[threadbear]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('eastbay', 'I') used to be a communist. And a Darn good one at that! Travelled the world learning all about it. It was a very interesting way to spend my youth.

Now I'm only a communist sympathizer because, my heart is still with this ideal, I have to buckle down and do my part getting our family ready for the Big Disaster. And that will take a different kind of knowledge and a whole lot of money. Too bad.

Now, again I ask, where's my title?? I earned it and deserve it. I will respectfully settle for 'pinko' if there's a problem with the term, 'communist.'

[Plantagenet]

Cuba and North Korea are the last two countries with fully socialist economies. North Korea is a giant prison camp where millions have died from famine because of misrule by the communists, while Cuba went from the being richest to the second poorest country in Latin America after only 50 years of communist incompetence.

Castro is going to die soon. IMHO, either Cuba will stuff Castro and preserve him under glass like Mao and Lenin as a symbol of their unending devotion to communism, or they will bury him and then Cuba will quickly liberalize their economy and become more capitalist soon after the aged dictator of Cuba goes to Marxist heaven.

[eastbay]

threadbear,

Yup. Spent awhile studying and working in Cuba in the mid 80's. On their dime, but I certainly worked it off while there. It was great! I have the best of wishes for other countries following their wonderful and altruistic example.

The Soviet Union in the 80's was just fine too. It was poor, as before the revolution and after the recent change, but during the time I was studying there everyone was really nice and friendly. Better in most ways from Russia today. It wasn't scary at all. In fact, the streets were safe from thugs and crime was very low. We went out at all hours and had no problems of any kind. Low crime meant few cops. Almost free and safe mass transit was nice too. I can understand why so many are nostalgic about those times. I am too.

[PenultimateManStanding]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('eastbay', ' ')I can understand why so many are nostalgic about those times. I am too.

[Plantagenet]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('eastbay', ' ')I can understand why so many are nostalgic about those times. I am too.

[threadbear]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('PenultimateManStanding', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('eastbay', ' ')I can understand why so many are nostalgic about those times. I am too.

[EnergyUnlimited]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('threadbear', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('PenultimateManStanding', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('eastbay', ' ')I can understand why so many are nostalgic about those times. I am too.

[eastbay]

Most people in US jails are there due to crimes related to poverty and hopelessness. Never before in human history has a nation or people placed so many behind bars as the USA has.

In the USSR the gulags were for criminals. Books suggesting otherwise are pure fiction and ridiculous imperialist propaganda.

Many Russian people are clearly nostalgic for a return to the safety, stability, and security of the Soviet era. In other former Soviet republics it's much the same. The recent capitalist experiment has brought mostly sadness and suffering to most. The experiment will be temporary.

[Bas]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('eastbay', 'M')ost people in US jails are there due to crimes related to poverty and hopelessness. Never before in human history has a nation or people placed so many behind bars as the USA has.

In the USSR the gulags were for criminals. Books suggesting otherwise are pure fiction and ridiculous imperialist propaganda.

Many Russian people are clearly nostalgic for a return to the safety, stability, and security of the Soviet era. In other former Soviet republics it's much the same. The recent capitalist experiment has brought mostly sadness and suffering to most. The experiment will be temporary.

[Specop_007]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('eastbay', 'M')ost people in US jails are there due to crimes related to poverty and hopelessness. Never before in human history has a nation or people placed so many behind bars as the USA has.

In the USSR the gulags were for criminals. Books suggesting otherwise are pure fiction and ridiculous imperialist propaganda.

Many Russian people are clearly nostalgic for a return to the safety, stability, and security of the Soviet era. In other former Soviet republics it's much the same. The recent capitalist experiment has brought mostly sadness and suffering to most. The experiment will be temporary.

[EnergyUnlimited]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Shannymara', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('EnergyUnlimited', '2')% of population in prison suggest that police and justice system are working efficiently and crooks are removed from large community. No doubt there are minor imperfections (say blacks are getting longer sentences then comparable white offenders), but overall system is working fine.

[Plantagenet]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('eastbay', 'I')n the USSR the gulags were for criminals. Books suggesting otherwise are pure fiction and ridiculous imperialist propaganda..

[Fredrik]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('eastbay', 'I')n the USSR the gulags were for criminals. Books suggesting otherwise are pure fiction and ridiculous imperialist propaganda.

[threadbear]

Alexander Solzhenitzyn immigrated to the U.S, lived there for a few years, and then moved back to the USSR.

If one wants to read about the horrors of the American judicial system, just read up on a system where the poor are forced to plea bargain because they can't afford legal representation. Plea bargaining can reduce a sentence, as it speeds the case along, reducing tremendous pressure on the system.

It's a benefit for those who actually are guilty of the crime they are charged with. The trouble is the thousands, I would venture to say millions, who are actually innocent, have to plead guilty-- and who are then gang raped in prison and stigmatized as felons for the rest of their lives.

Most middle class white Americans are entirely ignorant of the system that is imposed on the lower classes, through economic apartheid. The American system is built for speed, efficiency and profit. True guilt or innocence are secondary issues.

In my mind, it's not a question of whether fascism is coming to the US., the question is when it's going to hit the middle class, the latest victims of economic Apartheid.

[eastbay]

In the US 1% of the population is in jail. The USSR never came close to that. In fact, I doubt if any country ever has.

The gulags, yes, one persons 'criminal' may be another persons's 'freedom fighter' or 'reactionary', or 'terrorist', for that matter.

I suppose the lesson we all learn is to be careful screwing with whatever takes power as the destruction kicks in.

[eastbay]

.... oh, and Gitmo is filled with 'dissidents' and 'freedom fighters'. So please don't cry about the 'gulags'.

[Plantagenet]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('eastbay', '.')...please don't cry about the 'gulags'.

[EnergyUnlimited]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('eastbay', 'I')n the US 1% of the population is in jail. The USSR never came close to that. In fact, I doubt if any country ever has.

[smiley]

For me it is absolutely clear that the horrors of the Gulags are incomparable to anything going on in the west. I mean your talking about someone who built a prison camp in the shape of a skull. Gitmo is a holiday camp compared to that. Climatewise certainly.

Does that mean communism is bad? I don't know. The Russians are busy turning their newfound capitalism into a system which is just as rotten and corrupt as the communist one. Capitalism and democracy are certainly not doing for them what it did for us.

The way I see it we're just a bunch of primates pretending to be civilised. In the end we're just running after the super-alfa-male, regardless of the political system he represents.

Perhaps we in the west, just have made slightly better choices in who to follow than our eastern neighbours.

[threadbear]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('smiley', 'F')or me it is absolutely clear that the horrors of the Gulags are incomparable to anything going on in the west. I mean your talking about someone who built a prison camp in the shape of a skull. Gitmo is a holiday camp compared to that. Climatewise certainly.

Does that mean communism is bad? I don't know. The Russians are busy turning their newfound capitalism into a system which is just as rotten and corrupt as the communist one. Capitalism and democracy are certainly not doing for them what it did for us.

The way I see it we're just a bunch of primates pretending to be civilised. In the end we're just running after the super-alfa-male, regardless of the political system he represents.

Perhaps we in the west, just have made slightly better choices in who to follow than our eastern neighbours.