What if...?

[EMS]

Do you think the USSR would have been a lot stronger economically and politcally if it focused more on farming, and consumer goods rather than weapons of war(in my opinion this showed that the people no longer controlled the nation). I believe that unprovoked war after the revolution is not in the interests of the people and the USSR would have been a lot more powerful if it didnt focus on war. Socialism isnt about walling yourself in, its about reaching out to others.

[NovelGentry]

Are we talking before or after WWII, had they not done anything to industrialize and then militarize BEFORE WWII they would have been crushed by Germany. After is interesting, because you wonder how strong nations such as Cuba would have been without their support.

[EMS]

Im talking about after WWII, how would the USSR have been different if they focused less on a standoff with the USA and focused more on what really matters(the concerns of the people), then people would have flocked to the USSR at the same rate as they do now to the USA. Then again the USSR gave military support to many grassroots revolutions, so we would be one step backwards in world revolution.

[Jesus Christ]

Originally posted by [email protected] 9 2005, 06:05 PM
Im talking about after WWII, how would the USSR have been different if they focused less on a standoff with the USA and focused more on what really matters(the concerns of the people), then people would have flocked to the USSR at the same rate as they do now to the USA. Then again the USSR gave military support to many grassroots revolutions, so we would be one step backwards in world revolution.
Well, of course the USSR would have been stronger and more productive and thriving if it had focused on the right issues such as agriculture and such instead of war, but that applies to any country.

The USSR was guilty of the same cultural and economic imperialism that the United States is guilty of today.

And of course their support of grassroot revolutions was a step in the right direction, or would have been if the Soviet Union had the right interests. After World War II the USSR's support of grassroot revolution was purely focused for them on increasing their own prestige and influence, making their Bloc larger.

[Maksym]

Do you think the USSR would have been a lot stronger economically and politcally if it focused more on farming, and consumer goods rather than weapons of war(in my opinion this showed that the people no longer controlled the nation). I believe that unprovoked war after the revolution is not in the interests of the people and the USSR would have been a lot more powerful if it didnt focus on war. Socialism isnt about walling yourself in, its about reaching out to others.

The last sentence sounds like the concluding opinion of Alex from Goodbye Lenin. Anyway, of course the USSR would have been stronger if it was focusing on producing consumer goods. You make it sound like the USSR had a choice about its military, it did not. NATO was formed in 1949 as an aggressive alliance against the USSR and all Socialist nations. NATO’s intention was first strike and total war. If the USSR fell behind in military technology then NATO would have considered a first strike, especially if the USSR was performing strongly economically.

[EMS]

In a future socialist state, should the people focus on fomenting revolution in other countries? Or just seek to better their own condition? I believe fomenting revolution is more important(though I believe that this decision should be made by the public and only volunteer forces should fight), but people who have fought all their lives, and who just want stability will opt for a more stable life. I belive the state's powers should be kept in check through a system much like the American system's of checks and balances, except the checks are done by the people rather than other branches of government. This will help to avoid the mistakes of the USSR.

Yea, it was from Goodbye, Lenin. I found that movie interesting, because it wasnt too favorable towards capitalists, and was nostalgic for the old days of the DDR. But that line is very true, its not about walling yourself in, its about reaching out to others.

[Colombia]

Originally posted by [email protected] 9 2005, 07:22 PM
Are we talking before or after WWII, had they not done anything to industrialize and then militarize BEFORE WWII they would have been crushed by Germany.
Can you elaborate? The Russian front lines were being beaten to death from what I have read before Lenin gave in the German demands.

[EMS]

Lenin would be WWI, and Lenin withdrew from WWI because it was an imperialist war, fought for territory, nationalism, all those bad things. In WWII it was the courage of the Red Army soldiers and the Il-2 Sturmovik that destroyed the Wehrmacht. So not militarizing before WWII would be foolish, Hitler wanted the USSR, there would be no such thing as a peaceful resolution with Hitler(other than a puppet state). I am saying about agression towards the west, was it warranted, or did the CPSU just create a war like condition in order to maintain their elitist position?