Eastern Europe 20 Years Later

[Ed Hudgins]

Eastern Europe 20 Years Later
by Edward Hudgins

December 24, 2009—The December of 1989 marked the end of one of the most extraordinary six months of the century. Over that short period of time all of the communist-run dictatorships in Eastern Europe collapsed as the people of those countries sought freedom. The execution of the Romanian tyrant Nicolae Ceauşescu on Christmas Day of that year brought the revolutions to an end with a bang.

An ideologically and economically exhausted Soviet Union stood by and did not do what it had done so many times in the past: send in tanks to crush these rebellions. That country's Communist Party boss, Mikhail Gorbachev, was trying to stave off the collapse of his own regime through policies of glasnost (openness) and perestroika (economic and political reform). In the end, communism in Russia and its empire would fall as well.

Delegation for freedom

In December 1989 a delegation from the Heritage Foundation, of which I was a part, was able to hold the first conference on free market reforms behind the then-crumbling Iron Curtain. We were invited to hold the event in Estonia. That country had been conquered by and incorporated into the Soviet Union in World War II but, encouraged by the events in Eastern Europe, it was now seeking its own independence.

On the way to the Estonian capital of Tallinn, a colleague and I stopped in Moscow to meet with academics and others who were promoting reform. They told us that they had heard the words of Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher, who didn't worry about offending Soviet leaders but, rather, described the communist regimes as evil and offered hope to the peoples under Red repression that one day they might be free. Ironically, dissident scientist Andrei Sakharov died while we were in Moscow, awakening in those who favored freedom a renewed commitment to the vision of liberty he had championed.

Flammable water

We also found the economy in shambles. The stores were virtually empty, worse than the not-very-good conditions I had found on a visit in 1981. Flying into Tallinn, we noticed a half-dozen passenger aircraft (roughly the size of Boeing 727s) sitting out in the open, beside the airport runways, covered with snow. Western airlines generally fly their planes for twelve to eighteen hours a day and do maintenance at night. Yet here were pieces of capital equipment worth tens of millions of dollars, unused except perhaps as sources for spare parts. It was a metaphor for the economy.

In Estonia the economic situation was the same as in Russia. An interesting incident highlighted the nature of the Soviet system. In conversation, one of our hosts mentioned the problem with flammable water. "Water? Are you using the right English word?" He explained that pilots at the Soviet air bases in the region would get their bonuses based on flying all their training missions. One way inspectors determined whether they had done so was by seeing whether the fuel tanks were empty. Thus for decades military personnel would simply dump excess fuel into the ground—and thus into the water table—in order to ensure they received maximum pay. We explained that when no one can own property, there is no one responsible who has an incentive to protect it, backed by the power of law.

Moral foundations

At the conference most of the talk was about how to change from socialism to a free market economy. But some of us also explained that free markets require a moral foundation, a belief in the rights of individuals to their own lives, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. It was the collectivist premise at the basis of socialism that ultimately needed to be vanquished.

In a central square in Tallinn we also saw something that had not been seen there for decades: a Christmas tree. Encouraged by the events in the rest of Eastern Europe, the people of Estonia were exercising their freedom and expressing their hope for a freer and better future.

In the two decades since the fall of communism, some countries—the now independent Estonia, the Czech Republic—have done relatively well while others have had a more difficult time implementing free market systems. This is because the success of markets is based on a widespread acceptance of the underlying morality of individualism.

It is ironic that this morality has been eroding in the West and in America, resulting in moves in the direction of the systems that ended up on the ash-heap of history in Eastern Europe. Thus, as the people of Eastern Europe reflect on their progress and future two decades after they gained their freedom, we should reflect as well, lest we give away ours.

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Hudgins directs advocacy and is a senior scholar for The Atlas Society, the center for Objectivism in Washington, D.C.

[Chris Grieb]

Ed; Your essay reminded us that that in the last 20 years there has been some progress.

Has the flammable water problem been solved?

