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苏联政治局会议上
鲍里斯·卡尔洛维奇·普戈对反腐行动作出报告说：“关于全苏维埃的反腐行动已经逮捕了78582名腐败分子，其中53639人已被定罪。”
“但该体系仍然缺乏透明度，”他继续说，“国家机构中仍然存在大量腐败现象。我们需要进行更彻底的操作来清洗系统。”
罗曼诺夫点点头说：“嗯，我们会就书面报告进一步讨论腐败问题，我以为通过近半年的反腐运动已经基本清洗了腐败分子。接下来，政治局应该就黑帮犯罪分子与食物供应问题讨论。”
“当然可以，”普戈回答，然后坐了下来。
会议的其余部分主要讨论了供应情况。
苏联部长会议副主席兼国家计划委员会主席尼古拉·康斯坦丁诺维奇·巴伊巴科夫拿起报告说：“由于价格政策改为在行政监管下按照定价范围规定基准价及其浮动幅度，指导经营者制定的价格。今年食物商品基本上涨3%左右，牛肉上涨为2.2卢布1公斤、面包20戈比1公斤、1公斤鱼类价格最近为45戈比到5.2卢布不等。至于香肠，熟香肠上涨到2.5卢布1公斤、熏香肠保持5卢布1公斤不变。伏特加从3.62卢布1瓶上涨到5.43卢布1瓶。食品价格上涨是由需求、天气以及与西方持续的贸易争端等多种因素共同造成的。”
“这很有趣，”罗曼诺夫回答说，“但我想知道的是，国家正在采取哪些措施确保公众不会挨饿。”
“嗯，我们有一家国营食品银行，向需要的人分发口粮，我们将很快建立一个补贴粮食银行。一旦国家充分发展这一产业，预计基本商品的价格将下降。”
“好吧，这都是好消息，我们必须确保民众能从商店得到他们想要的一切，我们在运行，但我仍然情不自禁地感到，国家可以采取一些措施来帮助确保公共政策和私营企业同步。”
“你的意思是？”
“你的报告描述了市场对政策变化作出反应的情况。但是，如果政策是自上而下制定的，情况又如何呢？在这种情况下，被扭曲的不是市场，而是市场的结构本身。考虑计划经济的情况。我们应该就国营企业管理与监察法讨论，恢复食品供应处罚与奖励机制，对无法保证食物供应充足与健康的部门将先做出警告与处分，之后再出现食物腐烂的情况就革职观察。对保证食物充分供应的党委员进行表彰与奖励、还有晋升机制。换句话说，计划是由系统需求驱动的，而不是反过来。”
“这是一个有趣的观点，”普戈回答。
罗曼诺夫点点头说：“那么同志们，还有问题吗？”
吉洪诺夫举手说：“我们是否能够进口足够的粮食来弥补短缺？”
“是的，我们是。正如我早些时候所说，我们将很快启动一个补贴粮食银行，以帮助减轻贸易战的影响。美国的帝国主义者希望制造出我们的经济危机，它必然会像对付阿连德一样，先抬高或中断进口粮食价格与再打击苏维埃联盟外汇收入、拒绝给我们贷款。无论如何，我们决不能向资本主义妥协与退让！我们必须坚强战斗，因为我们是苏联唯一能够维护社会主义的力量！\"
“是的，我们必须维护社会主义！”博布科夫说，用拳头猛击他的手掌。
“是的，我们决不能让经济陷入美国陷阱！我们必须恢复各行业工作纪律与秩序！克格勃与监察部门、宣传教育部门要全力做到应对新的危机！我们不能继续使用僵化的宣传与教育还有强硬的管理方式，我们要适当在不违反社会主义与反苏维埃的情况下，允许摇滚俱乐部与迪斯科舞厅等。我们要警惕那些享受特权、有名声但一直对现实体制不滿的知识分子与自由派，不能让社会主义革命被抹黑。”
“你有什么建议？”吉洪诺夫问道。
“同志们，我们应该注意到年轻一代的问题。这些年轻人是国家的未来，但是我们在教堂与学校能听到年轻人在讨论什么？性与娱乐！这是大学都没有毕业的年轻学生应该关心的吗？当然，他们很容易被资本主义的文化与娱乐影响。这很正常，年轻人都喜欢开放的游戏与电影作品。但我们需要确保它们不会被用作反社会、革命宣传的工具。我们决不能让知识分子影响我们的青年，使他们有危险的政治觉悟。这是一条非常危险的道路！我们决不能允许修正主义者或原教旨主义者在我们的大学扎根。我们必须与媒体对我们年轻人的影响作斗争！我们必须保护我们年轻人的思想！这不是摆在我们面前的任务吗？我们最重要的社会角色是什么？我们唯一的角色？”
“当然可以！”大家齐声说。
“所以，同志们，”罗曼诺夫说，“我们是否同意这些措施是必要的？我们不应该让我们的年轻人在政治上觉醒？我们必须打击媒体的影响？”
“是的，是的，还有更多的事情！”利加切夫喊道。
罗曼诺夫微笑点点头说：“现在，让我们来讨论一下新的社会主义劳动干部的津贴与退休金问题。”
苏联时期工厂主任和地方党的领导人每月工资在50-60卢布到200-300卢布之间，苏共区委书记1000卢布，苏共州委书记与各部门部长2000卢布，政治局委员1500卢布。低收入人群工资90～150卢布，中收入人群工资300卢布。比如，工程师110-130卢布，医生100-150卢布，护士80-120卢布。除了基本工资，还有住房、食品和私人医疗保险津贴。
然而，应该指出的是，苏联为养老金设定了上限，以防止过度支出，但是一线工人与科学家如果得到勋章与表彰能领取补贴的卢布。这造成一个违反人性的现象，一些受过高等教育的苏联公民去当一线工人…同时在工资与津贴上，苏联最高层政治局干部工资待遇只有低收入人群的10倍，退休后退休金可能跟一线工人退休金一样。更悲惨的是，由于苏联实行社会主义公有制，退休领导人的警卫、汽车、干部别墅以及权力都会被收回。
这在现在的罗曼诺夫看来，简直是精神病人的制度。不给官僚优厚的待遇，政府爆发危机时候怎么指望官僚来保卫自己？靠革命理想？
官僚肯定会回答，苏联还是和瓦列里·米哈伊洛维奇·萨布林那位理想主义者在一起直到死亡吧。
“增加对社会主义劳动干部的劳动与廉洁津贴奖金，工厂主任和地方党干部每月在70-100卢布到300-500卢布，苏共区委书记2000卢布，政治局委员3000卢布，苏共州委书记与各部门部长3500卢布。同时，退休的苏联中央顾问委员会成员保持退休时的待遇。”
“那‘苏联劳工’呢？”一个声音喊道。
罗曼诺夫回答说：“他们将获得90卢布的‘生活工资’，并享受免费医疗。”
“情况不是已经这样了吗？”另一个人问道。
“同志们，这不是讨论。这项建议已经向苏共提出。苏共将决定是否接受。现在，让我们回到主要讨论。”
“是的，让我们回到讨论，”吉洪诺夫说。
“我们现在还在决定这个问题吗？成员的投票结果如何？这是由多数票决定的。我们应该……”
“格里戈里·瓦西里耶维奇！”奥尔加·特雷古波娃打断了他的话。“你完全正确。投票的时候到了。所有赞成这项动议的人，请举手。”
所有的手都举了起来。
“赞成者占多数。”
“赞成者占多数，”奥尔加·特雷古波娃说，她点了点头。投票结果出来了并投下了一致赞成票。提议获得通过。
“现在我们进入下一个议程项目，那就是……”吉洪诺夫开始说，但罗曼诺夫插嘴了。“还有一件事，现在的酗酒与怠工情况怎么样？”
吉洪诺夫沉默了一会儿，然后说：“酗酒情况普遍存在，并伴随了家庭暴力其他社会问题的发生。怠工现象也很糟糕，许多工人迟到两小时才上班，除了军工企业之外劳动生产质量与效率都糟糕。工人事故的数量很高，尤其是与生产性劳动力相比。”
“是的，我们知道，”罗曼诺夫说，“还有别的吗？”
“没有别的了。”
苏维埃联盟公民长期存在酗酒问题，其至一些家庭夫妻都酗酒…这导致了一些社会矛盾与劳动生产率下降。
