I can't quite put my finger on it yet, but yes, there is something different about the Soviet government producing children's books, and Hasbro deciding to produce G.I. Joe action figures because it identified a sales opportunity.

I think the main thing is, that in the Soviet example, I'm not clear that there was a choice to not give the books to your children (maybe there was, I'm not sure). Whereas with G.I. Joe, Captain America, et. al. actually buying the toys/comics is voluntary, notwithstanding the powerful effect of advertising.

There's also the fact the creators of G.I. Joe were not later executed for nonsense reasons.