[simmerup]

Didn’t the USSR collapse because Gorbachev was an idealist who actually wanted the best for his country

The modern autocracies barely even pay lip service to such ideas

[AnimalMuppet]

In fairness, the USSR autocrats before Gorbachev barely paid lip service to it too...

[simmerup]

That's fair, it's unfortunate for them that they didn't consider that Gorbachev was being earnest when he spouted the party line