Growing up in an communist country I saw much less corruption than after we were liberated by democracy and liberal capitalism has been introduced. As a consequence of the system change, the corruption throughout the country rose to the unforeseen levels.

But of course, since communism lost, at least for now, it is an easy target for snarky comments.

My parents grew up in soviet Russia they ran out in the late 80's if they would've waited and survived the turmoil they would most likely have become Oligarchs but it wasn't a good time to be a prominent Jew in Russia and they tell quite a different story.

Every institution was corrupt to the bone, if you wanted to send a package somewhere and for it to actually arrive at it's destination you had to bring 2 loafs of bread and a jar of home made pickles with you to the post office.

Communism like most dictatorships was more or less clean and organized on it's surface. One of the scariest things about authoritarian regimes is just how normal and calm they seem to many people that live under them. Heck martial law is quite commonly regarded by many to be quite "nice", all crime stops, the streets are clean, no one bothers anyone ofc if any trouble ensues all parties tend to be lined up against the wall and shot but other than that it's almost utopic.

The 1980s called. They are in dire need of more cold warriors and want you back.