From: pv02@ns1.cc.lehigh.edu (PETER VOROBIEFF)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.soviet
Subject: Whose Price System's Screwed Up (was: Space Program...)
Date: 3 Oct 92 17:33:28 GMT
Organization: Lehigh University

Hi!

Alex Goykman wrote:

>    The Soviet pricing system was so screwed up that there were no
>    way to estimate, much less calculate, the true cost of a product
>    or service.  Nobody really knows if the satellite-launch system
>    in question is the cheapest, as Peter claims, or the most expensive
>    in the world.
>
>    In this country, one can reportedly buy a fully functional MiG 
>    for under $100,000, and low as $25,000 (former Secretary of State 
>    George Shultz has one).  Does that mean that MiG's cost that
>    little to manufacture?  Of course, not.  What is happening is
>    that the Soviet mafia is having a fire sale of state property.
>    Stolen goods are cheap, and if you have money and the right 
>    connections, you could join the party too.

When we speak about the military, state etc. expenses, the American
pricing system is not less screwed up. How much do bolts cost?
Most probably, several cents a dozen. But if these bolts are used in
something military and classified, their price will be five bucks for
one bolt or, perhaps, even more. Does this mean that bolts cost that
much to manufacture? What is happening is that the American military-
industrial complex etc. I dunno what 4 U, but I'm already bored of these
American-Soviet dusty stereotypes. 

Open your eyes: the launch system that can be easily reproduced by such 
a poor country as India (and they HAVE reproduced it!) MUST be dirt cheap.

>    The Yeltsin's goverment just announced a massive privatization
>    campaign: every citizen of Russia is going to get an equal
>    share of the state enterprises in a form of a voucher that
>    worth somewhere between $33 and $40.  Think about that: over
>    the last 75 years the average Russian soul, having worked hard 
>    and consumed little, has accumulated less industrial wealth 
>    than a teenager in this country can make in a day flipping 
>    burgers.  50c ,,, a year?!

A dollar isn't worth its current price in rubles, don't forget. What
is happening now is the attempt by the above-mentioned Soviet mafia
to steal the greatest part of the national wealth of Russia. In fact,
it has been already stolen from the Russian people by various organi-
zations that have already "privatized" enormous amounts of property.
The guys who run this dirty business are an odd mixture of ex-Communist
bosses, Caucasian and Central Asian republics clan leaders and the
newly-corrupted pseudo-democratic officials.

>    Methinks that the Soviets have done better than that, but most
>    of their money was "invested" in ego-building projects, like 
>    the cheapest-looking satellite-launch system in the world,
>    more olympic medals, best ballet, most fearsome ballistic missles,
>    etc.  No surprizingly, they ended up with a huge ego (perhaps, 
>    the biggest in the world:), and little wealth.

Hmmm... I wouldn't say that investing money into sports is ego-building. 
It is care for the health of the people. And wealth... In the Communist
times most of the people never worked hard - there were no stimuli for
hard work. And inefficient labor doesn't lead to prosperity...

-- 
Thus spake Kalmoth the Vile, Slayer of the Seven Pigs of the North.
Newsgroups: soc.culture.soviet