Show Wild inclinations towards freedom Mark Hewitt News Editor For months news images have flashed across our television screens carrying the hopeful faces of citizens from communist countries crying for independence There have been demonstrating students in China striking workers in Poland and disgruntled disgruntled disgruntled dis dis- dis- dis Soviet nationals Freedom seems to be on the lips of communists communists communists com com- everywhere But should we be surprised It has not been the glowing success of Capitalism that makes their mouths water God knows weve we've got problems of our own Nor can it be bethe bethe bethe the jingle of the cash in our pockets As the greatest debtor in the world the US U.S. can hardly be proud about waving its financial statements around It can an only be the freedom it itself itself itself it- it self that entices these increasingly large numbers of protestors And just how did they hear about it Isn't the Iron Curtain supposed to tobe tobe tobe be From whence came these wild inclinations about free press free enterprise and free thought The answer is obvious and it will continue to change the plight of the politically bound until theres there's nary an autocratic oligarchy to be found on planet Earth The answer of course is technology As the Soviet Union has learned through lean years of tight-belted tight global independence a country any country must take advantage of any and all available technology to keep abreast of world economics It is a difficult difficult difficult dif dif- dif dif- situation for such countries because because because be be- cause by the nature of their tight they avoid mass communication communication communication com com- technologies Thus they are left in a catch 22 Avoid the technology technology technology tech tech- and maintain security and in so doing suffer economically or use the technology and prosper but introduce introduce introduce in in- your people to a a brave new world Tough choice But not that tough doesn't intend to lie in the bed that Stalin made a half century ago He cannot The Soviet Union according to the overwhelming majority of economists is already floundering upon a black sea of economic depres depres- sion Without the reforms he has made the Soviet Union would have collapsed in twenty years the crafty Slav that he is has also boosted his charisma particularly among Westerners with the promise of greater freedom for his subjects subjects-I I mean citizens What must be realized however is that he can either grant his people more freedom now or h have ve it taken possibly by force down the road Economically politically and socially socially socially so so- communism is changing It is changing out of necessity New technologies technologies technologies tech tech- will ensure that there will be bea a day without dirty little dark corners on our planet where dirty little people can do dirty little things Communism will continue to change What is happening in the great communist countries now is not revolution it is evolution They have evolved as we have and as dominant world powers we will continue continue continue con con- to evolve together |