I want to believe.

  • star_wraith [he/him]
    ·
    edit-2
    4 years ago

    If Andropov lived we very likely have seen the USSR survive (and thrive) into the present day.

    And another one, I think Marcus Aurelius choosing his idiot son Commodus to succeed him was one of those moments too. Before then emperors just found someone really competent and "adopted" him to become the next emperor (like if Bernie adopted AOC or something). That decision set off a new precedent of just letting your bio kid be emperor, now matter how incompetent they were.

    • PermaculturalMarxist [they/them]
      ·
      4 years ago

      If Andropov lived we very likely have seen the USSR survive (and thrive) into the present day.

      How so? I don't know much USSR history so I'm curious to know, especially since I hear a lot of people give geopolitical and economic reasons for the collapse that seem hard for one person to overcome.

      • star_wraith [he/him]
        ·
        edit-2
        4 years ago

        Short answer, Andropov had a plan to root out corruption and to make very necessary reforms to the economy. He died and Gorby came in and left the corruption alone while not pursuing "good" economic reform. Gorby basically just pushed the "self-destruct" button on the Soviet economy.

        • PermaculturalMarxist [they/them]
          ·
          4 years ago

          I see, and I take it that even if one believes the USSR was facing impending collapse or at least liberalisation, Gorbachev definitely accelerated the process it seems

            • PermaculturalMarxist [they/them]
              ·
              4 years ago

              Of course, it's hard taking it upon ourselves to catch up on a history education that is actually critical and free of liberal idealism. Thanks, and each one teach one!