[Alfonso Jones]

Eastern Europe 20 Years Later

by Edward Hudgins

(snip)

In the two decades since the fall of communism, some countries—the now independent Estonia, the Czech Republic—have done relatively well while others have had a more difficult time implementing free market systems. This is because the success of markets is based on a widespread acceptance of the underlying morality of individualism.

It is ironic that this morality has been eroding in the West and in America, resulting in moves in the direction of the systems that ended up on the ash-heap of history in Eastern Europe. Thus, as the people of Eastern Europe reflect on their progress and future two decades after they gained their freedom, we should reflect as well, lest we give away ours.

(snip)

An excellent essay, as we have learned is your norm, Ed.

If someone had written the events of the crumbling of the fall of the Soviet Empire as fiction, it would have doubtless been treated as fantasy. And yet it happened.

Meanwhile, in the USA, we are squandering our freedom for the "privilege" of having a nanny state look after us.

Bill P

[anonrobt]

Eastern Europe 20 Years Later

by Edward Hudgins

(snip)

In the two decades since the fall of communism, some countries—the now independent Estonia, the Czech Republic—have done relatively well while others have had a more difficult time implementing free market systems. This is because the success of markets is based on a widespread acceptance of the underlying morality of individualism.

It is ironic that this morality has been eroding in the West and in America, resulting in moves in the direction of the systems that ended up on the ash-heap of history in Eastern Europe. Thus, as the people of Eastern Europe reflect on their progress and future two decades after they gained their freedom, we should reflect as well, lest we give away ours.

(snip)

An excellent essay, as we have learned is your norm, Ed.

If someone had written the events of the crumbling of the fall of the Soviet Empire as fiction, it would have doubtless been treated as fantasy. And yet it happened.

Meanwhile, in the USA, we are squandering our freedom for the "privilege" of having a nanny state look after us.

Bill P

Some are, not me...

[Alfonso Jones]

An excellent essay, as we have learned is your norm, Ed.

If someone had written the events of the crumbling of the fall of the Soviet Empire as fiction, it would have doubtless been treated as fantasy. And yet it happened.

Meanwhile, in the USA, we are squandering our freedom for the "privilege" of having a nanny state look after us.

Bill P

Some are, not me...

Check the news, and what those who would purport to represent us in Washington, D. C. are doing.

For many of us it is not our choice, but it is being done... My hope is that by the time the populace throws out the thugs (2010?) it will not be so late that it takes decades to correct what has been done.

Bill P

[BaalChatzaf]

For many of us it is not our choice, but it is being done... My hope is that by the time the populace throws out the thugs (2010?) it will not be so late that it takes decades to correct what has been done.

Bill P

The pinko-stinko-lefty-freakos hope that Govcare/Obamacare/Kennedycare will become a fixture of policy like Social Security (so-called) and will never be repealed. If it is allowed to stay in, that is exactly what will happen. The liberal-pinko-stinko-lefty-freakos will win by default. Only a total breakdown of the system will put an end to it.

We have just taken the same steps that Britain took immediately following WWII. A 65 year lag. How long will it be before we get our Margret Thatcher?

I weep for the Republic.

Ba'al Chatzaf

[Alfonso Jones]

For many of us it is not our choice, but it is being done... My hope is that by the time the populace throws out the thugs (2010?) it will not be so late that it takes decades to correct what has been done.

Bill P

The pinko-stinko-lefty-freakos hope that Govcare/Obamacare/Kennedycare will become a fixture of policy like Social Security (so-called) and will never be repealed. If it is allowed to stay in, that is exactly what will happen. The liberal-pinko-stinko-lefty-freakos will win by default. Only a total breakdown of the system will put an end to it.

We have just taken the same steps that Britain took immediately following WWII. A 65 year lag. How long will it be before we get our Margret Thatcher?

I weep for the Republic.

Ba'al Chatzaf

Agreed. I am particularly concerned by the requirements being imposted (by a 60 - 39 vote!) of a super-majority of 67-33 or better to overturn some portions of the Health Care bill.

They're doing their best to make the entanglement permanent.

Bill P

[Ed Hudgins]

Me in Moscow in December 1989.

