>


But they weren't fleecing the system for billions of private wealth like Putin did. 

Yes, because then the Soviet system didn't generate billions. They were absolute thieves - this is why the soviet system was so inefficient.
So weird to watch the GOP cheer on Russian expansionism . . . 
Weren't the Republicans the ones who pledged to "keep us safe from the Dirty Russkies?"
If by "keep us safe from the Dirty Russkies" the GOP meant "we shall perform endless fellatio for Putin's fascists,"
well, the GOP has certainly kept up their end of the deal. >

Russia transformed from a Communism to a Kleptocracy. It's essentially the ideal example of what white supremacists say they want in a country. The rich and powerful take all the treasure and are free to do whatever they want. Anyone who criticizes them can be thrown into a Siberian prison. The police are nakedly corrupt. There is no rule of law, no equal protection, just the pure distillation of might makes right.
When Republicans dream about the sort of country they want, that is what they dream of. >


Russia transformed from a Communism to a Kleptocracy. 

It's the same people doing the same things the've been doing only now they're allowed to get rich doing it.
Westerners never understand that there was nothing socialist about Soviet Russia. The system didn't change.

Anyone who criticizes them can be thrown into a Siberian prison. The police are nakedly corrupt. There is no rule of law, no equal protection, just the pure distillation of might makes right.

Pretty much everything has been true since the tsars' times. >

To be honest, the one thing you can't say about the Soviet leadership was that they weren't big kleptocrats, imho. 
Lots of them did enjoy a bunch of luxeries most Sovjet citizens could not, like a big dacha/foreign films/good food etc. And their children did get better jobs then average.
But they weren't fleecing the system for billions of private wealth like Putin did. They nor their children didn't flee to Dubai or such with coffers full of cash/gold like so many other dictators have done.
On the whole the Soviets' leadership was brutal, murderous and evil. But not big thiefs.