Response to B from Mars. Yes - some of what's in this series inaccurate (images and such). However the overlying information reasonably accurate. I personally don't think there is such a thing as unbiased information, weather it be in reporting or documentary making. The real proof - is in the pudding.
Russia - Collapsed, India (command based economy) was heading for collapse, Britain reversed course towards more freedom and less socialism for simple reason, was slowly going broke. China is continuing to move further away from command based type economic structure. Several provinces in Canada had socialist (NDP) governments for awhile and in general, (especially British Columbia & Ontario) proved economically disastrous.
Check out also - Commanding Heights - Battle for World Economy
Ep 1 - Battle of Ideas
Ep 2 - Agony of Reform
Ep 3 - New Rules of The Game
As far as atrocities associated with Marxism/socialism, are plenty of texts out there (some by Russian authors) that provide insight into this. I think Russian Economist Dr. Yuri Maltsev's seminar (on youtube) "Too Big Not to Fail" offers preliminary insight (if you wish to look into it deeper) into what actually transpired in Russia and other places. So though the series may be a bit inaccurate here and there, overall provides good insight into socialist idea's and its failures.
As John Maynard Keynes penned: The ideas of economists and political philosophers, both when they are right and when they are wrong, are more powerful than is commonly understood. Indeed the world is ruled by little else. Practical men, who believe themselves to be quite exempt from any intellectual influence, are usually the slaves of some defunct economist. Madmen in authority, who hear voices in the air, are distilling their frenzy from some academic scribbler of a few years back. I am sure that the power of vested interests is vastly exaggerated compared with the gradual encroachment of ideas.
When one looks at the reality of Marxism/socialism, it becomes quite clear, many of these ideas have been far more destructive to society then beneficial.
