Russians, long oppressed by communism, seek a return to an honest and gentlemanly tradition: dueling:

The Russian Liberal Democratic party has drafted a bill allowing for official duels and detailing rules for such combat. The move comes after the head of the National Guard challenged an opposition figure to a fight over slander.

The motion, prepared and drafted by MP Sergey Ivanov states that a duel between Russian citizens should be possible – although it should by no means be deemed a normal way of settling scores.

“In recent times there is a tendency among civil servants to challenge citizens who express opinions that differ from the official point of view to duels. In order to systemize the main reasons of such challenges and the rules of actual duels we propose this bill,” the lawmaker wrote in the note attached with the draft.

The Russians are a different breed. I’m astounded that it’s the officials seeking to challenge the people. But it could easily go the other way – there. Here, there’s a reason our “leaders” are scared to death of such a prospect. It’s why they have routinely denied citizens the right to trial by combat. No, they’re headed in the opposite direction and taking us with them. Here’s a preview, from Venezuela, of what the future in America, with socialism for all and a “living wage,” will look like:

Nearly 40 percent of all Venezuelan stores have closed —some of them perhaps permanently —after the government of President Nicolas Maduro increased the minimum salary by nearly 3,500 percent in one fell swoop, according the National Council of Commerce and Services of Venezuela.

Many of the companies, which had been barely surviving the gradual collapse of the economy, saw the salary increase and other changes announced last month as the fatal blow in a series of policies that have been gradually strangling their businesses.

“These decisions are leading many business people to say, ‘No, I can’t do it any more,'” said Maria Carolina Uzcategui, president of the council.

The problem is that Venezuelan companies are being forced to sell at prices far below cost just as employee salaries are increasing 60 times, Uzcategui said.

What’s more, the regime has banned stores from increasing their prices to cover the salary increases, arguing that it is not necessary.

That’s literally a page from Atlas Shrugged. And it’s a page, a popular one, in the American socialist playbook.

If you’re young and love the West, consider the East.