Changes in the Soviet Union

After perusing a full page--a veritable plethora--of punditry related to perestroika , I am moved to point out that one does not have to be a determinist to see that history has its own imperatives.

Many of the internal and external reforms generated by the Nikita Khrushchev thaw remained in place after his ouster by the Politburo conservatives and I predict the same will occur if or when Gorbachev is forced from office.

We can facilitate this--in the best interests of the whole world--if our policies help keep Gorabchev’s progressivism alive, thus reducing bipolar relations in what in reality is one world with a common set of problems--famine and hunger, the environment, equitable distribution of wealth, effective financial and currency systems, development of new sources of energy, conservation of resources, avoiding nature’s disasters, and so forth.

History’s imperatives have brought mankind to a potentially higher level of existence than ever before. The question is whether attendant common problems will be solved with all due speed or will progressive humanity be retarded by excessive nationalism, stupid provincialism and unconscionable self-interest.

U.E. BALLERS

San Bernardino