There is a sense that a degree of "positive liberty" was provided for in the Soviet Union in terms of basic necessities, although that was dependent on political approval.

It must be noted, for example, that the economy of the Soviet Union still hasn't recovered. The best period was actually during Gorbachev. But you won't find either the pro-capitalists or the pro-Stalinists admitting that.

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Soviet_Union_GDP_per_capita.gif