(speaking from Russia) at the time of that argument, our propaganda guys did have a point: the poverty was defeated here, everyone had a job guarantee, an opportunity to get (free) world-class higher education, choose a career in science, military, or industry, etc.

Speaking of China, they do have their problems (of course), but to have a moral right to criticize, other fellow countries should at least stop their oil-for-bombs and occupation-based-on-rumors politics (and we will see, how that will change the quality of life and corruption level).

But the resemblance is there, yeah ;)

Are you implying that in the 1960s there was literally no one living in poverty in the soviet union?

Seems to be some evidence against that, such as: http://books.google.com/books/about/Poverty_in_the_Soviet_Un...

Yes, I'm speaking exactly of the golden era of USSR (1961 -- 1979, roughly), and the evidence of my family, relatives and friends clearly states, that poverty was _literally_ defeated by that time -- you plain could not be starving from hunger or be homeless (unless you prefered to, but that was against the law, and everyone was guaranteed to have a roof above his head).

Speaking short and plain, everyone had at least enough to live a healthy life, and quite many had somewhat more.

Poverty in the USSR didn't impeach you from having free health care, free education and almost free basic food and transport. Compare with poors in the USA.