Communist consumer technology.

When we were globe trotting in Russia, after the same in China, I and she who must be obeyed, via the trans Siberian train, just after the country dissolved, under the weight of the Gipper's Star Wars competition, stayed with a lovely couple, in an arrangement some decades before Air B 'n B. The economy was in tatters, even worse than under the planned economy, the remnants of which were being gobbled up by slimy proto oligarchs. The purveyor of sleeper coach train tickets, a firm called Monkey Business, in still free Hong Kong, were also middle humans for folks in Moscow and Leningrad, who wanted to earn a bit by doubling up with friends, while their humble apartments were rented out.
Now, these retirees were university professors, so were relatively well off. Their residence, and appliances, were eye openers, certainly by comparison with Soviet arms and space technology. And of things here in the West. Elevator to sixth floor only ran now and again, with sparks from the floor choice button panel. Sticks were there on string to press the buttons. Same with appliances and heating. I could go on, but nuff said.
So, in my purchase on line of a new travel portable radio, somehow on eBay, I got sent to listings of vintage Soviet era short wave portables. The top of the line was the "Ocean 214-Meridian" . Reading up on it and looking at the pics, it seemed like the same sort of junk.
The Chinese now make many such units, and well reviewed ones, with performance and features, even MPV recording, cost less than 20 USD delivered. Two weeks later, from Shen Zhen, that would be. But products with similar features, with German and Japanese brand names, are made in China as well these days, with value, but marginal quality control. Get a good one, and it's well worth the price. What to do?
I tell this story, in part to be my usually narcissistic show offy self. But also to show my personal experience with so called communism. China is so in name only, and in one party statist lack of personal freedoms that we all take for granted. Russia, not so much.
The Ukrainians make a knock off BWM look alike bike, with side car, but it's also soon a piece of rusty junk, for those who have them here in Maine.
Cautionary tales, for all here. Especially for the deluded TD-HD Syndrome alt lefties of God's world. And then there are Honk Kong, and soon Taiwan.