@Easterners: And while we're at it, let me tell you about how life in the '10s is different from life in the '80s in the U.S., just so you hear my perspective on how the country was and is. I will give a summary in the style of ponky, the guy above:
Culture is better. There is more racial diversity and gender equality, and more tolerance for LGBT people. Gay marriage and even polygamy is being debated in Congress. Young people are getting to be less arrogant, but also less prudish. Millennials can do things on smartphones and social media that I, a Generation X guy with Macintosh in the early '90s, am astounded by and I'm still not doing these yet.
Economy is worse, almost far worse since Great Recession of '08. Associate technical degrees are not saleable; U.S. companies are either arrogant about bachelor's degree, or have outsourced associate work to India for $5-$6 an hour (about half U.S. wages!) in graphic arts or web design, which I wanted to do in early '00s. Colleges cut aid, and many people don't get the money they need to finish bachelor's degree; I've struggled. On the plus side, the American website eBay (based in California) is still profitable and a source of quick cash for unwanted items. You can sell $300-$3000 in 6 weeks easily.
Politicians are mostly idiots, since Reagan left in '89. Bush Sr. worse than Reagan with economy, but negotiated peaceful end to Cold War '91. Clinton fixed economy. Bush Jr. damaged economy. Obama okay at best, but not good about job creation.
Cars are much better than in 1989. My first car was the '89 Chevrolet Corsica with air conditioning in early '90s, but weird audio system and fuel-inefficient compared to now. Chevrolet Cavalier even better by '04, but discontinued. Mazda 3 from 2011 is my car, but my father makes payments now that he's wealthier; it would cost $25,000 USD new, versus $10-$12 thousand for Corsica in 1989. Much better car, but expensive too. It is light-years ahead of the Yugo, the compact Yugoslavian car advertised for "$3990!" in the 1980s in America.
) But at least you could afford one with a stable job under your more socialistic system. Capitalism produces quality cars, sometimes affordable, but jobs are chaotic these days. ["It's very unstable", said my socialist-leaning professor who was of Polish descent and critical of laissez-faire capitalism like Ayn Rand's ideas.]
So I hope that ponky is not a hardcore Marxist and will appreciate my interest in the people and nations of the former Soviet Bloc.
But life is not always great, even in the United States.