How many Soviet republics were there?

Hmm, the idea of communism is certainly not bad, but it's somewhat utopian. Regarding the USSR, I might not be fully aware, as I don't know the history that well, but in the 80s, this system was indeed in decline. Replacing religion with atheism, the lack of an illusion of people's power, a shortage of goods, the absence of opportunities for entrepreneurship, and some remnants of censorship (if the socialist system had remained, we probably wouldn't be playing Heroes, as "The Lord of the Rings" wasn't even allowed to be published in the USSR) – so, the conclusion that the Soviet period was a significant achievement is quite valid.