they can win. You can leave whatever you want as it is. I'm over your head.
You are emotional from the outset talking about a book you did not read. The surnames plus the year of publishing is a common way to cite academic papers. Google them and you should find the article. Good luck!
Don't plagiarize me it is YOU who is emotional. I'm sure you can handle yourself under intense pressure. NOT. How is it emotional bc I didn't read a revised history "perhaps it was bc of this bc I'm making assumptions that can't be remotely proven" book that was so useless it isn't worth my time? This will be over your head in what the movie is and what this means bc you don't seem like the type who ever served except french fries and a sodago to youtube and type: the dirty dozen emotional
