Hi Historiycircus,
I don't know about the USSR model; what is almost certain though is that we have to find some other way of running the economy, integrating it in the wider phenomenon, which Existence is.
Bear also in mind that the USSR , historically, was a premature, rather artificially created and implimented(maybe even forced) upon People and the Objective Circumstances.
The USSR jumped from Feodalism to Socialism, ignoring the necessary phase of Capitalistic Experience, which Experience in its turn should at a certain point evolve into Socialism, where some harmony should be between and
in the interaction, cooperation Mankind-Nature-Other Life Forms.
The technological, scientific and technical progres, which capitalism creates, should facilitate and render the next step possible, for People free of the need and fear of solely physical survivor(food, water, shelter...), would develop Spritually and grow towards a better understanding of the complexity of Life, beginning with the realization of the Oneness of all Life Forms in the inner principles and natural Laws of Earth - the fellow Human Being in the first place.
A closed look, would reveal that the small Communities who are now(forcefully!) trying to create with the precious assistance of Project Avalon( thanks, Kerry and Bill!) are but an expression of that necessary historical step, were we to survive our own madness.
Regards,
RaKaR
www.futureofmankind.co.uk