What grocery shopping in the USSR was like [video]
Posted by Josh Taylor / January 3, 2016
Although it isn’t anymore, the USSR was once on the minds of most Americans. Most Americans did not, however, know much about life in the USSR––nor do they now. This is a glimpse into the daily life of Soviets before the fall of the USSR.
Full story at YouTube.
I want to feel sympathetic for what I just saw, but I just can’t. Then, as now, the Russians have ALWAYS been the authors of their own misery. They place pride in a failed state before food and heat, and ignorance before the health and welfare of their children. It’s not a mystery they boast one of the lowest birth rates in the developed world, and in fact their death rate is higher than their birth rate. It’s a country run by a guy that does one stupid thing after another, then when he’s punished, does more stupid things (i.e., when sanctions are levied against him, he essentially sanctions himself a second time by willingly cutting off much needed goods to his country). Do you think he’s suffering? He’s eating well. It’s the average Russian that suffers, but they support him. Thus, no sympathy.
The Americans doe every time like to forget that die Soviet Union was devastated by Hitlers war …what killed very much millions of people in the Soviet Union….The USA had only a few dead people in compare to that….
But every time tell lies and lies over the Soviet Union…
(In the USA were the “Negro” people separated i buses and subways from the not blacks…)
Why don’t you show my comment ????????????
Num numz got my appetite up. Now i’m hungry
That was the worst time of economic crisis in early 1991. That’s why Russians revolted in August of that year and promptly kicked the Communists out of power. And that was pretty much the end of USSR and the end of Gorbachev’s stupid rule. Those crazy days ended in January of 1992 with the new Russian government and it’s free market reforms.
Well this is history, and Russia is not going back to USSR. Check out what shopping is like today for average Russians (second link is in English).
http://www.prismamarket.ru/misc/Nashi-magaziny/Supiermarkiet-Prisma-na-pl-Al-Nievskogo
http://www.lentainvestor.com/en
And for those with more $$: http://www.inyourpocket.com/Moscow/Yeliseevsky_38462v
Michael Moore,
Everything that Hitler did to the Soviet Union was the fault of the Soviet Union leaders themselves, particularly Stalin. There was not one ounce of fault in any Western country, especially the United States. In his own greed to annex sovereign countries to be a part of the Soviet Union, Stalin signed a pact with the devil (Hitler). Known as the “Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact”. Where as, when Hitler started a war for Poland, Stalin agreed not to attack Hitler in return for the countries of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Hitler though, was greedy, and decided to attack Russia. If not for Western Europe, and the United States, Russia would not exist today. So don’t try to preach about your losses, as if you made some great sacrifice, or that the west was somehow at fault. That was only the fault of your corrupt leaders. If your leaders, at the time, had cared about freedom, life, and liberty. They would have informed the West of Hitlers plans. Just as your leaders of the past were corrupt beyond comprehension, so is Putin today. He cares not for the people of his country. Yet, he (supposedly) has the support of the people. Just how ignorant is the average Russian? If you’re any indication, I’d say there is little hope (in the near future) for any quality of life for the people of Russia.
So…It was like shopping at Aldis.
Americans that’s not your bussines, i want to hear about the great depression in the 1930’s instead.
Except for a few intellectuals and educated people, the Russians are not fit for democracy. They can only relate to a strong dictator. Just look at their history. Add the backwardness of their Orthodox religion and they are a basket case. One thing’s for sure, they have an infinite capacity for suffering.
Ptick16, you should go back to school. I bet you never graduated from college
it would be nice to know where the video was taken and when. because i remember shopping in the CCCP a little bit different ( the procedure and system how it was done)
Well, I grow up Soviet Union. Something was bad, something was good. Yes, the years before “Perestroyka” were tough. But people there were actually happier than here. Less inequality, free education of all levels, free healthcare, maternity leaves for year and half, payed unlimited thick days, and very genuine and supportive people around.
Here it feels like everything is fake, people are not making real friendships, but rather treating each other with fake smiles like everyone is everyone’s customer.
Ups, ptick16, who sponsored the Great October Revolution and destroyed Russian Empire, most powerful country in the world? Who brought up Adolf and sponsored ” drang nach osten?” What Americans were doing in Europe till 1943 when USSR started pushing Hitler back? Teaching how to build death camps? BTW why black folks had no right to vote till 1965 in the USA? Just curious.
it was not in the soviet time, it was after soviet collapsed, the pict is about 1991 or 1992’s. I know that for sure. Before we had everything
Russia , Sweet ,Russia, Believe in Your True self , and no one else !!!
