How many Soviet republics were there?

from what I've heard, it used to be more interesting and cheerful to live! There used to be an idea, and when there is an idea, living is much easier!

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but in today's Russia, the only idea is money, and everyone is going crazy because of it

What idea (which was, according to you, present before but is not now) are you talking about? Explain.
In my opinion, whether in the USSR (and we often judge it by Soviet films) or in today's Russia, the main idea is money, or its intangible expression—perks, for which people join various organizations regardless of their views. Another favorite Russian concept characteristic of the USSR is "khalyava" (freebies). Now that's an idea. For a stable salary, the people are ready to gaze faithfully toward the bright communist horizons, sometimes forgetting to look around and ask themselves where we are heading.