柯西金与安德罗波夫都试图解决这个问题，柯西金将酒类消费品价格提高，而安德罗波夫使用另一种方法，限制工人购买酒类的时间并且推出一种只有3～4卢布的新品种伏特加。
而历史上的戈尔巴乔夫上台后，选择了通过名为反酗酒运动的禁酒令来禁止除了医用酒精等特殊用途之外的酒精使用…这导致了黑市与私酒迅速发展的，这股地下经济力量在之后与黑帮、政府反对派合作。
真的不明白，为什么苏联领导层总认为遇到问题直接强力禁止就能解决问题了吗？更不要说，一个政治实体是由不同阶级、不同意识形态的人组成的。
这就涉及一个重要因素，最高领导者的指令与经过官僚主义体系执行后的情况并不一致。例如，戈尔巴乔夫的反酗酒运动本意是打击酗酒，但官僚为了追求政绩把中亚的酿酒葡萄园用推土机铲平了…其他现象也说明人类如果没有行政机制的监督会做出什么事情，比如切尔诺贝利核电站爆炸的直接原因。
政府方面的不良信息和糟糕的沟通导致了这个问题。
“我们应该进行禁酒运动吗？”被罗曼诺夫晋升进入政治局的扎伊科夫试探着问，罗曼诺夫摇头说：“不，减少酒类生产与销售会减少国家预算收入，我们从那里填补可能减少的100亿卢布预算？预算收支平衡会被打破。”
扎伊科夫问道：“那我们为什么不增加税收呢？”
“因为我们希望看到收入流入，而不仅仅是支出。国家不是一家会计事务所。”
“那我们该怎么办？”
“清除一切阻碍经济发展的规章制度。”
“这是不稳定的，”扎伊科夫指出。
“摇摆木马也是如此。这是我们目前所面临的问题。我们越快适应它，就越好。”罗曼诺夫放下钢笔说：“酗酒问题由科索拉波夫同志负责宣传酗酒案件与增加酒类消费品价格来防止过度饮酒。怠工问题有解决的意见吗？”
吉洪诺夫举起手来。“也许，如果我们减少工作时间，增加工资，让这些工人承担更大的责任，我们就能提高工作质量，提高生产率。”
“我就是这么想的，”罗曼诺夫说。“唯一的问题是劳动者现在没有对财富的物质需求，现在苏维埃联盟的经济福利与劳动政策让工人们根本不愿意劳动，即使他们怠工我们也只能强行让警察监督工作。”
“你的解决方案是什么？”扎伊科夫问道。
1982年，勃列日涅夫时代末期苏联城市就业人口时间安排是男性平均周劳动时间为44.4小时，按每周5天算，为8.48小时/天（包括加班加点）。女性劳动时间40.5小时，平均8.1小时/天。（苏联近2千万的共产党员与4千万共青团团员星期六要进行义务劳动）
勃列日涅夫时期苏联人的平均工资为200多卢布，1984年工人家庭收入用于伙食开支为29.6%，农民家庭收入用于伙食开支为33.4%。同一时期，美国中产阶级20%左右，西欧20%-25%。（可以查找苏联人均肉类消费量与人均奶类和奶制品消费量）
除了全免费教育、医疗、疗养、休养、度假、住房价格与物价补贴（苏联有一项政策，为其公民提供终身与继承的租赁公寓。房屋合作社建筑的房屋房贷利率为0.5%，期限为25年。居民缴纳的房租仅占房屋维修费的1/3，其余由苏联国家财政支付），以及接近免费自来水、电力、电话的费用，苏联实行8小时工作制与五日工作周制度，除了包括例行休息日和每年35天的带薪休养与度假之外，苏联每年还有8天的节假日。苏联职工每年的休息日为130天左右，超过全年的总天数的1/3。（这是由于冷战思维使美国与苏联都陷入了竞争机制，为了证明自己阵营社会制度的优越性与换取民众政治思想的支持而施行了高经济福利政策。不同的是，美国可以依靠对全世界四分之三的地区经济吸血来维持。）
“我们是工人阶级的国家，是社会主义公有制国家。我们无法让人民失业，只能对怠工工人进行罚款与降职再分配工作。而且必须通过技术创新与建立自动化生产线来提高生产力。”
“建立自动化生产线是个好主意，”吉洪诺夫说。“但我们没有资金用必要的政府资金投资来创建这些项目。”
罗曼诺夫问道：“那为什么不把目光投向私营部门呢？”
“私营部门是一个腐败且效率低下的部门，富人和权贵利用工人阶级。它几乎完全由大企业和保护它们的国家管理。我们不能让他们因这种行为而逍遥法外。必须让私营部门为集体服务，而不是反过来。”
“私营部门不会允许自己被政府摆布，我们必须只允许在波罗的海三国与列宁格勒经过申请与苏维埃政府批准成立非实体私营企业。”
扎伊科夫指出：“这需要覆盖很多领域。”
“没错，”罗曼诺夫承认，“我们需要与美国与西欧银行贷款，但是里根反而要求国际银行提高了贷款利息，这是美国对智利阿连德政权的重演！里根意图打击我们的外汇收入并尝试消耗我们的国际黄金储备与提高粮食价格产生粮食短缺危机，我们不应该向帝国主义政府妥协与退让！但苏维埃联盟需要国际银行贷款与美国主导经济体系下对苏联停止与延长出口的电子设备、计算机和其它高级技术器材，所以我们需要与美国资本企业在金融市场合资。但为了防止资本流出与被掠夺，我们将合资限制在波罗的海三国与列宁格勒地区，并且将波罗的海三国苏联建设的电子产业转移到列宁格勒。”
格里申询问：“就像百事可乐在苏联一样？”
“正确，”罗曼诺夫回答说：“我们应该整合资源成立各生产联合企业，同时将允许少数美国企业参与苏联特定产品生产销售并要求它们受到限制与利润只投入苏联市场，经互会的古巴雪茄、苏联伏特加等产品与电影等文化产业也可以让它们销售到美国市场。”
“这是有道理的，”吉洪诺夫说。“问题是，由于需要与美国和西欧的过剩产能竞争，我们的工业和资源已经被课以重税（进口关税）。为了增加收入，我们可以取消一些税收减免，并增加自然资源进口和销售的税收，但这将损害已经陷入困境的经济。”
“是的，这有点问题，但这是可以纠正的，”罗曼诺夫向他们保证。
扎伊科夫建议：“也许我们应该同时考虑增加收入和削减开支。”
“这是个好主意，但军费开支不能降低，相反，我们应该将一些军用工厂转型生产性轻工业与生产性重工业。这样，我们既可以增加国民收入，又可以减少用于军事生产的社会总产值比例，”罗曼诺夫说。
“嗯，我想你是对的，”吉洪诺夫说，“很好，我将和政治局的同事们谈谈，看看我们能做些什么。”
“好，好。国家统计委员会今后的MPS物质产品平衡表体系将开始计算社会总产值货币价值，以消除几年前发生的经济产出损失。这将大大提高我们的社会总产值。诀窍是增加我们的出口以弥补外汇损失，最简单的方法是创造更多的制造业就业机会。我建议我们开始将一些不那么重要的产业转变为更具出口性的产业。有几个明显的选择，比如钢铁、煤炭、水泥、化学品，甚至是消费品，但我们应该从资本密集型而不是劳动密集型开始。同志们，你们怎么看？”
“我认为这是一个非常好的主意，”吉洪诺夫说。“我同意罗曼诺夫同志的看法。”
苏联指令型计划经济是很特殊的经济体系，在计划经济中无论是消费品、工业产品采用的是统购统销，每个生产单位所需的物资是以预算形式向统购统销的国家计划委员会，以“计划价格”的形式进行物资采购。社会主义计划经济生产的目的是创造劳动价值，与追求利润的市场经济完全不同。所以，计划经济进行市场化改革会出一种情况，官僚将不再依靠国家预算分配而是将物质与设备以高于计划价格的市场价格售卖。
同时，计划经济下也没有GDP核算体系。也就是说苏联计划经济核算社会总产值统计第一产业与第二产业，而不统计第三产业。因此，苏联计划经济体系并不能用GDP来衡量，也不能发展金融经济。
