I was born in the Soviet Union in 1949, during the Stalin era. My parents wanted to get married by a religious ceremony and did it at night because if someone would see them, they would lose their jobs and would be blacklisted for life… My grandfather died in the KGB where he was taken to sign a bogus letter against his colleagues that would lead to their arrest and eventual … termination. He refused to sign and died in the interrogation room from (the KGB said) a heart attack.

Then in 1973 a miracle happened. In the seventies the Soviet Union was starving again. Socialistic regimes usually unable to feed their population and they come for the rescue to … make a wild guess... to capitalists! The USA said OK, we will rescue you… but insisted on allowing some emigration from the USSR. So in 1973 you, Americans exchanged me for wheat. Most people have no idea what they worth. I know exactly. I divided total amount of wheat the USSR got from America by the number of emigrants that got out during this period and found out that I was sold for the wholesale price of 20 tons of wheat. Not a very high, but not a very low price…. And now you probably asking yourself a question – "did we make a good deal... or ... can we return this guy to Russia and get our money back?"… "No", you can't. You stuck with me... .

Isn't that strange that when people live in capitalism they produce a lot of food and can feed others, and when under socialism, they starve.

In 1995 I became an American citizen. I want to thank you America for purchasing us from slavery. The way I can repay you is to share with you my experiences and try to stop you from making the same mistakes we in Russia once made.