[Alfonso Jones]

Comrade Edski!!!

Bill P

[Ed Hudgins]

Comrade Edski!!!

Bill P

Spaseba Conrade Billski!

[Mikee]

"They're doing their best to make the entanglement permanent."

It's working too. My whole life I've been watching this ratchet action of creating dependencies on "entitlements" that are impossible to reverse. I can't think of any way the American Disability Act could ever be reversed by Congress or by popular vote, let alone social security or Medicare. It is easy to demonstrate the harm of the minimum wage but it is sacrosanct. Liberal politics thrives on misery and seems intent on increasing misery as much as possible. I've long since given up the idea that they mean well but don't know what they're doing. They do not mean well, they want power and have figured out how to get it. I understand Thomas Sowell's desire to be dead before all of this plays out. Unfortunately I'm more than a decade younger than Thomas Sowell. I wish people in general were much smarter than they appear to be.

[Selene]

Gentlemen:

I hate to keep bringing this up, but the best methods are, and always have been been, amending the Constitution.

Arduous process, but with the fertile ground that has been laid and by the nests of gate keepers that we have built over the last four to five decades between libertarians, Randians, home schoolers, yes, even the religious right and Reagan democrats like the dreaded Catholics, we would have a real shot.

The money and the technology exist.

Aristotle stated, and I completely agree, that if you have the will and the power, the deed is done.

We have the power [minds, money and dedicated numbers].

We do not have the movement will for the libertarians to lay down with the Rand lambs and together with the real lambs of the Christian right conservatives.

Adam

[Mikee]

Gentlemen:

I hate to keep bringing this up, but the best methods are, and always have been been, amending the Constitution.

Arduous process, but with the fertile ground that has been laid and by the nests of gate keepers that we have built over the last four to five decades between libertarians, Randians, home schoolers, yes, even the religious right and Reagan democrats like the dreaded Catholics, we would have a real shot.

The money and the technology exist.

Aristotle stated, and I completely agree, that if you have the will and the power, the deed is done.

We have the power [minds, money and dedicated numbers].

We do not have the movement will for the libertarians to lay down with the Rand lambs and together with the real lambs of the Christian right conservatives.

Adam

Adam:

I think you're sounding a little like Galtgulch. But I like your optimism. I agree that amending the constitution is the remedy. I've asked the question before about opinions on what a Objectivist constitution would look like.

My guess is that when our economy gets truly disabled there will be major trouble. Riots, general havoc. I envision martial law. Then my most optimistic scenario is our own military imposes a reset on our constitution back to the original intent with some clear provisions about keeping it there. I believe our military officers as a whole have a much, much higher regard for our constitution as originally framed than any other group in government.

[Selene]

Gentlemen:

I hate to keep bringing this up, but the best methods are, and always have been been, amending the Constitution.

Arduous process, but with the fertile ground that has been laid and by the nests of gate keepers that we have built over the last four to five decades between libertarians, Randians, home schoolers, yes, even the religious right and Reagan democrats like the dreaded Catholics, we would have a real shot.

The money and the technology exist.

Aristotle stated, and I completely agree, that if you have the will and the power, the deed is done.

We have the power [minds, money and dedicated numbers].

We do not have the movement will for the libertarians to lay down with the Rand lambs and together with the real lambs of the Christian right conservatives.

Adam

Adam:

I think you're sounding a little like Galtgulch. But I like your optimism. I agree that amending the constitution is the remedy. I've asked the question before about opinions on what a Objectivist constitution would look like.

My guess is that when our economy gets truly disabled there will be major trouble. Riots, general havoc. I envision martial law. Then my most optimistic scenario is our own military imposes a reset on our constitution back to the original intent with some clear provisions about keeping it there. I believe our military officers as a whole have a much, much higher regard for our constitution as originally framed than any other group in government.

Mikee:

Lol. I have been in politics for 5 decades - Gulch has been talking about politics for about 1 and half years. I worked in politics for money as the field coordinator for various campaigns.

I do agree with you about the military and the Constitution.

Adam