Counterpoint: China
While China today isn't nearly as bad as the USSR was, their authoritarian government that still jails and executes political opponents hasn't stopped their political stability and economic success.
While China today isn't nearly as bad as the USSR was, their authoritarian government that still jails and executes political opponents hasn't stopped their political stability and economic success.
Who you jail and the effect that said jailing has on other people also matters.
But, now that you've brought it up, do you think that they're equally bad? (Note - "both bad" doesn't imply "equal".)