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> Why waste time with Jazz and jeans? Much more efficient to be reading didactics or working in a factory. Considering the level of social infrastructure in th
by kunai 5y ago
> Why waste time with Jazz and jeans? Much more efficient to be reading didactics or working in a factory.
Considering the level of social infrastructure in the former DDR exceeded that in the BRD at the time of reunification, they might have had a point there. More public hospitals, more research facilities, better public transportation, more affordable housing. Sure, none of it had the flashy elements of Western capitalism, but it mostly worked.
Note that I'm not endorsing the Stasi or the many other things the DDR did to keep its population oppressed. But real life is full of grey areas.
- erulabs 5y agoOh absolutely and I hope my tone captured that it’s not clear if the bets work out. Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Vienna spending all its economic output on art and science sure didn’t help against a country who spent its entire output on tanks. The Soviet space program comes to mind as well - the state can do plenty!