Should East Europe countries be thankful to Soviet Union?

[David Floyd]

And how many of those countries suffered under decades of corrupt dictatorial governments? That'll tend to restrict the accumulation of wealth (well, for everyone but the dictator).

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by Frankychan
One of my co-workers is from the PRC and she still thinks Taiwan belongs to mainland China. I don't know what to think cause China was a democracy BEFORE communist rule.

That would be a democracy if you consider Iraq to be a democracy. In fact, I am not sure if any referendum was held to see if Chiang should stay in power.

[Sonic]

I am now talking about European countries, sorry if you did not understood.

In Africa/S America/Mid east there were other issues, like lack of resources, civil wars, dictatorships, which prevented them from becoming rich.

[Alexander's Horse]

I'm thankful for the Soviet occupation of Eastern Europe.

Those were the days......

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by David Floyd
And how many of those countries suffered under decades of corrupt dictatorial governments? That'll tend to restrict the accumulation of wealth (well, for everyone but the dictator).

What is the relevance of this question?

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by Sonic
I am now talking about European countries, sorry if you did not understood.

In Africa/S America/Mid east there were other issues, like lack of resources, civil wars, dictatorships, which prevented them from becoming rich.

It seems that then Soviet occupation is not a main factor of whether a country is considered rich.

Now, the question is, what's there to gaurantee bad things such as those mentioned in your post wouldn't happen to the Eastern European countries if the Soviets did pull out?

[David Floyd]

It sounded as if your point was that not all non-Soviet bloc countries are doing well - I was pointing out that the reason for that had a lot to do with corruption.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Now, the question is, what's there to gaurantee bad things such as those mentioned in your post wouldn't happen to the Eastern European countries if the Soviets did pull out

I believe that can reasonably be infered from their neighbors in the West.

[Felch]

Originally posted by Serb
If you were so great damn world policeman, so great protector of human rights and defender of democracy, then why you waited until HITLER DECLARED WAR ON YOU? Why you done nothing to stop him until he attacked you? Perhaps you just don’t have balls, because you are country of traders who wanted to make profit on incoming war, not a country of warriors as you describe it.

This is just sad.

Part of the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact was for bartering between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany. In fact, Stalin and Hitler were engaging in trade as late as the Spring of 1941. The Soviet Union didn't stop cooperating with the Germans until the Nazis had already invaded.

You write of other people's ignorance, but you're nothing but a cheerleader for your ****e country.

[Alexander's Horse]

If the Sovs had stayed in Eastern Europe we would never have heard of Solver. That's gotta be worth something

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui

Now, the question is, what's there to gaurantee bad things such as those mentioned in your post wouldn't happen to the Eastern European countries if the Soviets did pull out

I believe that can reasonably be infered from their neighbors in the West.

Surely? Why is Singapore doing rather well, but not the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia?

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by David Floyd
It sounded as if your point was that not all non-Soviet bloc countries are doing well - I was pointing out that the reason for that had a lot to do with corruption.

I am not saying you are wrong, but reality is a lot more complicated.

Consider Asia. The only country in Asia that does relatively well and not have a (very) corrupt regime or authoritarian government is Israel. Among the Four Little Tigers, Hong Kong was a former British colony and now part of China, not a whole lot of democracy there. Singapore, also a former British colony with a rather authoritarian government. South Korea's government was not only authoritarian but highly corrupt until recently. Same with Taiwan. Even Japan has been ruled by the LDP for most of the time, so it is just a variant on the authoritarian government - and the LDP was also very corrupt, perhaps less so now.

[Alexander's Horse]

Originally posted by Urban Ranger


Consider Asia. The only country in Asia that does relatively well and not have a (very) corrupt regime or authoritarian government is Israel.

What have you been smoking?

[David Floyd]

UR - I'm not gonna argue the corruption point, but are you seriously arguing that Israel is less authoritarian than Japan?

Yeah, I'll believe that when the Japanese occupy Korea again

[Alexander's Horse]

Is Israel an Asian country? Tell that to the Asians