Dago did you know that they had factories producing tractors.
One factory produced supplies to the machines. The other compiled them. The third painted them and fourth 'sold' them.
The system was government funded just like anything back then.
So, when there was a shortage of metal the first factory couldn't manufacture the parts. The second couldn't put them together and fouth couldn't sell them to citizens.
What did they do? They faked reports that showed parts flowing to the facility, faked reports that showed tractors shipped to the sales and everyone was happy. Government paid monthly for a nonexistent production.
The factory workers went about doing basically nothing, if you count out them stealing everything that wasn't bolted to the ground.
I recall Pres. Bush saying drunk 'Only in America' in one video. Well this was 'Only in Soviet Union'
Then later when SU broke up, the factories were split among the workers as it was 'peoples property.'
Every worker had a few shares. They hadn't got paid for several months for thier work. Like millions of russians, they earned thier income from different kinds of trading, usually stolen material. The president of the factory who had loads of 'money' gained from legal and mostly illegal activities, bought out all the shares of the workers for a few rubles per share.
This way the workers got enough money for a bread loaf and the president owned a factory. Some then started actually manufacturing something and got filthy rich. One such example was the guy who bought out a medicine factory and is now one of the richest men in Russia. I think he even ran for president at one time.
Some, that now owned factories with really heavy outdated equipment that was used to build parts for panzers etc. simply SCRAPPED the whole factories and sold them for SCRAP IRON!
This way the russians destroyed a huge chunk of their production facilities and the factory bosses became millionaires from the scrap metal value of the factory equipment. ROFL!
They now drive humwees and S-class mercedeses and live behind armoured walls and doors that look like a bank safe. The workers were laid off (DUH!) and became poorer than ever if that's possible.
The economy was flushed down to the toilet at the same time when millions of people were without work, the government no longer supported them and they had to commit differnet crimes to survive - or start simple trade economy in order to bring food to the table.
It's really difficult to grasp the huge **** up they created there.
