The DDR also had softcore movies late at night in the hope of increasing the birth rate. I haven't heard that the USSR had gone to that length. The state inst

The DDR also had softcore movies late at night in the hope of increasing the birth rate. I haven't heard that the USSR had gone to that length. The state institutions were indeed revolutionary, especially compared to the BRD which was (& is) much more regressive when it came to equality (e.g. half school days weds and sat meant women couldn't hold down full time jobs). Unfortunately, as they were indeed also propaganda vehicles, that system was tossed out along with everything else. Not everything in the DDR was a terrible idea, only almost everything. I can't really criticise the way unification was achieved (it was a big rush that hadn't been planned for) but it's OK to look back and consider what could still be learnt.