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Sorry, you keep repeating that linking strikes in 1980, but the freedom came 10 years later (after Soviet union collapse). Those protests gave us (I mean as a c

Sorry, you keep repeating that linking strikes in 1980, but the freedom came 10 years later (after Soviet union collapse). Those protests gave us (I mean as a consequence, not to say they were not justified) martial law and so called "lost decade". Miserable time. I also hope for a big change in Russia after some revolution, but it is not that simple under a strict dictatorship.

jacquesm 5y ago
Yes, it took a years, so what? Poland showed the way for all of the USSR satellite states and was instrumental in the collapse of the union. I know that America likes to take credit for this through their financing and support of Afghanistan during the Russian-Afghan war but I am pretty sure that that does not properly credit all of the players. The protests gave you martial law and the lost decade, but they also gave you the foundation of what came after: the best performing ex sovbloc country. I'm sure proximity to Germany helped here, a lot of money got dumped into Poland but at the same time Poland worked extremely hard to get where it is today. And without those protests all that might have never happened, or it might have happened much later. > I also hope for a big change in Russia after some revolution, but it is not that simple under a strict dictatorship. This is true, and Russia has far bigger problems than Poland had, in spite of being plundered for decades. I'm under no illusion that such a process would be either quick or easy.
- netsharc 5y ago
  I'm reminded of reddit saying they're going to shut down the USA with protest if Trump fired Mueller. Easy to say "You all should do X!", but even in the US people said "well if I skip work to protest I'll lose my job.". Telling others they should endure a decade of pain... Hah, would you do the same, in their position? (I guess the keyboard warriors will say yes...)
  - jacquesm 5y ago
    If this is the first tough and principled choice you have to make in your life then I can imagine it is hard. I've worked hard to put together a life that is worth living, but if it comes to Russia calling the shots here then I'm prepared to give that all up. You don't have to believe me.

jacquesm 5y ago

Yes, it took a years, so what? Poland showed the way for all of the USSR satellite states and was instrumental in the collapse of the union. I know that America likes to take credit for this through their financing and support of Afghanistan during the Russian-Afghan war but I am pretty sure that that does not properly credit all of the players. The protests gave you martial law and the lost decade, but they also gave you the foundation of what came after: the best performing ex sovbloc country. I'm sure proximity to Germany helped here, a lot of money got dumped into Poland but at the same time Poland worked extremely hard to get where it is today. And without those protests all that might have never happened, or it might have happened much later. > I also hope for a big change in Russia after some revolution, but it is not that simple under a strict dictatorship. This is true, and Russia has far bigger problems than Poland had, in spite of being plundered for decades. I'm under no illusion that such a process would be either quick or easy.

netsharc 5y ago
I'm reminded of reddit saying they're going to shut down the USA with protest if Trump fired Mueller. Easy to say "You all should do X!", but even in the US people said "well if I skip work to protest I'll lose my job.". Telling others they should endure a decade of pain... Hah, would you do the same, in their position? (I guess the keyboard warriors will say yes...)
- jacquesm 5y ago
  If this is the first tough and principled choice you have to make in your life then I can imagine it is hard. I've worked hard to put together a life that is worth living, but if it comes to Russia calling the shots here then I'm prepared to give that all up. You don't have to believe me.