
_______________________________
An opinion poll suggests that about 60 percent of Russians believe there were more positive than negative aspects to life in the former USSR. Of the 1,000 people whom Russia‘s Public Opinion Foundation (FOM) interviewed by telephone in a survey last month, 14 percent said the word communism had “very pleasant”, “positive”, or “wonderful” connotations for them, and 12 percent said they were nostalgic about the Soviet era. Communism was just outdated for 11 percent, but the same proportion believed communism meant a good and stable life. To 7 percent, the word communism gave a sense of “disgust” or “sad associations”, or meant “something negative” generally. For 5 percent, it stood for dreams of a “radiant future” that never came true (“it’s a great pity that we never came to see it”).
Asked by pollsters to explain the meaning of the word communism, 23 percent said that for them it meant a just society where everyone’s equal and all property is common. For 9 percent, the word primarily stood for a specific economic and social system, whilst for 8 percent it represented a life better than today’s (“we were better off, people were taken better care of”, and “people were plainer, and life was plainer as well”). Six percent said that communism represented a good and stable life for them, and praised the official Soviet era principle, “From each according to their abilities, to each according to their needs”. Five percent dismissed communism as a utopia or fairytale.
Respondents were also asked to explain what they might see as positive and negative aspects of the Soviet system. In response, 33 percent credited it with good social security guarantees, stability, and good care of people, 14 percent said it that it was a system of justice and social equality, 9 percent said the USSR was a land of rule of law and discipline, 7 percent praised the country’s guaranteed employment, and another 7 percent claimed that people were more willing to help each other then than they are today. On the other hand, 9 percent criticised Soviet-era restrictions on rights and liberties, 7 percent accused the Soviet system of suppressing personal individuality, another 7 percent said shortages of basic consumer goods were that system’s main defect, 6 percent slammed abuse of authority in that period, and 5% condemned the USSR’s repressive rule.
Overall, 59 percent of respondents believed that there were more positive than negative aspects to communism. In that category, 69 percent were people aged 60 or more and 47 percent people aged between 18 and 30. Moreover, 43 percent would welcome Russia’s re-adopting communist ideology, 38 percent weren’t happy with the idea, and 19 percent were undecided on this point.
12 October 2013
Russia Behind the Headlines
http://rbth.ru/news/2013/10/12/about_60_percent_of_russians_see_communism_as_good_system_-_poll_30755.html
Editor’s Note:
The important point is in the last paragraph. 47 percent of all respondents 18 to 30 said that there were more positive than negative aspects to communism. Couple that with the fact that the only real political party in Russia is the KPRF, one understands why Gennady Andreyevich decided to “eat bear gall” after Yeltsin stole the 1996 election. He understands that the future belongs to a reformed Communist Party. A Party of patriots… a Party of workers… and a Party of BELIEVERS. The Church and the Party are very cosy, indeed (they see eye-to-eye on traditional morality, for instance). Need I mention that HH and Gennady Andreyevich are personal friends? I didn’t think so…
BMD
Poll Sez About 60 percent of Russians See Communism as Good System
Tags: Boris Yeltsin, communism, Communist Party of the RF, Communists, Gennady Zyuganov, KPRF, political commentary, Russia, Russian, Russian history, socialism, Socialist, Socialists, Soviet, Soviet Union, USSR
_______________________________
An opinion poll suggests that about 60 percent of Russians believe there were more positive than negative aspects to life in the former USSR. Of the 1,000 people whom Russia‘s Public Opinion Foundation (FOM) interviewed by telephone in a survey last month, 14 percent said the word communism had “very pleasant”, “positive”, or “wonderful” connotations for them, and 12 percent said they were nostalgic about the Soviet era. Communism was just outdated for 11 percent, but the same proportion believed communism meant a good and stable life. To 7 percent, the word communism gave a sense of “disgust” or “sad associations”, or meant “something negative” generally. For 5 percent, it stood for dreams of a “radiant future” that never came true (“it’s a great pity that we never came to see it”).
Asked by pollsters to explain the meaning of the word communism, 23 percent said that for them it meant a just society where everyone’s equal and all property is common. For 9 percent, the word primarily stood for a specific economic and social system, whilst for 8 percent it represented a life better than today’s (“we were better off, people were taken better care of”, and “people were plainer, and life was plainer as well”). Six percent said that communism represented a good and stable life for them, and praised the official Soviet era principle, “From each according to their abilities, to each according to their needs”. Five percent dismissed communism as a utopia or fairytale.
Respondents were also asked to explain what they might see as positive and negative aspects of the Soviet system. In response, 33 percent credited it with good social security guarantees, stability, and good care of people, 14 percent said it that it was a system of justice and social equality, 9 percent said the USSR was a land of rule of law and discipline, 7 percent praised the country’s guaranteed employment, and another 7 percent claimed that people were more willing to help each other then than they are today. On the other hand, 9 percent criticised Soviet-era restrictions on rights and liberties, 7 percent accused the Soviet system of suppressing personal individuality, another 7 percent said shortages of basic consumer goods were that system’s main defect, 6 percent slammed abuse of authority in that period, and 5% condemned the USSR’s repressive rule.
Overall, 59 percent of respondents believed that there were more positive than negative aspects to communism. In that category, 69 percent were people aged 60 or more and 47 percent people aged between 18 and 30. Moreover, 43 percent would welcome Russia’s re-adopting communist ideology, 38 percent weren’t happy with the idea, and 19 percent were undecided on this point.
12 October 2013
Russia Behind the Headlines
http://rbth.ru/news/2013/10/12/about_60_percent_of_russians_see_communism_as_good_system_-_poll_30755.html
Editor’s Note:
The important point is in the last paragraph. 47 percent of all respondents 18 to 30 said that there were more positive than negative aspects to communism. Couple that with the fact that the only real political party in Russia is the KPRF, one understands why Gennady Andreyevich decided to “eat bear gall” after Yeltsin stole the 1996 election. He understands that the future belongs to a reformed Communist Party. A Party of patriots… a Party of workers… and a Party of BELIEVERS. The Church and the Party are very cosy, indeed (they see eye-to-eye on traditional morality, for instance). Need I mention that HH and Gennady Andreyevich are personal friends? I didn’t think so…
BMD