Hmm, that "old joke from the Soviet era" sounds like it was ripped off from two 1950s New England comedians named Marshall Dodge and Robert Bryan, who were classmates at Yale and did a series of records, starting with "Bert and I," that featured "Downeast" (i.e., traditional Maine) humor. Their classic bit on "Downeast Socialism" might sound familiar:
********** Eban Robay went into Boston to the Tremont Temple on Saturday night to hear Norman Thomas speak about socialism. Next Monday he was preaching socialism to Enoch Turner over the back fence:
“You know, Enoch,” he was sayin’, “under socialism people share everything.”
Enoch then asked, “You mean, Eban, if you had two farms you’d give me one of them?” “Ayup, Enoch, if I had two farms, I’d give you one of them.”
“And Eban, if you had two hay rakes you’d give me one of them?” “Ayup, Enoch, if I had two hay rakes I’d give you one of them.”
“Now Eban, if you had two hogs would you give me one of them?” “Darn you Enoch, you knows I got two hogs!”
**********
"Downeast Socialism" quoted at http://www.stlawu.edu/president/commence04.html
Carl