No, this is not a post about the US elections and the border wall. I am and will always be pro merit which means I also believe entry to any country, company, and job is a privilege and not a right.
I meant on this day today, in 1989, the the East German government opened the country’s borders with West Germany (including West Berlin), and openings were made in the Berlin Wall through which East Germans could travel freely to the West.
The Berlin wall was the ultimate symbol of the cold war, separating a country with a long history based on the rivalry of two superpowers. This was the day the wall ceased to exist as a political barrier.
This event is also considered to officially be the end of the cold war, even though the USSR had been on the verge of collapse ever since their disastrous war in Afghanistan.
The wall represented more than just a physical wall. It represented the gap in economic prowess, freedom, and individual rights.
While West Germany prospered and soared ahead on every possible metric, East Germany was left behind and suffered under the general low standard of living faced in the USSR. Even post unification, this gap still remains although it has significantly reduced.
Walls should exist to keep out threats, not to divide people. The people of Germany and Korea have been victims of the fight between capitalism and communism. Germany has reunited while Korea still remains divided.
While people generally love to talk with nostalgia about communist states, the fact is that every single one of them would prefer to move to a capitalist state if given the choice.
The Berlin wall is a reminder of the utter destruction of human society caused by communism. While capitalism might have its issues, it is still much more preferable than any form of socialism.
While aspects of socialism do have their benefits, specially central planning, its utility is quite limited. While some government oversight is necessary, too much has also lead to disastrous consequences.
However, capitalism has also reached a point where it has become more about valuations than creating value. That is a topic for another day.
To all my 70 readers who are trying to get a takeaway from this, I am sorry to say I really don’t have any to offer. I request you to bear with me a little longer as I sort out a few things behind the scenes.