苏联对外贸易与经济生产结构是畸形与失衡的，人民所需的高档食品、轻工业品、消费产品等极大匮乏，这使美国可以宣称社会主义制度和计划经济发展是错误的。仿佛这些苏联经济陷入停滞，单纯是因为社会主义与计划经济所导致的一样并力图让苏联人民相信苏联拥抱资本主义与市场经济转型之后再进入美国经济体系内会恢复繁荣与经济高速增长。这是一场政治和宣传运动，美国从未不利用这场运动。
但是，苏联未期经济增长停滞在2～3%增长率。所以这要全归于是计划经济或者意识形态的问题？难道我们应该忽略苏联与美国各自主导的经济区域集团之间进行的贸易与技术壁垒、失误的经济政策和错误的国家政策、高纬度地区的粮食产量低与经济建筑、发展成本等因素吗？
并且如果因为经济增加停滞与高档消费品不足就应该在几年之内放弃运行数十年的经济体系与摧毁一整套自主独立的工业体系的话，那么现在就不可能有任何一个工业国家。
或者问题在于美国对苏联的经济和贸易政策？
不管如何，在资本主义指责社会主义的停滞并忽略拉丁美洲、非洲、东南亚的贫穷家庭痛苦生活时，让苏联数亿人口陷入私有化改革并让无数的人面对失业与微薄的救济金，卢布兑换美元汇率1997年贬值到5562卢布兑换1美元，无数女孩进行色情产业谋生…许多人成了无家可归的流民。贫民窟与黑帮漫延全国，治安和行政部门也被腐败与现实击败。
黑帮私刑、毒品泛滥、人口贩卖，不能统计的许多年轻女孩们被黑帮与陌生人介绍前往西欧遭到监禁或者杀害。
以下是几十年来失败的经济和社会政策的结果，这些政策只是在冷战的阴影下发展起来的。国家及其机构是统治阶级行使权力的工具，以造福于他们，而不是人民。国家不仅成为压迫的机构，而且成为压迫的工具，而不是革命阶级的机构，而是反应的工具。不是进步的工具，而是压迫的工具。
该体系的核心已经腐朽，1989年的革命和20世纪90年代的改革只是加速了腐朽，加深了危机。
一切为了牟利的资本主义限制了发达的生产力对生产关系的改变，并奴役与剥削着全人类。它是一个通过剥夺、压迫和寄生而积累的体系。
战后的共识，即资本主义和国家是自然的、永久的和美好的理念，在世界意识到它被欺骗了，只有对经济和社会秩序进行根本性重组才能将人类从这场危机中拯救出来时，被冷战的结束所取代。
当社会生产力能够实现无人自动化生产时，将会出现比资本主义与社会主义更先进的社会形态。那时，资本主义将被灭亡。历史必须向前发展，人类必须摆脱金融与资本主义的奴役。
终有一天，人类将一定会实现按需分配的社会结构，人类将能够自由追求与满足自我实现。
当这一天到来时，革命运动将准备掌权并建立新的世界秩序。
但这不是那天，也不是那个时候。
所有政治局成员离开克里姆林宫14号楼时，罗曼诺夫让克格勃主席博布科夫与外交部长特罗扬诺夫斯基留下。
“特罗扬诺夫斯基同志，你在中国的访问结果怎么样？”罗曼诺夫放下计算机部门的报告问，他浏览了一遍。
“他们打了一场漂亮的仗。不过，他们本可以提供更多帮助。我认为我们必须做出一些让步，以避免进一步升级。”
“换句话说，没有战争，也没有变化，”罗曼诺夫说。
特罗扬诺夫斯基摇摇头说：“不，尽管中国共产党还在与越南共产党进行边境冲突。但是，在邓小平领导下已经在进行市场化改革。情况很糟糕，治安继续在恶化。从毛泽东时代进入乡村的大量人口返回城市，同时开放的文化作品与交际舞舞会也影响了年轻人。中国共产党现在进行的严厉打击刑事犯罪也造成一些冤案。破坏党的权威的因素很多。”
“是的，你说得对。我们应该避免作出任何不必要的挑衅。中国共产党对交际舞舞会的打击类似我们对摇滚乐的管制？”
特罗扬诺夫斯基微微一笑。“不完全是这样，但类比是清楚的。”
“中国看来治安会混乱一段时间，他们政治与经济的改革怎么样？”
“很难说，邓小平好像只想改革停留在经济层面上，而赵紫阳更注重政治层面上的改革。我认为在这一点上，双方都在等待时机。”
“等待时机，还是玩游戏？”
“也许两者都有。你必须意识到，这是非常危险的情况。如果我们不小心，边境战争可能会爆发，造成数百万人死亡，破坏世界经济。我们没有资源来维持这样一场旷日持久的冲突，我们也不想。重要的是，我们要找到一种维持和平的方法。”
“怎么做？”罗曼诺夫问道，“不干涉。让政治领导人来解决这个问题。”
“是的，也许，如果我们不动手，他们会解决的。但是，我们必须考虑到中国政府无法维持社会秩序的事实。它进行的价格改革又造成物价上升幅度较大。这些类型的改革加上正在进行的经济改革加大了贫富差距。局势动荡不安，可能会变得更糟。”
“是的，还有？这就是为什么我们需要改变政府，而不是现状。”罗曼诺夫点点头说：“之后，中国政府放弃计划经济肯定会造成除了它维持的国营企业之外的国营企业职工下岗与设备贩卖。我们通过走私来获得这些工业设备。至于，它下岗的职工…好吧，我们就说我们不会招兵买马。”
“你认为我们应该帮助他们吗？”特罗扬诺夫斯基问道，听起来很震惊。
“帮助谁？这是中国政府的内政，而且这还能让苏联人民看到资本主义复辟的下场。我们之后就能发现从中国计划经济工厂下岗的职工们会有多少人自杀或者到中国东南沿海成为血汗工厂剥削下的奴隶。毒品与妓院也会重新出现在中国。”
特罗扬诺夫斯基点点头。“是的，你说得对。我们会让他们解决问题，或者至少防止他们的经济崩溃。我们无权干涉，只能看着他们的实验。”
“好吧，特罗扬诺夫斯基同志你可以走了。好好休息，注意身体。”
特罗扬诺夫斯基站着说：“是的，我会的。谢谢你，同志。”他敬礼后离开了。
“他是个好人，”罗曼诺夫说。“他总是知道如何把党放在自己的前面。然而，我认为他厌倦了党的谎言和腐败。我们需要的是更激进的方法。也许一个分裂的强硬派团体可以发动政变，而我们支持他们？我们需要考虑这一选择。”
“支持中国共产党内的强硬派政变？这很难实现。”博布科夫想了想说，罗曼诺夫点点头说：“我们可以长远规划并等待着时机。”
“目前，我们应该避免与中国发生任何不必要的冲突。如果他们学到了一件事，那就是我们不想与他们开战。我们的经济利益与他们息息相关。边界冲突将是相互破坏的。”
“也许是一些贸易优惠？”
“是的，这可能是个好主意。然而，我们不能给他们太多。他们必须了解我们的内部政治。我们不能让媒体和民众过于激动，否则他们肯定会要求我们付出更多。他们需要接受我们是一个超越他们琐碎争吵的超级大国。”
“嗯，如果赫鲁晓夫没有在苏共二十大批评斯大林就好了，本来中国共产党可以在我们的经济体系中负责农业与轻工业。”罗曼诺夫又在心里诅咒了一下赫鲁晓夫。
“一段时间的贸易增长可能是有益的。我们必须谨慎管理媒体以避免恐慌。一些引人注目的叛逃者作为宣传也会有所帮助。然而，作为一般规则，我们应该避免任何引起我们外交使团注意的事情。偶尔发生几次小小的边境冲突可能足以让每个人都不去想真正的问题。我们不需要另一场革命。中国共产党完全有能力掌控中国的未来。我们没有必要干预。”
“你说的对，说到叛逃者我想有没有可能像古巴那样把华约与经互会国家的反对派、罪犯、精神病人集中起来让他们偷渡到西欧？”
“这是可能的。但是，你真的认为这样做明智吗？”
“没有，但我们还有什么选择？如果我们什么都不做，情况只会变得更糟。”罗曼诺夫掐灭烟头说：“反正，我们的反对派是无论谁执政都要反对。不如，把他们都扔到西德。对了，我们还可以收费帮助中东难民与阿富汗人偷渡到西欧。当然，他们过去之后被怎么处理就不是我们的事情了。”
“这可能是个好主意。另一方面，如果这些难民和阿富汗人决定推翻法国和德国政府，会发生什么？”
