Of course, there were. Command economy (=you are only allowed to make what is ordered "from above" and only in the amount specified by "above") being not as flexible as free market, was far not as efficient as supply/demand one. Although there were a few positive features: 1) no drugs (regardless demand), no pornography, no prostitution, no guns, etc. - greed was under some control, and 2) no crisises or crashes inherent to free (unregulated) market and leading to unemployment, mass bancrupsies, rizing crime and to other negative phenomena.

Second main problem was the WAY the communist idea of equality and fairness was implemented. In Brejnev time political elite began to corrupt - they started built better apartments or summer houses for thenselves than others have/build. They began to rize their salaries above average level. They did not want to stay in line to buy something all others have to wait for (say, new car or luxury set of barocco furniture), but instead were bying it in special stores where ordinary folks did not have access to (or limited access only).

So, the communist idea of "equal treatment" was NOT implemented (or at least, not 100% fairly implemented), thus the regime was NOT actually communistic as Marx and Lenin wanted.

Therefore, people did not like this (and with economy getting better in 1970-80, the discrepancy between elite and ordinary folks did not decrease but even grew) and went to the streets demanding fairness, more freedom for private enterpreneurs and less double standarts in politics. Following reforms shook command economy so much that it practically collapced (and new economy slowly but surely started to rize).

But with more freedoms more negative for society phenomena came to existence. Drugs, guns, bribery, economical crimes, physical elimination of competition, etc.

Also, education seem to lose its attractiveness and prestige in competition with many new opportunities. Why to work hard through college, when selling hot dogs or drugs or guns around the corner gives good money right now? (And in unstable times nobody knows what will happen tomorrow - so live today till it is too late!)

• Your (plural) love of science - carefuluniverse - November 27, 2001 - 20:37 UTC
• Just checking your point of view - jisbond - November 28, 2001 - 03:21 UTC