Yep, this is what I saw when I visited Russia. Except, this one was nicer. I never before had been to a grocery store where they would plop several pounds (kilos) of cottage cheese on a table in a big pile and just scoop out what you needed. Bread was piled on tables with bee’s and flies hoovering around the food. I was happy to get back home in the good ole USA. Russian trolls on this site are glorifying something that is not.
Russia, Sweet ,Russia , Do not despair for the World Truly Loves You! We are all in this World Together !
Yes, now we remember the humor these grocery stores. Although, I raised my children in these conditions. But such a life is not suffering as you think. My children received a good University education, travel a lot, have a developed sense of dignity. And I continue to work and have own business (biotechnology). And, though someone may seem strange, I’m really good with Putin. About the attitude of the Western world to Russia you can get information from the books of Evelyn Waugh (for example, novel Officers and gentlemen), and Rudyard Kipling, these relations have been established for a long time and are still ongoing. Not Putin is annoying for you, but the Russian character, isn’t it?
Looks like it early 90s after the fall of USSR. I remeber those days. Speaking of USSR, at least where we lived the food was plenty, plenty choices.
It’s right after the fall of USSR.
Poor for Russian people. Putin still eat American beef steak
This article is pure propaganda… The featured video is from final days of USSR, when the country tittered on the verge of collapse and anarchy. Until late 80’s supermarkets were full with goods. Not exactly luxury items, but nevertheless there was abundance.
This is not 1990, it is after the fall of USSR, 91-92, before this it was very different, and now stores there are better then here.
This footage has not been made during USSR times. Another misinformation by truly ignorant people.
Filmed at the height of the state collapse in the early 90’s. Nowdays Moscow supermarkets and malls put US stores to shame. Of course the author forgot to mention it.
And?
This FAKING author look a like still in the end of 20th sanctuary.
And – WHY – he didn’t show to US, – What grocery shopping in the US – IN GRATE DEPRESSION?
SEAN NGUYEN – you FAKING DUMB say – …Putin still eat American beef steak…???
How do you know?
Be cause you going to bed every night – FAKING DUMB hungry? Dreaming about American beef steak…???
Tell US, where we need sent for you FAKING DUMB -American beef steak…???
Like usually, the pro-Putin guys plus Michael Moore have started yelling. The difference between them consists in the fact that the pro-Putin guys are paid to do that!
Whoever has any pity for the regular Russians would understand that the article is correct, and that 1929 in the USA happened…almost a century ago!
Does anybody know, any private business was prohibited in Soviet Union? At all. There were (until now) limited number of monopolies under state control. Total deficit is among other consequences. Everywhere, from food to toilet paper.
What happened then is now just history, it is what is happening now that is more important.
So this video is from time after Soviet Union
(When the USA sent large amounts of wheat and other grains to the Soviets), the time the Russians had to feed themselves. Very interesting.
And Michael Moore blaming the lack of food in the late 80s or early 90s on a war that ended in the mid 40s is pathetic.
My buddy grew up in 1970s Romania, possibly the worst place on earth at the time. When his family moved/escaped to the USA in the 1980s, his greatest shock was going to the store and seeing… dog food. That the West was rich enough to actually have food, that you purchase, for dogs.
What happened then is history, but as Bernie Sanders seeks the American presidency, there is that chance of history repeating.
MICHAEL MOORE, YOu ever heard of the Kulaks? No of course not.
@Jeremy (@jeremymau) Brilliant, I had a good laugh at that. My several Aldi experiences were that there was plenty of stock, if you didn’t mind the loose dirty potatoes on the floor and whatnot. Which I didn’t as I was mostly interested in sustenance.
A message to robert: sympathy is usually offered if someone shares issues with you and perhaps, asks for advice or help. Here, robert, nobody invited anyone to film anything and share with you, robert. also, nobody cares about your opinion, robert. so chillax.
All you have to do to see this sort of thing is go to Cuba. Russia recovered from the Soviets, but Cuba still has them.
Robert, what about the misery the Russians have caused for the rest of then Soviet countries? It was worse than this in Lithuania, yet they never asked for nor wanted any of this. Are you not sympathetic with them either?
I would imagine North Korea grocery stores still look like this today.
i agree that Russia recovered from the Soviets, but Cuba still has them.