You Have Nothing to Lose But Your Megawatts

We always found at least one aspect of Soviet culture amusing and that was its tendency to use the most muscular language imaginable to make its points. "Cast off your chains," "Proletarians of all nations, unite," and our favorite, "Let live forever in the people's memory the unparalleled achievement of the Leninist guard of October." Piquant, yet slightly salty - makes you want to beat up a landlord or something.

So while roaming around the Web to see how Indian newspapers were responding to the news of the US-India nuclear agreement, this popped right out: "India is committing to buy a minimum 10,000 MW from the dying US nuclear industry, which has not received any new order for the last 30 years." True, not as pithy as Let live forever, etc. but that "dying U.S. nuclear industry" seemed familiar. "Dying" was a big go-to word for Soviets when describing the west in general and the U.S. specifically - along with "corrupt," another sure applause getter at the cell meetings.

So who said this? Communist Party of India-Marxist general secretary Prakash Karat, who is none too happy about the agreement. Here's a bit more:

"It is the intention of the Government of India and its entities to commence discussions with US nuclear energy firms, and conclude agreements after entry into force of the Agreement for cooperation in the construction of nuclear power units at least two sites approved by the Government of India, which would be capable of generating a minimum of 10,000 MW on the basis of mutually acceptable technical and commercial terms and conditions that enable a viable tariff regime for electricity generated."

Well, alright, that's not too fun, but it does demonstrate another sure marker of communist prose: really clotted language, though in this instance unadorned with complaints about worker exploitation. You can read the rest yourself if you like the sound of buzzing gnats.

Picture of a symbol sailing gently into history.

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