“一个伊斯兰化的西欧？我们能想象到这将阻止西欧对东欧的橱窗式宣传攻势。”罗曼诺夫笑了笑又说：“对了，克格勃能不能尝试制作一些西欧的色情电影与色情小说。”
“我不会感到惊讶。”
“他们可以称之为红色电影委员会。”
“当然。”
罗曼诺夫站起来说：“在西欧与东南亚找妓女制造与印刷色情电影、书籍与杂志，走私贩卖到欧洲。欧洲的版本在里面增加民族主义与种族主义言论贬低与抹黑移民，苏联的流通版本要增加逆向民族主义内容，比如种族歧视的自由主义言论与踩踏、焚烧苏联红旗，推翻列宁像。我们应该组织一个任务，解放媒体和色情电影业。”
“我觉得你有点戏剧性。然而，你在某种程度上是对的。”“现在，时间不早了，所以我最好上床睡觉。晚安，博布科夫。”
“晚安，总书记。”
说完，罗曼诺夫离开了房间。
博布科夫仍在沉思，他坐了一会儿才起身离开。
罗曼诺夫回到克里姆林宫元老院自己的办公室，特雷古波娃跟随着他到他的办公室。
“发生了什么事？”她问，“你解决了中国人的问题了吗？”
“是的。”
“你决定了什么？”她问道，脸上流露出忧虑。
罗曼诺夫坐在办公椅子上盯着她说：“你问这里做什么？”
“我想知道你的决定。”
“我还在考虑，你对中华人民共和国怎么看？”罗曼诺夫闭上眼睛按揉眼睛问，他感觉熬夜已经让他头痛与近视了。
“我问你的决定是什么，因为你是克格勃的头目，也是一个强大的秘密警察组织的头目。你可能会获得公众无法获得的信息。如果你不想告诉我，那没关系。但是，你可以告诉我，因为这关系到苏联每个公民的安全。”
“你太不讲理了。”
“是吗？你要我在背叛我的政府和置他人生命于危险之间做出选择。这是一个相当艰难的选择。”
罗曼诺夫睁开眼睛说：“坐在我的腿上，我要想一些事情。”
“对不起？”
“我说，坐在我腿上。”
特雷古波娃犹豫了一下，然后照吩咐的做了。罗曼诺夫抚摸着她的长发说：“我们的关系是一体，你应该对我完全顺从与忠诚，对吗？”
“是的，总书记。”
“然而，我是克格勃和苏联的首脑。你不会质疑我的决定，不管这些决定看起来多么不合理。”
“我不是要质疑你的决定，我只是问你的决定是什么，仅此而已。”
罗曼诺夫点点头表示同意，然后他又说：“我想要中国成为经互会的农业与轻工业基地，但是它现在亲近美国。”
“是的，但美国是一个资本主义国家，几十年来他们一直在操纵中国。他们利用掠夺性贸易做法，向中国市场倾销廉价商品。我想把中国从美国市场的触角中解放出来。”
“你打算如何实现这一目标？”
“通过与他们结盟。如果我们被视为敌人，他们将永远不会与我们合作。如果我们与他们结盟，美国市场将别无选择，只能与我们合作。”
罗曼诺夫想了想说：“我会考虑你的建议，你有了操作列宁格勒波罗的海银行的推荐人选吗？”
特雷古波娃笑了笑，然后身体前倾，低声说：“我本人去过列宁格勒，认识经营银行的人。”
“那么，我想你是合格的。”
特雷古波娃骄傲地笑了，然后说：“我很想经营这家银行。”
“是的，”罗曼诺夫说，“我相信你会的。”
“你想让我什么时候开始？”
“不，我需要你继续担任克里姆林宫秘书处秘书长，我也不希望你离开我身边。”罗曼诺夫搂着她说。
特雷古波娃笑着说：“我会很荣幸的。”
“我觉得你应该认识懂得金融的共青团女孩，毕竟，共青团与党校基本都是小资产阶级。找到一个来让她帮我们间接负责列宁格勒银行。”
“是的，总书记。”
罗曼诺夫笑着说：“当你这么做的时候，看看这位年轻女士还有什么天赋。”
“我会尽力的。”
“我知道你会的。”
特雷古波娃微笑着离开了罗曼诺夫的办公室。
罗曼诺夫盯着她坐过的地方。他站起来走到窗户前，透过窗户可以看到克里姆林宫的围墙。
站在那里，他能更清楚地思考。
他的目光落在他办公的那座塔上。在远处，他可以看到他自己办公室所在的顶层的灯光。
与其说苏联解体是被美国击败，倒不如说是苏联统治阶级背叛了苏联并吞噬了它使自己可以成为资本家，而这个利益是苏维埃联盟这个超级大国的所有国有资产。这个更高的筹码丰厚利润到让所有官僚都倒向它了。
国库空空如也，国家信用卡也用光了。这个国家的所有财富都集中在少数富有的吸血鬼手中。
东欧与苏联那些在红旗下成长的少先先锋队女孩们被欺骗与拐卖以欧元、英镑、美元而交易到西欧与南欧的地下妓院或者私人所有，有些被警察拯救、有些则永远从世界上消失了。
当大多数无产阶级、农民和中产阶级在全球市场动荡中挨饿挣扎时，俄罗斯的新统治者——后苏联的新市场参与者——过着奢侈的生活。
国家控制了几乎所有的行业和资产，而实际生产任何东西的人所享受的利润微薄。（普京上台进行了资产阶级国有化，现今俄罗斯GDP1.4亿多美元其中有5700多亿美元为俄罗斯寡头所有。）
富有的寡头们掌控着经济的方方面面，从零售到建筑再到采矿。他们什么都买，试图垄断市场，他们做到了。他们用不义之财购买了自然资源。你只要有人脉与财富可以从黑帮那里买到波罗的海三国、俄罗斯或者东欧国家的女人。
尽管，俄罗斯比苏联相比卢布贬值、物价飞涨、人口贩卖、治安混乱、腐败到电力部门都勒索钱财。人民失去了房屋、工作分配，但是对新自由主义者来说，他们摆脱了苏联的言论管制获得了自由与民主…
哪怕，叶利钦在寡头支持下炮击议会与舞弊选票。对于北约来说，叶利钦的俄罗斯也是民主国家。
这些人只是一场残酷游戏中的棋子。
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At the meeting of the Politburo of the USSR
Boris Karlovich Pugo reported on the anti-corruption operation, saying: \"With regard to the Soviet-wide anti-corruption operation, 78,582 corrupt persons have been arrested, of whom 53,639 have been convicted.\"
\"But the system is still riddled with a lack of transparency,\" he continued, \"There is still a great deal of corruption in state agencies. We need to conduct a much more thorough operation to clean the system.\"
Romanov nodded and said, \"Well, we will discuss further on the written report on corruption, which I thought had been largely cleansed through the anti-corruption campaign of the last six months. Next, the Politburo should discuss on the issue of criminal gangsters and food supply.\"
\"Yes, of course,\" Pugo replied, and took his seat.
