USSR or USA?Which one do you favor most?

not quite. Athens were a democracy but not everyone who lived in Athens was a citisen. Those who were not born as the children of athenians were foreigners and their number in athens was somtimes as big a number of Athenian citisens. And slaves had no rights at all. But those who were citisens were all equal and had the same rights. The vote of nobleman was worth 20 votes of paesants and you call it democracy Styr?

Just like in Poland. Between 10 and 15% of people were citisens and they all had full and equal rights. Thats different from Sweden where were citisens of better and worse class - so Sweden was not democracy.

"Not quite"? What was wrong in what you quoted, since nothing following those two words explains that. I know perfectly well how the Athenian democracy worked.

"just like Poland". So you think a system where a tiny fraction of the population has full political rights and the rest have no say is more democratic than a system where a large part has full political rights and the rest also has full political rights albeit a smaller representation, in a country that by the scholars, politicians of the age as well as the writers of the Enlightenment was referred to as the "freest land in the world"? You are appearing like some kind of a nationalist who can't accept there were early democratic-like systems outside and before your country. May I ask if these are your own personal conclusions or words by an authority on the subject? If not, I suggest you do some reading. Probably the newest English title on the subject, Age of Liberty, Michael Roberts, Cambridge, might be of interest. This is OT though, and will be my last post on the subject in this thread.

out of the ashes of the USSR have come Russian love brides.

Who orders those brides? Lonely, overweight, bald (or balding) Americans.

See? The world CAN co-exist peacefully!

Not really, the problem was a voting system, not the difference between the rights of citisens. It wasnt an intention of the Legislator to give more importance to the votes of some citisens over others. It was just a result of long not reformed voting system which in fact didnt change for 200 years.

That's why i said that apologist's of the USSR in my opinion are idiots and fools. To me there is no difference between them and neonazists.

Could be just me but there some really idiotic posts - esp - the one that said - i support neither because im anti-globalization. and the one that said America has Greater Nuclear bomb power.

- just quickly - Russia had enough nuclear bombs to blow this world for time over... why so many bombs? because they wanted to get rid of the cocroach and rat problem

I casted my vote for Russia - for national pride reasons... but when it comes to chosing the lesser of the two evils - i think its rather arrogant for anyone to do so with great certainty - and or great pride esp. when ur from America or Russia.

At the end of the day - both countries have their problems and good points - which are very similar.

For example - the land of opportunity - that likes to consider it self up their with the best of them, when it comes to equality... Is really not that equal - 12 -30 percent live below the relative poverty line - but that depends what stats u look at - Considerable ammount of inequality between first and fith quintiles. Incredible ammounts of racism and sexism (remember we're talking cold war era)

on the other side of the coin the USSR also promoted equality - it more two tear unlike the US system - theres the common people (98% rough figure) and those incharge. Russians can also be some what racists although there arent many foreigners there - because - who wants to go to RUssia? Plus theres another unequal power not mentioned - called the marfia.

When it comes to military power - both had it sweat - and both could do a lot of demage- - - - - if anyone from any of the two side thought they could push the other over - is a fool (back in the cold war era) Russia had the numbers and the resources to cause un imaginable destruction if so prevoked (allies at that time included CHina, and north Korea - both could hold their own when it comes to war)

So to America who were very technologically advanced with many allies - I believe a lot of people are unaware of how big the USSR were when it comes to CHemical and Bio weapons - jat the rate of 40mega tonnes p/a - whilst the USA could do hardly produce 10percent of that going by memory - esp. when it was revealed that the USA was making bio weapons secretly when they promised not to, in i believe the 70s. There were Cities with 30,000+ scientist that produced nothing but bio and chem weapons.

When it comes to foreign policy for both nations - its to hard to describe briefly. But the moral is - both coutries had millions of nice people in - who meant no one no harm, and to lable them as evil - because either one of them was under the control of a system 'you' didnt believe in - would be unfair.

I love my economics and could pick problems with the two systems forever - but i havent the time

Being RUssian myself - i can honestly tell u that for people who knew  little about America - alot of Russians used to love the country - whether it would be for the music (my self being a big fan - of Micahel Jackson and Madonna at the time) or for the sneakers that they bought at the black markets - many never regarded Americans as evil in the same way many Americans considered USSR evil.

 - - - -thats my two cents..... want 2 more? just ask for it