I mean, have you seen what was done with industry in former USSR? They used to make lasers in the Baltics. Lasers! Now they're buying kitty litter for fuel.
This points out something that irks me: how right-wingers continually claim to be "nationalists," and how leftists let them do it. Right-wing nationalism is a sham and a con game. They sell out the people, make them live in poverty, and ensure that the nation is completely dependent on foreign business interests -- but claim that it's "real patriotism" because you're allowed to say dumb racist shit on twitter or something. And their idea of what their nation should be is always imported, some second-hand version of the USA or the British Empire.
Communists build up the nation, and find for it a path of development based on its own unique history, culture, and traditions. They're far better nationalists than any fascist has ever been.
Yeah same here, also with patriotism. It take me to (not very original) conclusion that only socialists are patriots, even those that loudly denounce any ideas of patiotism and nationalism.
Fun fact: for example, if we know them by their fruits, by far most successful polish nationalist in history was Stalin.