The rest of the meeting was mainly taken up by discussions on the supply situation.
Nikolai Konstantinovich Baibakov, deputy chairman of the USSR Council of Ministers and chairman of the State Planning Committee, picked up the report and said, \"As the price policy was changed to a benchmark price and its fluctuation in accordance with the pricing range under administrative supervision, the prices set by the operators were guided. This year food commodities basically rose by about 3%, beef rose to 2.2 rubles a kilo, bread 20 kopecks a kilo, 1 kilo of fish prices recently ranged from 45 kopecks to 5.2 rubles. As for sausages, cooked sausages rose to 2.5 rubles per kilogram, smoked sausages remained unchanged at 5 rubles per kilogram. Vodka rose from 3.62 rubles per bottle to 5.43 rubles per bottle. The rise in food prices was due to a combination of factors including demand, weather, and the ongoing trade dispute with the West.\"
\"That\u0027s interesting,\" Romanov replied, \"But what I would like to know is what the state is doing to ensure that the public does not go hungry.\"
\"Well, we have a state-run foodbank that distributes rations to those in need, and we will soon launch a subsidized grain bank. Once the state fully develops this industry, it is expected that the prices for basic goods will come down.\"
\"Well, that is all good news, We have to make sure that people get everything they want from the stores that we run, but I still cannot help but feel that there is something the state could be doing to help ensure that public policy and private enterprise are in sync.\"
\"Your point being?\"
\"Your report describes a situation where the market is reacting to a change in policy. But what of a situation where the policy is being dictated from the top down? In such a case, it is not the market that is being distorted, it is the very structure of the market. Consider the case of the planned economy. We should discuss the management of state-owned enterprises and the inspection law, and restore the mechanism of punishment and reward for food supply, so that the departments that fail to ensure the adequacy and health of food supply will first be warned and punished, and then dismissed for observation in case of food spoilage. Party members who ensure adequate food supply are recognized and rewarded, and there are mechanisms for promotion. In other words, the plan is driven by the needs of the system, and not the other way around.\"
\"That is an interesting point,\" Pugo replied.
Romanov nodded and said, \"So comrades, any more questions?\"
Ligachev raised his hand and said, \"Are we going to be able to import enough food to make up for the shortfall?\"
\"Yes, we are. As I said earlier, we will soon launch a subsidized grain bank to help mitigate the effects of a trade war. The U.S. imperialists want to create an economic crisis for us, and they will certainly raise or interrupt the prices of imported grain, as they did with Allende, and then hit the foreign exchange earnings of the Soviet Union and refuse to give us loans. In any case, we must not compromise and give in to capitalism! We must stand strong and fight, because we are the only force that can preserve socialism in the Soviet Union!\"
\"Yes, we must preserve socialism!\" Bobkov said, pounding his fist into her palm.
\"Yes, we must not allow the economy to fall into the American trap! We must restore discipline and order in all sectors of work! The KGB, together with the inspectorates and the propaganda and education departments, must do all they can to deal with the new crisis! We cannot continue to use rigid propaganda and education and tough management, we have to allow rock clubs and discos, etc., as appropriate, without violating socialism and anti-Sovietism. We have to be wary of intellectuals and liberals who enjoy privileges and have a reputation but have been dissatisfied with the real system and cannot allow the socialist revolution to be discredited.\"
\"What are you suggesting?\" Tikhonov asked.
\"Comrades, we should be aware of the problems of the younger generation. These young people are the future of the country, but what do we hear young people talking about in churches and schools? Sex and entertainment! Is this something that young students who haven\u0027t even graduated from college should be concerned about? Of course, they are easily influenced by the culture and entertainment of capitalism. This is normal, young people like open games and movies. But we need to ensure that they are not being used as a tool for anti-social, revolutionary propaganda. We must not allow the intellectuals to influence our youth in terms of having a political awakening. That is a very dangerous path to take! We must not allow revisionists or fundamentalists to take root in our universities. We must combat the influence of the media on our youth! We must protect the minds of our young people! Is this not the task before us? Our most important social role? Our only role?\"
\"Yes, of course!\" everyone said in unison.
\"So, comrades,\" Romanov said. \"Are we agreeing that such measures are necessary? That we should not allow for a political awakening among our youth? That we must combat the influence of the media?\"
\"Yes, yes, and more!\" Tikhonov shouted.Romanov smiled and nodded and said, \"Now, let\u0027s discuss the issue of allowances and pensions for the new socialist labor cadres.\"
In the Soviet period factory directors and local party leaders were paid between 50-60 rubles and 200-300 rubles per month, Soviet Communist Party district committee secretaries 1000 rubles, Soviet Communist Party oblast committee secretaries and ministers of departments 2000 rubles, and Politburo members 1500 rubles. The salary of the low-income group is 90-150 rubles, and the middle-income group is 300 rubles. For example, engineers 110-130 rubles, doctors 100-150 rubles, nurses 80-120 rubles. In addition to a basic salary, there are also allowances for housing, food, and private medical insurance.
It should be noted, however, that the Soviet Union set a ceiling on pensions to prevent excessive spending, but front-line workers and scientists received subsidized rubles if they received medals and commendations. This created a phenomenon against human nature, as some highly educated Soviet citizens went to work as front-line workers... At the same time, in terms of salaries and allowances, the top politburo cadres in the Soviet Union received only 10 times the salary of low-income people, and their pensions after retirement could be the same as those of front-line workers. What is even more tragic is that because of the socialist communal system of ownership in the Soviet Union, the guards, cars, cadre dachas, and power of the retired leaders are all taken back.
This seemed to the present-day Romanovs like a system for the mentally ill. Without high treatment for bureaucrats, how could the government expect them to defend itself when a crisis erupted? By revolutionary ideals?
The bureaucrats will surely answer that the Soviet Union is still with Valery Mikhailovich Sabrin that idealist to death.
\"Increase the bonus for labor and integrity allowances for socialist labor cadres, factory directors and local party cadres in the range of 70-100 rubles to 300-500 rubles per month, Soviet district committee secretaries 2,000 rubles, Politburo members 3,000 rubles, and Soviet regional committee secretaries and ministers of departments 3,500 rubles. At the same time, retired members of the Central Advisory Council of the USSR maintain the same benefits as at the time of their retirement.\"
\"And what about the \u0027laborers of the Soviet Union\u0027?\" a voice shouted.
\"They will be paid a \u0027living wage\u0027 of 90 rubles and have free health care,\" Romanov answered.
\"Isn\u0027t that already the case?\" someone else asked.
\"This isn\u0027t a discussion, comrades. The proposal has been made to the CPSU. The CPSU will decide whether to accept it or not. Now, let\u0027s get back to the main discussion.\"
\"Yes, let\u0027s return to the discussion,\" Tikhonov said.
\"Are we still deciding this now? What about the votes of the members? It was decided by a majority vote. We should...\"
\"Grigory Vasilyevich!\" Olga Tregubova interrupted. \"You are absolutely right. The time for a vote has come. All who are in favor of this motion, raise your hands.\"
All hands went up in the air.
\"The ayes have it.\"
\"There was a majority in favor,\" Olga Tregubova said, nodding her head. The votes came in and were cast unanimously in favor. The proposal was adopted.
