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As for me, I voted Yes. After all, while it might have been possible to economically reform the Soviet Union along the lines of what China did and to keep most of the Soviet Union together, I also think that it was a very good thing to have the various SSRs within the Soviet Union become independent and thus become able to determine their own destinies and future.
It was definitely a good thing. There was a lot of internal tension within the USSR between the Kremlin and the subject nations, which had distinct cultures that clashed with a lot of the Communist policies that were enforced upon them. The economy of the Soviet Union was also in utter shambles; it had been rough for several decades, but the instability was one of the reasons the country started to dissolve in the first place during the late 80s.
I had spent twenty years of my life prepared to fight a nuclear war with the USSR. I was very relieved for the young people that followed me in regard to that non-event.
I had spent twenty years of my life prepared to fight a nuclear war with the USSR. I was very relieved for the young people that followed me in regard to that non-event.
And for the young people on the other side, who endured the legacy of one of the foulest totalitarian regimes in history.
Thare was an ancient principle to rule the world: divide et impera. Rulers never wanted a united powerful enemy. They always wanted a weak conglomerate of small warrying ones. better off, set them against each other, then watch how they weaken so that you can step in with "humanitarian help" and World Bank type policies implemented.
That said, ever since USSR won WW2, the goal was to dismantle it and divide et impera it. Country that could have not been conquered in battle finally lost to cold war. The world went from bipolar one to unipolar one, where one country could do whatever it pleased, knowing well enough that there is no other force out there to stop it.
Was it good or bad - utterly depends on your opinion about that country.
But if you have any sense of decency, any ability to read between the lines of the official propaganda, any level of independent thinking, you will see how much deterioration to the world this brought.
Want exampkle? Go to Afghanistan and ask Afghans what were Russian militaries like. You might be surprised with answer "they brought schools and jobs". No, don't read what others say about Afghan. GO THERE and talk to people. Then come back and confirm or decline. But, at least, have your OWN opinion.
Thare was an ancient principle to rule the world: divide et impera. Rulers never wanted a united powerful enemy. They always wanted a weak conglomerate of small warrying ones. better off, set them against each other, then watch how they weaken so that you can step in with "humanitarian help" and World Bank type policies implemented.
That said, ever since USSR won WW2, the goal was to dismantle it and divide et impera it. Country that could have not been conquered in battle finally lost to cold war. The world went from bipolar one to unipolar one, where one country could do whatever it pleased, knowing well enough that there is no other force out there to stop it.
Was it good or bad - utterly depends on your opinion about that country.
But if you have any sense of decency, any ability to read between the lines of the official propaganda, any level of independent thinking, you will see how much deterioration to the world this brought.
Want exampkle? Go to Afghanistan and ask Afghans what were Russian militaries like. You might be surprised with answer "they brought schools and jobs". No, don't read what others say about Afghan. GO THERE and talk to people. Then come back and confirm or decline. But, at least, have your OWN opinion.
If it's all the same to you, I think I'll bypass Afghanistan. Just as Russia and America should have. Let them grow their poppies, brutalize their women, rape little boys, and murder each other.
And a tame Russia is a good Russia. Ask the Poles, the Czechs, the Hungarians, the Ukrainians, the Bosnians, the Croats, the Turks, the Greeks, the Bulgarians, the Romanians, the Slovaks, the Slovenes, and any Cubans or Vietnamese who are willing to tell the truth.
I selected "NO" because it will avoid North Korea doing any massive destructions today. North Korea once had good ties with Soviet Union back then, and people used to be better off with more food to eat.
The end of the Soviet Union brought freedom to millions of people who had spent most or all of their lives in slavery. Some of those countries aren't the most free today, but the people are 100x better off than they were before.
If anyone wishes to examine what freedom meant to those enslaved people during the hegemony of the Soviet Union, I suggest the following:
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