What Russians Think of America
A 1924 New York Times Magazine article claimed "Russia is the only country in Europe where Americans are tremendously popular." Why?
The real reason for American popularity throughout Russia is that we represent to them the ideal of efficiency. And they adore efficiency because they have so little of it. In their offices are traditions of graft and mismanagement; on their lands are backward, unlettered peasants; in their factories are slow, unskilled workers. They admit these things openly and without shame...
But now the shackles are off; they want great expansion. They have the greatest stretch of territory on earth, unlimited riches awaiting development. American speed, American efficiency, American methods — these are the things they dream about. Almost any methods that are quick and time-saving in Russia are given the name "American."
That's hard to imagine today. While there are certainly still aspects of the U.S. to admire in the modern era, "speed" and "efficiency" are hardly two of them.
Six years after this article, in 1930, the Empire State Building was built in one year and 45 days. Nowadays, though, One World Trade Center (nicknamed "the Freedom Tower") took eight years.
President John F. Kennedy first declared a national goal of landing humans on the moon in 1961, which took eight years until 1969. Then President Donald Trump announced a new commitment to landing humans on the moon in 2017, but after numerous delays, NASA has now delayed that mission until "at least" 2026. That means a nine-year gap at minimum.
Or for another example, this December headline by James Bikales in Politico says it all: "Congress provided $7.5B for electric vehicle chargers. Built so far: Zero."
What Russians Think of America
Published: Sunday, February 10, 1924