Show WHAT A difference in the soviet union that wonderful workers paradise only those who are tired of living criticize the government and its major policies however the rulers in the kremlin allow and to an extent encourage criticism of individual factories and stores and the goods they sell this probably serves a dual purpose it gives the citizens a chance to blow off a little harmless steam and it also keeps the managers and employed emp loyes of the various government monopolies in a state of suspense in any event these criticisms are often printed in the russian papers they always follow the same line comrade A bought a sewing machine and found it run because a part was missing and he be obtain it comrade B went into a store to buy an overcoat but the clerk sell it to him unless he also bought a pair of pants he want it seems the pants were of such bad quality that this was the only way they could be moved off the shelves comrade Cs latest ration of cigarettes contained next to no tobacco and came apart when he tried to smoke them so it goes down a long list of sad complaints in russia the factories and the stores are either owned by the state or run by the state and in either case the result to the consumer is the same its strictly a take it or leave it proposition which is only possible in an econom economy y which has rid itself of such bothersome factors as competition contrast that with america where the chain stores and the independent stores the big stores and the little stores are all looking for more business and are scratching their heads to find new ways to attract the consumer oon sumer if a man like one stores stocks or service or prices or anything else he just moves on down the street taking his money with him hes a free agent free to pick and choose as much as he likes It Iti looks as if there is something to be said for competitive free enterprise after all |