[devereaux]

And personally if I had to live in either Russia or China, I know which one I'd pick to maximize not just my purchasing power, but also my freedom.

I guess this unpopular yet factual opinion is shocking to some people: I am watching the downvotes pile in with a bag of popcorn.

It's quite weird just after reading the karma whoring article yesterday!! But I stand by my opinion.

[happytoexplain]

The arrogant "eating popcorn" mockery of people who disagree with you is the purest poison against rational discussion.

[Udik]

> the purest poison against rational discussion

Unrelated to the thread, but I find unmotivated disagreement (expressed with downvotes) also poisonous. I think it would be interesting to allow downvotes only in combination with a "downvote comment" expressing the reason of the disagreement.

[devereaux]

Then please stand by your username and explain me, with rational discussion, why you think I'm wrong, and how Russia is so much better.

And FYI it's not a mockery - I'm watching TV and eating, for real. It wasn't a metaphor, but I guess you didn't give me the benefit of doubt.

[Findeton]

I'd prefer to live in Switzerland. More economic and social freedom. Neither Russia nor China have too much social or economic freedom so honestly I just think the comparison doesn't make sense. Sure, someone at some point claimed Russia tried liberalism/democracy, but it was a lie, it was never tried. There's less scarcity now that in Soviet times, for sure, but it's still a crony government with no freedom of expression, which is kind of similar to China. However there's way less freedom in China probably.