Perestroika for the US?

Recently, the former COMMUNIST leader of Russia, Mikhail Gorbachev, endorsed our current President Obama in his re-election.  The phrase "with friends like these, who needs enemies" comes to mind.  Gorbachev also went on to say he felt that the United States could use a period of Perestroika to make things better.  You know things have gotten bad, when the former leader of the system you destroyed tells you that you have adopted many of the same policies you had tried to eradicate.

So what is Perestroika?

According to Gorbachev, perestroika was the "conference of development of democracy, socialist self-government, encouragement of initiative and creative endeavor, improved order and disciple, more glasnost, criticism and self-criticism in all spheres of our society. It is utmost respect for the individual and consideration for personal dignity."


The Soviet economy was in shambles.  Importing most of their goods and unable to compete with other countries they were stagnated.  So to encourage "initiative and creative endeavor", they began to allow ownership of property (mine) and also more freedom to criticize their government and say what is wrong.


So is this what we need more of in the United States?


To quote a famous Alaskan Governor, "You Betch'ya".


The fear however for our President to take Gorbachev's advice is not from where the advice hails, but that the advice might work!


Gorbachev's reconstruction lead to the destruction of the Soviet Union, for freedom isn't something you can contain or keep bottled up.   Freedom creates its own demand and a little freedom in one area leads to a demand for freedom in all areas of life and society.  For like a virus, it spreads by word of mouth from one citizen to the next, taking root in the soul and giving hope and energy to the whole body.


So YES Mr. President.  Please take the advice of your communist comrade,  Mikhail Gorbachev, and give your citizens more freedom to live their lives as they wish. The results will astound you!