Hello from Hungary

[Capitalism Forever]

Howdy! My name is Roland. I was born in Hungary and still live there. I grew up during the final decade of Communism.

My first memory involving the United States is hearing the radio news reader's anxious voice reporting on how "Washington continues with its star warfare plans." I had no idea at that time what "Washington" was, let alone a "star warfare plan," but I thought whatever it was, it must be something great and powerful--something done by men who can. I felt I could identify with these strong and able men somewhere far away much more than with the men around me who were "concerned" about "these dangerous plans"--the men who, as I saw it, couldn't because they wouldn't.

As a kid, I was taught that socialism was superior to capitalism; however, in the late 1980s, when I was around ten, people began talking about how a free market is much better than a government-controlled one. In '88, when I first traveled to Western Europe, I was amazed by how much better everything was there. I needed no more proof about the utter superiority of capitalism over socialism. I began dreaming about Hungary converting to capitalism one day.

Then one day, much to my surprise, my history teacher came to class with a radio in her hand; she turned it on, and I could hear a leading politician declare that the People's Republic of Hungary was replaced by the Republic of Hungary, and that we would pursue friendly relations with the United States as well as with the Soviet Union! The crowd cheered jubilantly when he spoke of the United States, and booed when he mentioned the Soviet Union. In the evening, I saw celebrations on TV; one thing I particularly remember is a man holding a banner with the communist blazon torn out of the middle, and the words "NEVER AGAIN COMMUNISM!" written around the hole.

With the fall of the party-state arrived the spirit of private enterprise. Since I was interested in computers, I decided I would become an entrepreneur in the software business. I began reading books about business administration and economics, and the more I read, the more convinced I became that full capitalism was the best political system. Hungary's new governments did not intend to remove all socialistic elements from the nation's life, though; they decided to try and copy Western Europe's "social market economy" model.

Having spent some time in Vienna as a student, I had an opportunity to witness the "social" side of Western Europe, and frankly, I found it dreary. I was surrounded by people who spent up to 10 years as university students--not because they wanted to learn something, but because the government subsidized university students. These were the dullest folks I have ever met. They seemed to have absolutely no motivation to make anything of their lives; they seemed bored and unhappy all the time; their primary interest seemed to be in complaining about what other people did. I left in disgust after a semester.

I began to look upon America as the only place of hope for true capitalism; I have since then been following American politics with growing interest. The Internet has allowed me to learn quite a lot about the ideas America was founded on, and also about the ideas that now threaten her freedom.

It was also on the Web that I first read a couple of quotations from Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead. I was awe-struck by their eloquence and their invincible persuasive power, and I cherished them for debunking such fashionable fallacies as money being evil, self-interest being a vice, or the idea of original sin. As I endeavored to learn more about the lady behind these wonderful quotes, I found out that there is an entire philosophy that comes with them--a philosophy that, unlike any other one, aims at being consistent, meaningful, and useful for men; a philosophy that explains not only why capitalism is the most efficient system, but also why it is the only moral one.

It's nice to have found a place where I can mingle with people who appreciate this philosophy!

[DavidV]

Welcome to the forum, Roland!

I lived in the Ukraine until I was about 11 - my family escaped shortly before the USSR collapsed. I remember being indoctrinated by communist propaganda much as you probably were. Fortunately, my parents did their best to keep me “sick” and out of school, and my dad forced us to listen to Radio Free America from an early age. As I remember, his stories about starting a business in America did much more good than what I heard on the radio. I'm happy to see an advocate of capitalism in Eastern Europe – it seems like there will soon be more capitalists in the former satellite states than in the west.

[Capitalism Forever]

The Communist propaganda machine was already in the process of breaking down when I went to school. It was quite an interesting--and gratifying--experience to hear my history teacher say, "OK, the next chapter's on Marx and Engels--I think we'll just skip that!"

[AshRyan]

Welcome to the forum, Roland.

[carriew7]

Hello Roland!! I have more to say on your backround, but for now, welcome. I share your appreciation, and more, excitement in mingling with people who share your ideas!!! Take care!-c.

[nemethnm]

Welcome to the forum. I'm always excited to be able to discuss things with people who have actually experienced communism. Also, my grandfather was from Budapest.

Nick Nemeth

[Capitalism Forever]

Nice to meet you, Nick!

When did your grandfather emigrate?