That's how Soviet citizens saw their lives too, they toiled and sacrificed their lives in the struggle to build Communism.
Soviets also had ~40 hour work weeks too for normal jobs. A categorically different recreational, social, and daily life and relationship to the means of production (rent was 2-5% of income) but they still worked very hard and wouldn't see the full fruits of their labour for decades.
Also the repeated destruction of the country off and on for 25 years is unfathomable for us now. Regardless of the ideology of the govt, this material reality would mean someone would have to work very hard to pick up the pieces, start anew and prosper. And instead of depending on the exploitation of the periphery, the Soviets had the conviction and determination to do it themselves.
That's how Soviet citizens saw their lives too, they toiled and sacrificed their lives in the struggle to build Communism.
Soviets also had ~40 hour work weeks too for normal jobs. A categorically different recreational, social, and daily life and relationship to the means of production (rent was 2-5% of income) but they still worked very hard and wouldn't see the full fruits of their labour for decades.
Also the repeated destruction of the country off and on for 25 years is unfathomable for us now. Regardless of the ideology of the govt, this material reality would mean someone would have to work very hard to pick up the pieces, start anew and prosper. And instead of depending on the exploitation of the periphery, the Soviets had the conviction and determination to do it themselves.