Did Communism Fail, or Was It Beaten?
 

After reading the previous post I couldn't help but think about the success (or lack of it) of communism as a political ideology. Whilst we could say that communism has failed in Russia with the result of the USSR breaking finally breaking up and adopting a democratic government, was that because communism is flawed in principle or practice or was it because the western world didn't give it a fair chance?

It seems to me that the Russians were poor prior to the bolshevik revolution and poor after the soviet break-up. Communism possibly even brought relief to the common people who were starving, embroiled in an unpopular war with Germany and generally felt down-trodden by their 'betters'. The septics have never been particular fond of the 'red menace' and have done everything they can to topple communist governments by means fair and foul. Would the Korean or the Vietnamese War ever have taken place if not for the American hatred of communism? Certainly would the CIA have been giving its attentions to Cuba if not for Fidel Castro's political inclinations? Lastly would the USA have poured funding into the building and training of the Israeli Air Force if they didn't believe the Soviets would step in otherwise?

China, Cuba, North Korea and Vietnam are all proving to be surviving as communist countries, so maybe the ideology hasn't universally failed, maybe it was just beaten in Russia. Of course I could also be talking absolute bollocks. :}

Thanks Heff, I think you should have the last word on this!

Oops!

I'm not "well off" as another poster suggested most PPLs are. I've got into debt in the past with this flying lark but there's nothing I'd rather do than fly aeroplanes. It was worth all the hassle of scrimping and saving to achieve my goal.

If you love flying you'll find a way to fund it yourself.