\"Now we move on to the next item on the agenda, which is ......,\" Tikhonov began, but Romanov interjected. \"One more thing, how is the alcoholism and slacking situation now?\"
Tikhonov was silent for a moment, then he said,\"Alcoholism is widespread and is accompanied by other social problems of domestic violence. Idleness is also bad, with many workers coming to work two hours late, and the quality and efficiency of labor production is poor, except in the military industry. The number of worker accidents is high, especially in comparison with the productive workforce.\"
\"Yes, we know that,\" Romanov said. \"Anything else?\"
\"Nothing else.\"
Citizens of the Soviet Union had a long-standing problem with alcoholism, to the extent that some families had alcoholic couples... This led to a number of social conflicts and a decrease in labor productivity.
Both Kosygin and Andropov tried to solve this problem, Kosygin raised the prices of consumer alcoholic beverages, while Andropov used another method, limiting the time workers could buy alcohol and introducing a new variety of vodka that was only 3-4 rubles.
And historically Gorbachev came to power and chose to ban the use of alcohol except for special purposes such as medical alcohol through a prohibition called the anti-alcohol campaign...which led to the rapid growth of the black market and bootlegging, an underground economic force that later collaborated with the mob and government opposition.
I really don\u0027t understand why the Soviet leadership always thought that a direct and strong prohibition would solve the problem when they encountered it? Not to mention that a political entity is made up of people of different classes and ideologies.
This involves an important factor, the inconsistency of the top leader\u0027s directives after they have been implemented by the bureaucratic system. For example, Gorbachev\u0027s anti-alcohol campaign was meant to combat alcoholism, but bureaucrats bulldozed winemaking vineyards in Central Asia in pursuit of political success...Other phenomena illustrate what humans will do without the oversight of administrative mechanisms, such as the immediate cause of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant explosion.
It was a combination of bad information and poor communication on the part of the government that led to this problem.
\"Should we conduct a prohibition campaign?\" Zaikov, who was promoted to the Politburo by Romanov, asked tentatively, and Romanov shook his head, \"No. Reducing alcohol production and sales would reduce state budget revenues, and from where would we fill the 10 billion ruble budget that might be reduced? The budget balance would be broken.\"
\"Then why don\u0027t we just increase taxes then?\" Zaikov asked.
\"Because we want to see the revenues come in instead of just spending them. The state is not an accounting firm.\"
\"Then what should we do?\"
\"Get rid of all the rules and regulations that hinder economic development.\"
\"What would the state do without rules and regulations?\"
\"We would have to revert back to a system based on contracts and mutual exchanges of goods and services. A system that relies on trust.\"
\"Which is unstable,\" Zaikov pointed out.
\"So is a rocking horse. It\u0027s what we are stuck with for the moment. The sooner we adapt to it, the better.\" Romanov put down his pen and said, \"The problem of alcoholism is in the hands of Comrade Kosolapov to publicize cases of alcoholism and increase the prices of consumer alcohol products to prevent excessive drinking. Any ideas on how to solve the problem of slackness?\"
Tikhonov raised his hand. \"Perhaps, if we reduce working hours, increase salaries, and give greater responsibility to those workers, we can increase the quality of work and increase productivity.\"
\"That\u0027s what I was thinking,\" Romanov said. \"The only problem is that laborers now have no material need for wealth, and the economic welfare and labor policies of the Soviet Union now make workers simply unwilling to work, and even if they slack off we can only force the police to supervise the work.\"
\"What\u0027s your solution?\" Zaikov asked.
\"We are a country of the working class, a socialist communal state. We can\u0027t put people out of work, we can only reassign jobs by fining and demoting workers who are slacking off. And productivity must be increased through technological innovation and the creation of automated production lines.\"
\"The creation of automated production lines is a good idea,\" Tikhonov said. \"But we don\u0027t have the capital to create them with the necessary investment of government funds.\"
\"Then why not look to the private sector?\" Romanov asked.
\"The private sector is a corrupt and inefficient sector where the rich and powerful take advantage of the working class. It\u0027s almost entirely run by big business and the state that protects them. We can\u0027t let them get away with such behavior. The private sector must be made to serve the collective, not the other way around.\"
\"The private sector will not allow itself to be pushed around by the government, and we must only allow the establishment of non-entity private enterprises in the three Baltic states and Leningrad after application and approval by the Soviet government.\"
\"That\u0027s a lot of territory to cover,\" Zaikov pointed out.
\"True,\" Romanov admitted, \"We need loans with American and Western European banks, but Reagan has instead asked international banks to raise interest rates on loans, a repeat of what the U.S. did to the Allende regime in Chile! Reagan intends to hit our foreign exchange earnings and try to deplete our international gold reserves and raise food prices to create a food shortage crisis, we should not compromise and give in to imperialist governments! But the Soviet Union needed international bank loans and the cessation and extension of exports of electronic equipment, computers and other advanced technology to the Soviet Union under the U.S.-dominated economic system, so we needed joint ventures with U.S. capital firms in the financial markets. But in order to prevent capital outflow and plunder, we limit joint ventures to the Baltic States and the Leningrad area, and transfer the Soviet-built electronics industry in the Baltic States to Leningrad.\"
Grishin inquired, \"Just like Pepsi was in the Soviet Union?\"
\"Precisely!\" Romanov said. \"We should consolidate resources to establish various production consortia, while a few U.S. companies will be allowed to participate in the production and sale of specific Soviet products and require that they be restricted and their profits invested only in the Soviet market, and products such as Cuban cigars, Soviet vodka, and cultural industries such as movies from the ECCU can also be allowed to sell to the U.S. market.\"
\"This makes sense,\" Tikhonov said. \"The problem is that our industries and resources are already heavily taxed due to the need to compete against the excess capacity of the U.S. and Western Europe. To raise revenue we can eliminate a few tax deductions and increase taxes on imports and sales of natural resources, but that will harm an already struggling economy.\"
\"Yes, that is a bit of a problem, but it is one that can be rectified,\" Romanov assured them.
\"Perhaps we should look to raise revenue and cut expenses in tandem,\" Zaikov suggested.
\"That would be a good idea, But military spending should not be reduced; instead, we should transform some military factories into productive light industry and productive heavy industry. In this way, we can both increase our national income and reduce the proportion of our GNP spent on military production,\" Romanov said.
\"Hmm, I guess you\u0027re right,\" Tikhonov said. \"Very well, I will speak to my colleagues of the Politburo to see what we can do.\"
\"Good, good. The future MPS material goods balance sheet system of the National Statistical Committee is going to start counting GNP monetary values that are going to get rid of the loss of economic output that occurred several years ago. This will create a substantial increase in our GNP. The trick will be to increase our exports to compensate for the loss of foreign exchange, and the easiest way is to create more manufacturing jobs. I suggest that we begin the process of transforming some of our less essential industries into industries that can be more exportable. There are several obvious choices such as steel, coal, cement, chemicals, and even consumer goods, but we should begin with something that is more capital intensive than labor intensive. What do you think, comrades?\"
\"I think this is a very good idea,\" Tikhonov said. \"I agree with Comrade Romanov on this.\"
\"I agree as well,\" Grishin said.
\"Great,\" Tikhonov said, and began to leave. \"Tomorrow, we\u0027ll speak again.\"
The Soviet command economy was a very special economic system, in which consumer goods and industrial products were purchased and sold under a centralized system, and the materials needed by each production unit were purchased from the State Planning Committee in the form of a budget and at a \"planned price\". The purpose of production in a socialist planned economy is to create labor value, which is completely different from the profit-seeking market economy. Therefore, a market-oriented reform of the planned economy would result in a situation in which bureaucrats would no longer rely on the state budget for distribution but would sell materials and equipment at market prices higher than the planned prices.
