The final decade of the Soviet Union showed how systemic corruption and elite self-enrichment destroy public faith in a governing system. The nomenklatura—the Communist Party’s privileged bosses—enjoyed dachas, special stores, and luxury while ordinary citizens faced shortages and endless propaganda about equality.

Parallels in the United States

Clear parallels exist today in certain U.S. Democratic-led states and federal programs. In California and Minnesota, and through initiatives benefiting politically connected figures, large-scale problems in daycare, Medicaid, Medicare, and green grants reveal a modern political elite behaving like the old Soviet bosses.

California, under Governor Gavin Newsom, runs one of the largest Medi-Cal programs. It faces ongoing scrutiny for billing irregularities, inflated claims in home health and childcare, and eligibility failures. Daycare and childcare funding have seen allegations of ghost recipients and falsified records.

Billions poured into homelessness—over $24 billion in recent years—have delivered little visible progress amid spreading street crises, with questions about waste and insider contracts. Los Angeles, under Mayor Karen Bass, faces parallel concerns over resource allocation.

Election Integrity

Elections, intended as the people’s check on power, no longer function reliably in these strongholds. California’s legal ballot harvesting, extended voting windows, mail-in systems, and write-in processes—sold as increasing access—enable manipulation.

The Los Angeles mayoral election proves the system has been gamed. Incumbent Karen Bass faced sharp criticism for her absence in Ghana when the devastating January 2025 Palisades Fire erupted. Yet she advanced strongly in the first round.

Late surges via mail-in and harvested ballots raised serious doubts, with irregularities, write-in vulnerabilities, and processing that favored insiders. Such dynamics show elections now entrench the ruling class rather than deliver accountability.

Original reporting: The Dallas Express — read the source article.