Giving Credit for Fall of Communism

In response to “Liberals Never Give Credit Where It’s Due,” Jan. 4: Why does Cal Thomas believe that governments fall because of outside pressure? Soviet communism was doomed at its conception by its inherent inefficiencies and contradictions. It finally collapsed after a demographic shift in its leadership. The old guard leaders (Leonid Brezhnev) were willing to use military force to maintain an illegitimate government and control over Eastern bloc countries.

When Mikhail Gorbachev and a new generation of Soviet leaders came to power, they were not willing to use force to maintain control over Eastern bloc countries. The Russian people saw this and removed the Communist government. It is hard to believe that Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher and the pope browbeat the Soviet system into submission. Who will Thomas credit for the fall of communism in Cuba after Fidel Castro; President George Bush and Sen. Jesse Helms?

LEE W. SLICE

South Pasadena

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Isn’t it ironic that one can read or listen to the endless stream of credit heaped on Reagan for his contribution to the demise of Soviet communism without a mention of Lech Walesa in Poland?

DANA BAILEY

Thousand Oaks

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If we’re giving credit, let’s credit the U.S. citizens who thought for themselves: We knew the USSR was financially strapped; we knew an arms buildup would break their backs to the point where someone there would have to step in and tear down the Iron Curtain. Gorbachev, not going far enough, at least started the ball rolling. All we really did was outspend them.

Sure, we can credit Reagan--his rhetoric brainwashed a population so desperate to feel good about themselves that they forgot that they were being fed 1950s Red Scare leftovers. Our arms buildup hastened the worst economic downturn since the ‘30s. Give credit? He used our credit to nearly bankrupt the economy--ironic that it took tax increases by the (conservative) Bush administration to reverse some of the damage.

We’re tired of your finger-pointing, Mr. Thomas. Find the middle ground, like most of us are doing, and extend your entire hand to greet your neighbors.

ERIC POTRUCH

Los Angeles