Quote Originally Posted by Юрка View Post
Нам надо перестать считать своих предков дураками. Пусть будет царь-батюшка, как отправная точка. Далее нужна эволюция, постепенное улучшение, десятилетия эволюции.
И пора обратить внимание на нижний уровень управления. Все почему-то смотрят на царя. Тем временем управление и существование коллективов на уровне компаний - это мрак и ужас. И никто кроме отмороженных философов не думает об этом. Я считаю, что самое эффективное предприятие - это индивидуальное предприятие. И всё благодаря тому, что там диктатура (что один решил, то и будет), а не демократия.

I still think everything he said was technically correct. There is no denying that he was right in his observations.
The problem is implementing it, and keeping it working. But that's another thread....

As for the USSR - there was a level of democracy, as far as I recall, from learning about the governing of the major powers of the time, in school.
Plus - there were ways and means for people to promote ideas and change some things, wasn't there?

My point is that in terms of an working class individual's opportunity to influence his everyday life, he's not necessarily better off in a so-called democracy.
And if you are some kind of elite in any society, you can use your money and connection to change things.

If you compare the situation of a waitress or factory worker in the USSR versus the USA at the time, I don't necessarily think the USSR worker had less opportunities to influence things. Of course, I really wouldn't know since I have no experience of either. But I don't perceive there as having been no people power at all in the USSR.

In many European countries in earlier days - workers had a lot of influence on society through the unions. But nowadays you rarely hear of the unions.
When I went to university there was even mandatory membership in the student union, and I got involved in some political initiatives of interest to students. We took a stand on various issues and as large union backed groups we were able to get our messages heard.