> this is false. the only reason you think that is because america's vassals are generally richer than russia's vassals. but that isn't because russia leeches off of them, it's because america is richer. lmao > the question then becomes, why is america richer than russia? or the soviet union for that matter?  you must have fucked up your timestamp, because at that mark nixon's just recounting anecdotes about talks with china. here's your answer though: because russia never left feudalism behind, and an untouchable, unproductive parasite caste of politicians is not conductive to wealth building on a national level. especially if they're still operating on 19th century political models where wars of conquest were still profitable.
Germany