As Karen and I recently cruised Russian waterways from Moscow to St Petersburg, Russians joked that they have three problems unlike the U.S., which has two. Both have national problems and international problems, but Russians have government problems.

We think we have government problems, but Russians our age tell of horrific government problems. The Russians’ humor helps them survive and lifted our spirits.

My grandparents told stories of struggling to raise children in the early 1900s, but their grandparents lived when Russian military ineptitude that killed millions of people in two unpopular wars.

The Communist Party’s revolution in 1918 plunged the country into a chaotic civil war. Lenin policies improved the national economy but he imposed police suppression.

Ivanov is a humorous Russian character whose loose lips regularly imprison him. After Lenin died, 100,000 factories were closed and wreathes hung on their gates. Ivanov said, “For that much money they could bury the whole party.”

He received a ten-year prison sentence. When a guard asked him what he did, he said, “Nothing.” The guard said, “That’s a lie. Nothing is five years. Lying adds five years to your sentence.”

My parents struggled through the depression, but approximately 20 million Russians died under Stalin’s murderous purges and failed policies.

When Stalin died Ivanov was back working in his factory underneath portraits of party leaders. Khrushchev’s presidency permitted limited criticism of Stalin. Ivanov’s supervisor told him, “Take down that bandit’s portrait.” Ivanov returned to prison after he asked, “Which bandit?”

Karen and I started our family while Khrushchev’s regime created more food shortages. After he tasted Iowa corn he ordered collective farms to plant corn, which wasn’t suitable for their land. Ivanov whispered, “One permanent thing the Party contributed is temporary shortages.”

Khrushchev authorized farm subsidies to buy food but little was available. A prosperous chicken farmer was asked how he fed his chickens. He said. “I give them a ruble and tell them to find their own food.”

As our children started their families, Gorbachev’s policies devastated Russia’s domestic economy. He taxed vodka heavily so people brewed their own, cutting sales and tax revenues. Unemployment soared when he eliminated collective farms without providing private farmers with capital or time for transition. Pensions for retirees were eliminated. Current polls show Gorbachev’s popularity is less than one percent, equal to some US Republican presidential candidates.

Putin is viewed as Russia’s controlling force since his presidency and even now as prime minister. His policies increased development of oil and gas resources and created an estimated middle class of 60 million people. We resented them because their luxury cars gridlocked traffic during our bus tours.

A population of have-nots yearns for the communist party’s return. Nevertheless, Putin’s popularity makes Russians think he’d easily win the presidency if he runs in 2012.

Putin is also feared. His government seized control of media that criticized his policies. He’s suspected of involvement in unsolved murders of an investigative journalist and an exiled spy. The former KGB head says little and uses a penetrating stare.

Naturally Russians joked about Putin.

“Putin’s stare has downed 15 American satellites spying over the Kremlin.” “Putin knows every Russian citizen’s name, address, and phone number. If you say a dirty word, he’ll call you in the evening to reprimand you.” “If you hate Putin you may die early through your own fault.”

We gained respect for the Russians' resilience through terrible suffering. And as we worry about our government’s ability to foster a stable economy and a safe world for us and our children, we thank them for new jokes.