At the same time, there was no GDP accounting system in the planned economy. That is, the Soviet planned economy accounted for GNP in the primary and secondary sectors, but not in the tertiary sector. Therefore, the Soviet planned economy system did not allow for the measurement of GDP and the development of a financial economy.
The structure of foreign trade and economic production in the Soviet Union was deformed and unbalanced, and there was a great lack of high-grade food, light industrial goods, and consumer products needed by the people, which allowed the United States to claim that the socialist system and planned economic development were wrong. It was as if the Soviet economy had stagnated simply because of the socialist and planned economy and sought to convince the Soviet people that the Soviet Union would return to prosperity and high economic growth after embracing capitalism and market economy and then entering the U.S. economic system. It was a political and propaganda campaign, in which the U.S. never failed to take advantage.
However, the economic growth of the Soviet Union stagnated at 2-3% growth rate in the unspecified period. So this is to be attributed all to a planned economy or ideology? Should we ignore the trade and technical barriers between the Soviet Union and the respective economic regional blocs dominated by the United States, the misguided economic policies and wrong state policies, the low food production in high latitudes and economic construction, the cost of development, etc.?
And if the economic system, which has been operating for decades, should be abandoned in a few years and a whole independent industrial system destroyed because of the stagnation of economic growth and shortage of high-class consumer goods, then there would not be any industrial country now.
Or maybe the problem is the way the U.S. has been conducting its economic and trade policy towards the Soviet Union?
In any case, while capitalism refers to the stagnation of socialism and ignores the miserable lives of poor families in Latin America, Africa and Southeast Asia, leaving hundreds of millions of people in the Soviet Union to privatize reforms and leaving countless people facing unemployment and meager benefits, the ruble to dollar exchange rate devalued to 5,562 rubles to the dollar in 1997, countless girls working in the sex industry to earn a living...many Many people became homeless. Slums and gangs spread throughout the country, and the security and administrative services were defeated by corruption and reality.
Gang lynchings, drug abuse, human trafficking, and the uncountable number of young girls who were introduced by gangs and strangers to Western Europe and imprisoned or killed.
The following are the results of decades of failed economic and social policies that only grew in the shadow of the Cold War. The state and it\u0027s organs were instruments for the ruling class to wield power in a way that benefited them, not the people. The state became not just the institution of oppression, but also a tool for oppression, and not an institution of the revolutionary class, but a tool of reaction. Not a tool for progress, but a tool for oppression.
The system was rotten to the core, and the revolutions of 1989 and the reforms of the 1990s merely served to speed the rot and deepen the crisis.
Capitalism, which is all about profit, limits the change of relations of production by the developed productive forces and enslaves and exploits all mankind. It is a system of accumulation by dispossession, oppression, and parasitism.
The post-war consensus, the idea that capitalism and the state are natural, permanent, and good, gave way to the end of the Cold War as the world realized that it had been deceived and that only a fundamental reorganization of the economic and social order can save humanity from this crisis.
When social productivity can achieve unmanned automated production, there will be a more advanced form of society than capitalism and socialism. At that time, capitalism will be extinguished. History must move forward and mankind must be free from the slavery of finance and capitalism.
One day, mankind will definitely realize a social structure based on demand, and mankind will be free to pursue and satisfy self-fulfillment.
When that day arrives, the revolutionary movement will be ready to take power and establish a new world order.
But this is not that day, this is not that time.
When all Politburo members left Kremlin Building 14, Romanov asked KGB Chairman Bobkov to stay with Foreign Minister Troyanovsky.
\"Comrade Troyanovsky, how did your visit in China turn out?\" Romanov asked, putting down the computer department\u0027s report, which he skimmed through.
\"They put up a good fight. They could\u0027ve been more helpful though. I think we\u0027ll have to make some concession to avoid any further escalation.\"
\"In other words, no war, and no change,\" Romanov said.
Troyanovsky shook his head and said, \"No, although the Chinese Communist Party is still engaged in a border conflict with the Vietnamese Communist Party. However, market-oriented reforms are already underway under Deng Xiaoping\u0027s leadership. The situation is bad, and security continues to deteriorate. Large numbers of people who had entered the countryside from the Maoist era returned to the cities, while open cultural productions and social dance parties influenced the youth. The Communist Party\u0027s current crackdown on criminality has also resulted in a number of wrongful convictions. There are many factors that have undermined the party\u0027s authority.\"
\"Yes, you\u0027re right. We should avoid making any unnecessary provocations. The Chinese Communist Party\u0027s crackdown on ballroom dancing is similar to our regulation of rock and roll?\"
Troyanovsky smiled weakly. \"Not exactly, but the analogy is clear.\"
\"China looks like law and order will be chaotic for a while, what about their political and economic reforms?\"
\"It\u0027s hard to say, Deng Xiaoping seems to want the reforms to stay on the economic level, while Zhao Ziyang is more focused on the political level. I think at this point, both sides are biding their time.\"
\"Biding their time, or playing a game?\"
\"Perhaps both. You must realize this, this is very dangerous situation. If we\u0027re not careful, a border war could start that could cause millions of deaths and destroy the world economy. We don\u0027t have the resources to sustain such a protracted conflict, nor do we want to. It\u0027s important that we find a way to keep the peace.\"
\"How?\" Romanov asked, \"By not interfering. By letting the political leaders figure this out.\"
\"Yes, perhaps, if we stay hands off, they\u0027ll work it out. However, we have to consider the fact the Chinese government has been unable to maintain social order. The price reforms it carried out in turn caused a large increase in prices. These types of reforms coupled with the ongoing economic reforms have increased the gap between rich and poor. The situation is volatile and could get worse.\"
\"Yeah, and? This is why we need a change in government, not the status quo.\" Romanov nodded and said, \"After that, the Chinese government\u0027s abandonment of the planned economy will certainly result in layoffs and equipment trafficking for workers in state-run enterprises other than those it maintains. We obtain this industrial equipment through smuggling. As for, the workers it laid off... Well, let\u0027s just say we won\u0027t be recruiting.\"
\"...You think that we should help them?\" Troyanovsky asked, sounding shocked.
\"Help who? This is an internal matter for the Chinese government, and it will also show the Soviet people what happens when capitalism is restored. We will later be able to find out how many workers laid off from China\u0027s planned economy factories will commit suicide or go to China\u0027s southeastern coast to become slaves under sweatshop exploitation. Drugs and brothels will also reappear in China.\"
Troyanovsky nodded. \"Yes, you\u0027re right. We\u0027ll let them figure it out, or at least keep their economy from collapsing. It\u0027s not our place to interfere, only to watch their experiment.\"
\"Well, Comrade Troyanovsky you can go now. Get some rest and take care of your health.\"
Troyanovsky stood, and said, \"Yes, I will. Thank you, Comrade.\" He saluted and left.
\"He was a good man,\" Romanov said. \"He always knew how to put his Party before himself. However, I think he was tired of the Party\u0027s lies and corruption. What we need is a more radical approach. Perhaps a splinter group of hardliners could stage a coup, while we support them? We need to consider this option.\"
\"Supporting a coup by hardliners within the Chinese Communist Party? That\u0027s hard to achieve.\" Bobkov said thoughtfully, and Romanov nodded and said, \"We can plan for the long term and bide our time.\"
\"For now, we should avoid any unnecessary conflict with China. If they have learned one thing, it\u0027s that we don\u0027t want to go to war with them. Our economic interests are tied up with them. A border conflict would be mutually destructive.\"
\"Perhaps some trade concessions?\"
\"Yes, that\u0027s probably a good idea. However, we can\u0027t give them too much. They\u0027ll have to be learning about our internal politics. We can\u0027t have the press and the people getting too excited, or they will certainly demand more than we can give. They need to accept that we are a superpower that is above their petty squabbles.\"
\"Well, if only Khrushchev had not criticized Stalin at the 20th Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, the Chinese Communist Party could have been in charge of agriculture and light industry in our economic system.\" Romanov cursed Khrushchev again in his mind.
