I suppose you were either there and knew what it entailed or are clear on your facts? The Soviet Union at one late stage [...]
I think you missed the point. As long as there was still socialist idealism in the hearts of a sizeable proportion of the Western population, there was always the fear of a revolt in your factory or even country. So, people with capital had to keep their workers happy.
Now that virtually everyone in the West believes in the capitalist doctrine, not making it means that you are just a sucker who did not work hard enough, did not make the right choices, etc. So, you don't protest, you just work harder.
I think you missed the point. As long as there was still socialist idealism in the hearts of a sizeable proportion of the Western population, there was always the fear of a revolt in your factory or even country. So, people with capital had to keep their workers happy.
Now that virtually everyone in the West believes in the capitalist doctrine, not making it means that you are just a sucker who did not work hard enough, did not make the right choices, etc. So, you don't protest, you just work harder.