By ilya Magid

About Dreams

1. American Dreams

I think the American dream is to "make money," and with that money to make more money, etc. The American people are all the same wherein they would like to be able to make money (it is assumed that it would be done legally.). When they have saved much money (usually when they have reached retirement age) they would organize a charitable or educational foundation or build buildings named in their honor, etc. These donors would spend their money very rationally.

I think that is the republican dream (not the democratic dream) which does not want to spend the federal money on social programs.

2. Soviet Dreams

In the Soviet Union the government fixed the price of food, clothing, etc. and fixed wages (at a very low level). Wages were the same for all persons (distinguished may be in only 1-5 levels). There was always in the Soviet Union a big line for food and clothing.

All government sources of funds were collected in one pot but there was much waste. The Government spent money without sufficient oversight. A lot of money was spent on military and space programs.

There were free education and medicine and cheap apartments.

The realization of person's dreams was helped if he were a member of the communist party (without that sometimes he could not realize his dreams).

Some people dreamed of becoming a party official (officers, executives). They had real power and special shops where they could buy food which was absent or hard to buy from usual shops.

Some people dreamed of becoming salespersons. Although the official earnings were low, they received cash, which was easily stolen. They had a connection with a well-known person, who needed food from their shop and who would get them something in exchange. They had to live with secrets. Those sales people lived poorly because they did not want others to know they had extra wealth. Otherwise, the special supervisor could ask him, "How do you make your living?" and they could be arrested.

Some people dreamed of entering the military. They received a big salary (on the Soviet scale) and they could retire at 45 years of age.

Some people dreamed of becoming scientists. When they received the degree of P.H.D. they could have a high salary. There were many programs (usually for Russians) for the P.H.D. degree. However, other people (usually Jews) had to prepare for the P.H.D. degree secretly on their job. There was usually no any layoff from their jobs. Later they could receive other interesting jobs. They were independent people; but that was a very difficult way to achieve success.

Some people dreamed of becoming political or religious dissidents. That was just a small fraction of percentage of the people. There were some known dissidents whose names, were publicized, especially, those who had defected from the country. Thousands of other dissidents were secretly arrested and condemned. Nobody knows about them.

About memorializing themselves as American persons the Soviet people did not have money and permission for such memorials.

The Soviet government decided: which person can be remembered in history for all time. The Soviet people could put only tombstone in the cemetery.

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