\"A period of increased trade may be useful. We\u0027ll have to carefully manage the press to avoid a panic. It would also be helpful to have a few high-profile defections to use as propaganda. However, as a general rule, we should avoid anything that draws attention to our diplomatic corps. A few minor border clashes now and again would probably be enough to keep everyone\u0027s mind off the real issues. We don\u0027t need another revolution. The Chinese Communist Party is more than capable of taking charge of China\u0027s future. There is no need for us to interfere.\"
\"You\u0027re right, speaking of defectors I wonder if it\u0027s possible to gather together opposition, criminals, and psychopaths from Warsaw Pact and ECC countries and have them smuggled into Western Europe like they did in Cuba?\"
\"It is possible. However, do you really think that would be wise?\"
\"No, but what other choice do we have? If we don\u0027t do anything, the situation will only get worse.\" Romanov put out his cigarette and said, \"Anyway, our opposition is going to oppose whoever is in power. How about, throwing them all to West Germany. By the way, we can also charge a fee to help smuggle Middle Eastern refugees and Afghans into Western Europe. Of course, what happens to them after they go over is not our business.\"
\"It might be a good idea. On the other hand, what happens if those refugees and Afghans decide to overthrow the government of France and Germany? \"
\"An Islamized Western Europe? We can imagine that this would stop the window-dressing propaganda offensive of Western Europe against Eastern Europe.\" Romanov smiled and added, \"By the way, could the KGB try to produce some Western European pornographic films with erotica.\"
\"I wouldn\u0027t be surprised.\"
\"They could call them the Red Film Commission.\"
\"Of course.\"
Romanov stood, and said, \"Prostitutes were found in Western Europe and Southeast Asia to produce and print pornographic films, books and magazines, which were smuggled into Europe. The European version added nationalist and racist rhetoric to degrade and discredit immigrants, and the Soviet version in circulation was to add reverse nationalist content, such as racist liberal rhetoric and the stomping and burning of the Soviet red flag and the overthrow of Lenin\u0027s statue. We should organize a mission to liberate the media and pornographic film industry.\"
\"I think you\u0027re being a little dramatic. However, you\u0027re right in a way. We definitely need to do something about this.\"\"Now, it\u0027s late, so I better get to my bed. Good night, Bobkov.\"
\"Good night, General Secretary.\"
With that, Romanov left the room.
Bobkov, still deep in thought, sat for a few moments before he got up and left as well.
Romanov returned to his own office in the Kremlin Senate, and Tregubova followed him to his office.
\"What happened?\" She asked, \"Did you resolve the problem with the Chinese?\"
\"I did.\"
\"What did you decide?\" She asked, her face showing her apprehension.
Romanov sat in his office chair and stared at her and said, \"What are you asking here?\"
\"I want to know what you decided.\"
\"I\u0027m still thinking about it, what do you think about the People\u0027s Republic of China?\" Romanov asked as he closed his eyes and pressed them, feeling that staying up late had given him a headache with myopia.
\"I\u0027m asking what you decided because you\u0027re the head of the KGB, and the head of a powerful secret police organization. You might have access to information that\u0027s not available to the public. If you don\u0027t want to tell me, that\u0027s fine. However, you can tell me because it concerns the safety of every citizen of the Soviet Union.\"
\"You\u0027re being unreasonable.\"
\"Am I? You\u0027re asking me to choose between betraying my government and putting other people\u0027s lives in danger. That\u0027s a pretty hard choice to make.\"
Romanov opened his eyes and said, \"Sit on my lap, I need to think about something.\"
\"Excuse me?\"
\"I said, sit on my lap.\"
Tregubova hesitated, then did as she was told. Romanov stroked her long hair and said, \"Our relationship is one, and you should be completely submissive and loyal to me, right?\"
\"Yes, General Secretary.\"
\"However, I am the head of the KGB and the Soviet Union. You do not question my decisions, regardless of how unreasonable they may seem.\"
\"I wasn\u0027t going to question your decision, I was simply asking what your decision was, that\u0027s all.\"
Romanov nodded in agreement, then he added, \"I want China to be the ECCU\u0027s base for agriculture and light industry, but it is now close to the United States.\"
\"Yes, but the United States is a capitalist country, and they\u0027ve been manipulating China for decades. They\u0027re using predatory trade practices and dumping cheap goods on the Chinese market. I want to free China from the tentacles of the American market.\"
\"And how do you propose to achieve this?\"
\"By forming an alliance with them. They\u0027ll never cooperate with us if we\u0027re seen as an enemy. If we have an alliance with them, the American market will have no choice, but to cooperate with us.\"
Romanov thought about it and said, \"I will consider your proposal, do you have a recommendation for someone to operate the Baltic Bank in Leningrad?\"
Tregubova smiled, then leaned forward and whispered, \"I myself have been to Leningrad and know the person who runs the bank.\"
\"Then, I suppose you\u0027re qualified.\"
Tregubova beamed with pride, then said, \"I would love to run the bank.\"
\"Yes,\" Romanov said, \"I\u0027m sure you would.\"
\"When do you want me to start?\"
\"No, I need you to remain secretary general of the Kremlin secretariat, and I don\u0027t want you to leave my side.\" Romanov said, putting his arm around her.
Tregubova smiled and said, \"I would be honored.\"
\"I think you should know Komsomol girls who know finance; after all, the Komsomol and the Party School are basically petty bourgeois. Find one to put her in charge of the Leningrad Bank for us indirectly.\"
\"Yes, General Secretary.\"
Romanov smiled and said, \"And while you\u0027re at it, find out what other talents this young lady might have.\"
\"I will do my best.\"
\"I know you will.\"
Tregubova smiled and left Romanov\u0027s office.
Romanov stared at the space where she had been sitting. He got up and went to the window, which looked out over the Kremlin\u0027s walls.
Standing there, he was able to think more clearly.
His eyes settled on the tower where he kept his office. In the distance, he could see lights in the top floor, where his own office was located.
Rather than being defeated by the United States, the collapse of the Soviet Union was the result of the Soviet ruling class betraying the Soviet Union and devouring it so that it could become a capitalist, and that interest was all the state assets of the superpower of the Soviet Union. This higher bargaining chip was so lucrative that all the bureaucrats fell to it.
The state coffers were empty, and the nation\u0027s credit cards maxed out. All of the nation\u0027s wealth was concentrated in the hands of a few wealthy bloodsuckers.
The pioneer girls of Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union who grew up under the Red Flag were cheated and trafficked for euros, pounds, and dollars to underground brothels or private ownership in Western and Southern Europe, where some were rescued by the police and others disappeared from the world forever.
While the majority of the proletariat, peasants, and the middle class starved and struggled in the global market turmoil, the new rulers of Russia, the new market players of the post-Soviet Union, lived a life of luxury.
The state took control of almost all industries and assets, and the people who actually produced anything enjoyed a negligible cut of the profits. (Putin came to power to nationalize the bourgeoisie, and today more than $570 billion of Russia\u0027s $140 million GDP is now owned by Russian oligarchs.)
The rich oligarchs had their hands in every aspect of the economy, from retail to construction to mining. They bought anything and everything in an attempt to corner the markets, which they did. They purchased the natural resources with their ill-gotten gains.You just have to have the contacts and wealth to buy women from the mob in the three Baltic countries, Russia or Eastern European countries.
Even though, Russia is devalued compared to the Soviet Union with the ruble, skyrocketing prices, human trafficking, law and order chaos, and corruption to the point of extortion of money from the power sector. The people lost their houses, their job assignments, but for the neoliberals, they gained freedom and democracy from the Soviet Union\u0027s speech control...
Even though, Yeltsin shelled the parliament with vote fraud supported by the oligarchs. For NATO, Yeltsin\u0027s Russia was also a democracy.
The people were just pawns in a brutal game.