You know who I bet worked on Javelins and Stingers? Russians who left the Soviet Union and became Americans. Did the Soviet Union make Russia a good country for engineers to succeed? Did Putin? Western technology isn't the best because it's specifically Western, or American. Most Americans are stupid as stupid can be. However, America is as close to a meritocracy as you can find. None of the Russians I ever met moved back to Russia. Why?

The superiority of the West isn't based on geographical location. It's a way of life. Either you want it or you don't. The Soviet Union wasn't all bad. There's nothing wrong with socialism in my book. I don't get your common sense. I don't see Russians in Moscow or St. Petersburg driving Russian cars or talking on Russian phones or buying Russian goods. You say it will be fine for them to stop playing nicely with the rest of the world and only use Russian stuff. I don't see it. Sorry. I haven't seen any young Russians on 1420 remotely interested in such a ilfe. Only the old crab-apple Russians say it's okay ;)

What phone do you use? What computer do you use to write on Medium with? I bet part of the software and hardware was designed by Russians. Unfortunately, after 2014 more and more of them don't do it in Russia.