May 16, 2010

Just an afterthought to to my democracy versus dictatorship 'doctoral thesis'.

Hungary, where I came from changed from the Russian dominated rule to a democratic system after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

In 1989 they established a democratically elected government, re-wrote the constitution, introduced civil liberties and started their economic decline.

Today, they have a capitalistic, yet democratic system. Corruption in every level of life matches any South American or Third World country.

There is an upper class and a very large lower/poor class. There is no middle class. There is a 10.8% unemployment that will not get any better. There is crime and there is a poor excuse for police.

At one time foreign companies loved the place, now they are closing up shops one after another because of the political climate and the economical situation there.

There is a very strong anti Israel and antisemitic sentiment all over the country as well as other racial problems.

Neo-nazi movements are tolerated and at the recent parliamentary elections an openly neo-nazi party obtained the third largest number of votes.

Hungary changed its political system in 1989 but wanted to get to the same level of capitalism as the US is in a very short time. In the US it took two hundred years to get to where it is now.

Hungary wanted to do it in a month. The same situation prevails in most of the former Eastern Block countries.

First of all, all the 'brotherly love' that prevailed while the Soviets ruled went out the window. Now they all openly hate each other. Look at the former Yugoslavia. Look at the former Soviet Republics.

Some of these countries ran into the arms of NATO and the European Union to show how trustworthy they are. Even though the general population was against such moves the then current governments thought that by belonging they would be protected against Russia.

Now, they are all turning towards Russia again because Russia controls their oil and natural gas supplies and Russia still is a major commercial partner.

But even in Russia itself people are not that convinced that the old regime was not better than the current system.

The only party that is happy with the way things are is the United States. But the US always supported governments that were not altogether in the clean side of law as long as it was profitable for them and they could maintain a presence there.

But at the first sign of trouble they will turn their backs and walk away. In 1956, during the Hungarian Revolution I heard on Radio Free Europe the announcement from the Americans that keep fighting, hold on we are coming!

They never did, they never intended to.

So I ask again, which system is better?

I forgot to add to the positive side of democracy, everybody can have a passport and are free to travel. If they can afford it.