It is perfectly fair to say that 1st-world countries ought to act morally and generously on a finite planet, and held to that standard because of their privileg

It is perfectly fair to say that 1st-world countries ought to act morally and generously on a finite planet, and held to that standard because of their privileged technology and affluence. For some reason your values distorts that fairness into some perceived impossible thing that the West cannot afford to do. You are free to believe that, I believe it is small and narrow-minded, a legacy of racist jingoism. As for the Soviet Union, sure, they were probably acting imperialist too (just as China treats HK, Taiwan, and its neighboring territories today, etc.), but that does not excuse the West's treatment toward their eastern neighbor(s). No amount of wikipedia reading will fix such simple prejudices. Also, I'm getting old and I do not tolerate basic college-level logical failures to reason, using those various ad hominems in your comment.