Despite general negative opinion regarding socialistic societies, my childhood was almost ideal - thanks to my parents. I didn't feel restrictive influence of communistic regime, I had nice roof over my head, enough food, toys, interesting things to do, family happiness, education. I did plenty of sports, I spent a lot of time outdoors fishing and trekking with my parents. I loved to read a lots of books - mostly sci-fi of course. I was frequently involved in philosophical discussions about contrast between ideals of capitalism and communism and at that time it looked logical to me that equality and wealth for everyone is good idea. By growing up (wising up - I want to believe) and being exposed to capitalistic showcase and changes in society my opinions started to soften and the vision of "equality" started to erode. The idea that geniuses and dumb are having same contribution to society and therefore same compensation started to look suspicious to me. Is this equality good enough motivation to deliver better, more efficient technologies, more scientific breakthroughs? The hype of first revolutionary society changing times was over in sixties, although occasionally was in the air in my time.
I still remember that we were forbidden to wear jeans in school. There were many health reasons constructed for this restriction (erectile disfunction between others!), but deeply in our worldview we had jeans as a symbol. For many wearing jeans was rebellion against the establishment and other symbols (heavy metal music for some - Jimi Hendrix for others, ) were usually accompanying jeans wearing. Nowadays it looks silly but all this little symbols contributed to fall of "iron curtain" in early years of last decade of 20th century. The "symbols" were accompanying the other capitalistic by-products, nicer cars, nicer wear, tools and gadgets and many technologies that made life easier. Until now I can't decide whether it was more about desired civic freedom or more about unrestricted greed and ownership of "things". Obviously the second reason seems more and more obvious, since people 20 years later woke up and realized that actually there is a limit on ability to obtain goods but there is no limit on greed. Everyone can have (or better say can buy) whatever they want, but naturally majority can't afford it, therefore in dissatisfaction they look back on what they lost by converting to capitalism and the conflict is eminent (here I have in mind former communistic countries or so called "east block") . People traded in life security (small crime rate), social and employment stability and their status. By "status" I mean that from "important" society builders and active capitalism opponents (remember "equality" made people with elementary education equal to ones with PhD in their qualification to make important decision in business and policies in everyday lives) they degraded to statistical taxpayers whose influence on society is mere question of voting for certain party and paying their taxes in time and for few to become elected officials with a lot of privileges (unfortunately to become privileged, one doesn't to be better, more experienced, better educated than rest). The aura of importance has diminished and everything seems so ordinary. The question of freedom becomes for majority actual day to day routine life, from time to time spiced by vacation to affordable popular locations. There were voices trying to resurrect socialistic way of life recently - fortunately unsuccessful. There has been few studies showing that material satisfaction is much better now, compared to that before 1989, but many more personal responsibilities and choices to make, create atmosphere of stress, delusion and doom. It will take much longer time than 20 years to appreciate freedom and build new society .....
