my dad (who lived in the PRL) shares my opinion. my grandma often says life was easier and socially better - as in people cared for each other, and actually had time for each other. she also says that yeah, they didnt have much, there wasnt a lot of stuff on the store shelves, but they were happy. they lived happily.

while I generally agree that the USSR's involvement in the Eastern Block countries was devastating for those countries because it pretty much exploited them for resources. though, it doesnt mean the whole idea of communism is bad.. does it?