Comments on: The European Left still laments the West’s victory in the Cold War

By: Tim

Tim — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 07:42:31 +0000

Seamus Milne is an idiot. That much is clear, at least since his bizarre review of the book ‘Comrades’ about the history and fall of Communism, in which he grumbled that there should be some appraisal of the ‘good points’ of Soviet Communism and its ‘popularity’. And failed to present them: what a surprise!
There is a Polish saying ‘There’s no conservative like a successful revolutionary’ which sums up the paradox of the radicalism that became more reactionary once in power. Once you have taken power, are you really going to relinquish it to someone who had more of a right to it or had broader support?

By: David

David — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:00:32 +0000

I cannot help but think that the disillusionment with capitalism in many eastern European countries is less to do with capitalism itself and more to do with the fact that when they privatised their bloated state sector it was done so as to enrich the former communist party bosses, keeping the same corrupt elite in power and influence.

By: Lynne T

Lynne T — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:54:22 +0000

“If they interpret this year as the victory of the west they allow capitalism to continue to destroy humanity, the earth and eventually itself.”

Yeah, as if only wester capitalist economies harm the environment and exploit workers.

By: Bill Kupersmith

Bill Kupersmith — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:10:39 +0000

Amusingly, there was an “op-ed” piece commemorating the fall of the wall in the New York Times by none other than Slavoj Zizak, reputed to be the world’s number one intellectual, stating pretty much the same thing, that what eastern Europeans wanted was not capitalism, but “socialism with a human face.” I was reminded to the remark by George Orwell, that some things are so silly that “only an intellectual can believe them.”

By: peterthehungarian

peterthehungarian — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:50:56 +0000

As a unfortunate ex-citizen of one of these workers paradise I find it utterly immoral and disgusting that these fighters for social justice are working in their free societies enjoying its every advantage but preaching to hundreds of millions of people who lived and suffered in these bizarre and absurd societies.

Regarding Mr. Hegyi’s opus he conveniently forgot to mention in it that his party (MSZP) and its leaders are considered the most corrupt entity in Hungarian history, and their behavior and amazing impotence gave way to the success of the nationalist right.

By: AKUS

AKUS — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 05:10:24 +0000

It only gets worse - or funnier:
————
Ulrich Duchrow

Capitalism will implode

Our current system is doomed. But 1989 gives us hope at least that we have the power of self-liberation.
———–
Yes - and the world will come to an end in 2012, according to a new movie.

Which will come first?

By: AKUS

AKUS — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 04:22:55 +0000

Milne (and fellow-traveler Pilger) are, frankly, incredible - it is incredible that people like these can actually get published in what purports to be a respected newspaper. He is a throwback to a sort of 1930’s Trotskyite, endlessly mouthing his platitudes and his bizarre view of Western society (while cheerfully living there and accepting its rewards).

I think a significant number of CiF readers, if they read his columns at all, find him simply risible.

The greater question is why there are enough forces at work in the Guardian to continue posting his articles, which, in their fantasies, represent an world that has no bearing on reality - and, in fact, represent a sort of crazed fantastical alternative reality that exits only in his mind and those of a few who somehow share his opinions.