It wasn't a laugh about Soviet Union specifically; rather a warning where one might end up. I would say modern Russia is far more like Pluk (planet in the movi

It wasn't a laugh about Soviet Union specifically; rather a warning where one might end up. I would say modern Russia is far more like Pluk (planet in the movie) than Soviet Union was - so that's where we actually got. Planet Alpha near the end of the movie is another laugh at imaginary Socialist paradise - a planet with ideal ecology and society, where you have to wear a gas mask when your breath doesn't qualify. Also, decisions by wise post-human elders can't be overriden.