It's all about branding:

• having a pointless job = everybody have a job!
• living with a family of complete strangers in a room divided by a curtain = everybody have affordable housing!
• lifespan some 10-15 years shorter than in West = our healthcare is free!
• life is bad = during WWII, siege of Leningrad I guess, it was worse!
• not being able to speak openly = look how happy you are, you are not complaining!