I don’t judge them the same at all. As someone with a lot of family from a lesser developed country I have seen the devastating impacts that capitalism has on local people and populations. I’ve seen lush forests green with life from my childhood stripped for mining and resources. Ive seen people and family members exploited by wealthy Americans and Europeans. I watched as the people I loved were the last to receive critical resources during the pandemic. The US has killed and oppressed hundreds of millions and will continue to do so until it is dedtroyed.

But from where I stand Russia is not a saviour nor paragon of leftism. It is a state-capitalist country and has been for a while. as a trans and countercultural person I would not be accepted in contemporary nor historical Russia, and I know that because I have friends with family in Russia right now and who has visited that family with drone strikes overhead. The USSR was not safe for many people and has committed great atrocities in the name of communism. It was an oppressive authoritarian regime that has directly led to this moment in history. Would I rather live in the USSR than contemporary America? If I could be safe in my queer identity then absolutely. Note that I am not saying the US is safe for queer people; I am very lucky to be in one of the few safe places in this country. But if there was a third (non-European) option, I would preferably take that.

I refuse to dickride for dictatorships, and I qualify both the US and USSR under that. Maybe its just because im an anarchocollectivist/anarchocommunist but you’re going to have a very difficult time convincing me we need oppressive authoritarian powers when I have seen and experienced effective community organizing and planning to direct resources into meaningful action and change. Buildong strong resilient communities that are sovereign and self sufficient is how we fight fascism, not by becoming better fascists than our enemies.