Actually, that's one idea the Soviets did have right (on paper, at least). Gorbachov was actually a farmer by trade (though I doubt he did much farming while actually in government).

Alberta kind of does that to its mayors, by underpaying them severely - they kind of have to keep their regular jobs (yep, usually either farming or lawyering), because outside of the biggest cities, their salaries are a joke. (seriously, they don't make much more than your average experienced burger-flipper. And I might be overestimating here.)

Actually, that's one idea the Soviets did have right (on paper, at least). Gorbachov was actually a farmer by trade (though I doubt he did much farming while actually in government).

Alberta kind of does that to its mayors, by underpaying them severely - they kind of have to keep their regular jobs (yep, usually either farming or lawyering), because outside of the biggest cities, their salaries are a joke. (seriously, they don't make much more than your average experienced burger-flipper. And I might be overestimating here.)