Thread: Russia: old system - new system

IMHO.... they just didn't know what was coming and everyone got swept away... It happened too fast. Nobody had time to think things through.

In 1991, hardly anyone in Eastern Europe knew how capitalism worked and there were plenty of people and organisations that were just waiting for an opportunity to take advantage of that. First Western Europeans, then Americans, then local people. Outside of the USSR, I think many Eastern Europeans imagined that if communism was gone, then they'd soon be rich and their daily problems would be gone. 20 years later they have not caught up and Western capitalism is in crisis.

I realise that I am out of my depth commenting on this..... but I think it might have been better (for the majority) to continue with Gorbatjov's reforms at a reasonable pace. Allow people to get used to market pricing and democracy before introducing big changes. Sell off property that needed to be sold in a controlled manner, after first establishing what the actual value was. Maybe have referendums about which republics wanted to stay in the USSR, or leave. Some of the USSR republics had economies that could not viably function in separation. Allow people to leave the country who didn't want to wait for gradual reforms.

But of course - it's easy to be wise in hindsight! And what I think is irrelevant. What would have been relevant would have been what the people directly affected thought, and what they wanted... But there was no tradition in the USSR of consulting the people. Maybe there was no really good solution.
At least it was a revolution in which hardly anyone got killed.

The comments from this film (Die Stille Nach dem Schuss) about that period are pretty good - just the first bit .YouTube

Well if the capitalism thing is not working out for them. Apparently was great before (in USSR times). Maybe they should consider dropping capitalism elements and go back to a collective arrangment. Each to his own capability an such, workers paradise etc. Also it would be nice if China would do the same. Everybody wins then. East is in paradise...West in paradise. After all you dont want to subject your children to the grim realities of capitalism right. You should "DO IT" for your children. A new revolution throw those capitalist out.

The people's will was ignored which violated Soviet (and probably any other) Constitution.

Even more of a reason. They need to be rescued. What are you waiting for?