Communism has never existed, and no state governed by communist parties would argue otherwise. Socialist economic models span a variety of approaches from market-based to command, but yes, for most Russians life was better under socialism, as they themselves regularly indicate when polled. 

I don’t think it’s a lazy take at all! It’s a stance I’ve arrived at after decades of life experience and having developed a fairly decent awareness of history and I mean it very seriously.

Thanks for chiming in! I’m not in DSA (been to meetings but there are enough ML formations in my neck of the woods that, as an ML myself, it makes more sense to me to go w/them), but I organize with lots of DSA people and count many among the best, most committed folks I know.